Notre Dame rode a big second half to victory in their home opener Friday, defeating Texas A&M 38-12 at Stinson Rugby Field in Notre Dame, IN. The game was also the season opener for Friday Night Rugby, National Collegiate Rugby’s game of the week.
Notre Dame’s junior No. 8 Jack Waterhouse led all scorers with three tries, a triumphant return for a much ballyhooed recruit. The former age-grade Springbok played just two matches his freshman season in 2023. Sidelined for 18 months due to lingering tendonitis in the knee, Friday’s hat-trick marked his much awaited return, and he did not disappoint.
The Irish looked clinical in scoring the opening try five minutes in. A monstrous box kick from scrumhalf Jack Dunne put the hosts deep in the attacking end, Waterhouse smashed one over from short range, and Philip Guinan slotted the touchline conversion.
After a half hour of territorial kicking and staunch defense from both sides, Texas A&M scored off a set scrum play from its own 22. Wing Ruben Ribeiro sliced through the Irish line and fed Conner Cantrell for the score.
Waterhouse answered back just before halftime, slamming over off a penalty tap from 10 meters out. The Aggies missed a penalty attempt in the final minute of the half, leaving the Irish up 14-7 going into the break.
With A&M’s heels on the goal-line, Waterhouse sniped an Aggie lineout at the five-meter line and dove over a minute later for his third try of the game – 19-7.
Guinan then took advantage of the deep try zones, setting up a pair of tries with his boot to put the game out of reach. He connected with reserve wing Will Linke on back-to-back grubbers, putting the Irish up 31-7 with 15 minutes to play.
The Aggies answered back with a grubber of their own, as flyhalf Carim Cibils Daher connected with outside center Jace Hernandez for a score. But the Irish got the last word, with Dunne squirting in off the side of the ruck in the final minute.
Rewatch the match and The College Rugby Show Game Day broadcast on YouTube. Written by Pat Clifton of The College Rugby Show.
All photos courtesy of Mia Blocher, Instagram: @mia.mayo_rugby
