WORCESTER, Mass.- In a back-and-forth heavyweight bout between two rivals in the Green Mountain State, the Norwich University Men's Rugby team emerged victorious from the North Atlantic Collegiate Rugby (NACR) Championship game 41-38 over the University of Vermont (UVM) Sunday afternoon.

"We are a different team in November than in September," Head Coach Bob Weggler said. "We didn't play the way we wanted to the first time around, but we battled in all phases of the game this time around."

Nine minutes into the contest, the Cadets broke through first with a Jake Peterson try which was converted. Soon after, Kris Wayton hit a penalty kick pushing the Norwich lead to ten. In retaliation, the Catamounts would tally two converted tries and their own penalty kick to take a one score lead. As the opening frame wound down, Will Moulton found the try zone to tie the score at 17 heading into the break.

The Dirt Dogs put their foot on the gas in the second half, jumping ahead with tries by Moulton and Jeff Pappalardo. UVM cut into the Cadet lead, but a Marius Edwards try kept the Catamounts at bay. In the final ten minutes, UVM pushed to take the lead, but could not break through the Cadet defense who made a stand, preserving the 41-38 victory. In the contest, Wayton totalled 16 points between successful conversions and penalty kicks.           

 "It was a strong team effort between the forwards and backs," said Assistant Coach Austin Manhey. "We made UVM work for every inch they gained and capitalized on their mistakes."

With the win, the Cadets secure a place in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Sweet 16 in Fairfield, Conn. Nov. 22-24, with the opponent to be determined.