Rugby battles Black Knights in friendly vs. Army

Cal Maritime Rugby kept up with visiting Army West Point but the surging offense of the Black Knights pulled away from the Keelhaulers in the second half in a 66-33 loss at Bodnar Field on Wednesday night.

Following scoreless possessions from both teams to start the game, Army was eventually able to get something started marching down the field giving them a 7-0 early on.

After a line-out won by Cal Maritime, Keelhauler Jonah Wolfe would capture the ball and throw back to his teammate Matthew Michaud who would kick it forward in hopes to find one of his teammates sprinting down field.

A Black Knight player was getting in position to field the ball, but he battled a tough son and misjudged it. It took a fortuitous hop bouncing high in the air and dropping perfectly into the hands of the speedy Keelhauler Ben Tuipulotu galloping in for a try untouched to tie it at 7-7.

Army would capitalize on a Keelhauler penalty and blown coverage on the ensuing kick-off leading over Cal Maritime 21-7 midway through the half.

Josh Bates would score for the Keelhaulers on a ball kicked forward from Ben Tuipulotu bouncing into the try zone as Bates raced down the sideline and tapped it down before the ball went out of play. The play was initially ruled no score but eventually reversed to a score cutting it to 21-12.

In search to get back into the game before the half ended while the Black Knights pounced on a quick try and conversion, Jonah Wolfe would fake a pass and split a handful of Army defenders mid-field to score with a minute left making it 28-19.

While Army was charging down the field looking to pad their lead, Josh Bates would intercept a pass and parade in to make it a 28-26 at halftime.

The second half proved to be a different story for the Keelhaulers as they were halted from any momentum going their way as Army outscored Cal Maritime 36-7, scoring just once on an Andrew Cavinta shimmy into the try zone. They would drop the friendly to the Black Knights 66-33.

UP NEXT: Cal Martime will finish out their regular season with a friendly at St. Mary's College on March 21st in Moraga, Calif.