No. 4 Cardinal roll past RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     WHEELING, W.Va. - Wheeling University set the tone early and never looked back.
     The Cardinal raced to a 28-point halftime lead and went on to post a resounding 62-25 win over the University of Rio Grande, Friday afternoon, in the Big Rivers Rugby Conference opener for both teams at Bishop Schmitt Field.
     Wheeling, which is ranked No. 4 in National Collegiate Rugby's Division I coaches' poll, leveled its record at 1-1 with the victory.
     Rio Grande slipped to 1-2-1 overall with a second consecutive loss. All four of the RedStorm's matches have come against nationally-ranked foes.
     The RedStorm found themselves trailing just under eight minutes into the contest and things never got better as Wheeling built a 31-3 halftime advantage.
     Joseph Iye scored the first try of the day for the Cardinal and a penalty kick by CK Mandaza with 26:15 left in half gave the hosts a 10-0 cushion.
     Rio Grande got on the board just under four minutes later on a penalty kick by sophomore Thibault Carrere (Dax, Landes, France), but Wheeling closed the half with 21 consecutive points.
     Iye scored again with 15:18 left before the intermission, while Ayoub Jalli and Alex Nyamunda added tries of their own.
     Another penalty kick by Carrere just over two minutes into the second half got Rio Grande to within 31-6, but the RedStorm got no closer the rest of the way.
     Aaron Juma and Iye each had a try and Mandaza booted a pair of conversion kicks to make it 45-6 before a try by Rio junior Ethan Manuel (Durban, South Africa) cut the deficit to 45-13.
     Mandaza tacked on a penalty kick before Nyamunda scored tries in both the 66th and 74th minute.
     Carrere and sophomore Laau Taii (Hilo, Hawaii) had late tries for the RedStorm to help set the final score.
     Rio Grande is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Trine University for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Red Valley Pitch.