Siena defeated Iowa Central, 45-43, to win the Rhino Bowl Saturday at SaberCats Stadium in Houston, TX.
The Saints scored a pair of tries to take the lead in the opening 10 minutes, the first from fullback Eddie Pearce and the second from outside center Harry Ryder. Luca Holloway converted both, putting the Saints up 14-0.
The Tritons answered back with their own run. Outside center Jonah Goetsch dotted down in the 14th minute, and fullback Takudzwa Musingwini scored his first of three shortly thereafter. Musingwini converted his own try, and flyhalf Koen Webb missed the other kick, leaving ICCC down, 14-12.
Siena blindside flanker Thomas Mann scored a try in the 31st minute, followed in short order by Musingwini’s second score of the game. The Tritons converted, tying the game at 19-19.
Then a pair of Saints scores in the final two minutes of the half put ICCC back in the hole. Ryder got his second try in the 38th minute, and Mann his second in the 42nd minute off a driving maul for Siena to end the half up, 31-19. Fred Dekoker made it three in a row for the Saints on the other side of the break – 38-19.
Iowa Central found a second wind and scored 24-straight points to take the lead with just a few minutes to play. Wing Gavin Oleson got it started in the 50th minute after coming back from a yellow card, then lock Connor Price caught a pass made just before contact by prop Carter Price for another try.
Musingwini set up the next score with a nasty fend, feeding Oleson for his second try. The Tritons took the lead in the 75th minute when Musingwini caught a kick pass from flyhalf Koen Webb to go up, 43-38.
Siena stole the lead back when Rider ripped the ball from a stalled teammate and slashed through the Triton defense, offloading to Holloway for the leveling try. The flyhalf then slotted the conversion to lift the Saints to victory. Sienna’s #12, Harry Ryder was awarded MVP of the Rhino Rugby Bowl.
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