Life University Athletics

Marietta, Ga. ---- The Life University Club Rugby team continued its hot start to the season with a 47-31 win over NOLA Gold Saturday afternoon in the home opener.

In what was a high-scoring first half, NOLA went up 3-0 with an early penalty, but Life quickly answered in the sixth minute with a try from Wikus Groenewald and conversion from Jacques Odendaal to go up 7-3. The back-and-forth continued with Life scoring another try in the 13th minute from Fred Henry-Ajudua and NOLA answering responding three minutes later to bring them back within 6, 14-8. Life scored again in the 21st minute with Chris Rossouw punching it in and Jacques Odendaal connecting on the conversion. Each time NOLA scored, Life quickly answered. After a NOLA try in the 29th minute, Odendaal scored one of his own just a minute later, as well as adding the conversion after to give Life the 28-11 lead. 

The second half was more of the same, as Life added three tries to extend their lead to as much 47-21 in the 63rd minute. NOLA added two tries in the last two minutes to make it 47-31 before the final whistle. Rossouw led the way for Life once again with three tries. Jacques Odendaal added one try and was 6/7 on conversions.

Speaking on the match, Coach Blake Bradford said, "I'm very happy coming away with a big win for our first home game. Our boys started the game very well and played good rugby in parts but we will need an improved performance from the finishers next week. Overall we will need to improve our discipline and be more clinical as we head into our next home game against our local rivals."

The club rugby team is back in action Saturday, October 1 as they take on Atlanta 404 at 6:00 PM at Lupo Family Field.