Saints pull away from RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Host Thomas More University scored twice over a span of four minutes in the second half to pull away for a 48-33 win over the University of Rio Grande, Saturday afternoon, in Big Rivers Rugby Conference action at Republic Bank Field.
     The Saints improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the BRRC with the win.
     Rio Grande dropped to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league play as a result of the loss.
     The RedStorm got back-to-back tries from freshman Luke Webster (Johannesberg, South Africa) in the 55th minute and from freshman Kian Rolston (Newtonabbey, Ireland) in the 62nd minute to pull with 34-28, but Thomas More countered with tries and conversions in the 67th and 71st minutes to extend its lead to 48-28.
     Rio junior Thibault Carrere (Dax, Landes, France) scored on a try after time expired to set the final score.
     A penalty kick by Carrere in the third minute and a try by senior Ethan Manuel (Durban, South Africa) four minutes later gave the RedStorm an early 8-7 lead, but the Saints got a try and conversion and then a penalty kick of their own to take a 17-8 advantage.
     Carrere had another penalty kick in the 29th minute to close the gap to 17-11, but two more TMU tries pushed the hosts' lead to 27-11 with just over a minute to play before halftime.
     Rio Grande again carved into the deficit with a try by senior Che Spiotti (Charlotte, NC) and a conversion by Carrere after time had expired to make it 27-18 at the intermission.
     The Saints also scored a try and a conversion just over five minutes into the second half to extend their cushion to 34-18.
     Rio Grande will look to end its two-game losing slide on Friday when it ventures south to North Carolina and a meeting with Belmont Abbey.
     Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.