Elsah, IL - The Thunder Chickens rugby team finished conference play with an 82-0 victory against Washington University in St. Louis in front of a boisterous Principia homecoming crowd. Freshmen Sjaen Lucas and Emmanuel Atiko were Principia's captains.
After several phases, Principia received the opening kickoff and kicked for territory, pinning Wash U close to their goal line. After recovering a loose ball, the Principia pack was held near the goal line by Wash U's defense until fly half Damir Conci received the ball and broke through to score the game's first try in its 2nd minute. Principia's second try came in the 9th minute of the match when Principia won a scrum just outside Wash U's 22-meter line. A clean ball to the backs led to an attack by center Bradley Mayekiso into the in-goal. Mayekiso fielded the ball on the ensuing kickoff, juked several defenders, and offloaded to Emmanuel Atiko, who then offloaded to scrumhalf Sjaen Lucas for the try. At the half, Principia led 41-0. Kudzai Chiwara, Damir Conci, Sjaen Lucas, Bradley Mayekiso, Jimmy Owino, Alex Parrish, and Jacob Warrick had at least one try in the game. The victory ensures Principia's first place in the eastern division of the Gateway Conference.
Up Next: Principia will play in the Gateway Conference semifinals, hosted at the Principia School in St. Louis, on Saturday, October 30th. The kickoff will be at 1:00 or 3:00 pm against the 2nd place team from the conference's western division. If Principia wins, they will play the following day for the Gateway Conference championship at 2:30 pm at the same location.
