Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Sports

Although the rugby team left the field in Manhattan, Kan. last Saturday with a loss, the Bulls also left with an optimistic outlook and confident attitude that they look to take into this week's games against Kansas University.

Against Colorado State University, the Bulls not only hung with the No. 19 team in the nation, but gave them a 34-17 game that came down to the second half. Seniors Justin Lacy and David McDonough, and freshman Joe Krispin each scored tries.

Colorado State answered with a score right before halftime, and in the second half scored three tries in a 12-minute span. Head coach Bill Sexton said the Bulls were unable to sustain a high rate of play throughout the match because of a lack of "match fitness."

"I'm actually pretty pleased and excited about the way we played on Saturday," Sexton said. "I thought we played extremely well and got some good comments from the opposing players and coaches. Unfortunately, we just ran out of gas, which was to be expected being it was our first match."

The Bulls started five freshmen who had an immediate impact on the game, as they combined for two of the three tries.

"It was an important jump-start for next week," Sexton said. "It was very exciting to see how much our younger guys had matured over the past few weeks."

Although the Bulls managed to make a number of good open-field plays, there were some areas of their game that needed work, Sexton said. The lineouts and the scrum were the most obvious.

"We were pretty terrible in the lineout," Sexton said. "It's a skilled position that is all about timing, and our timing was off. We are going to work hard on that area of our game this week."

The Bulls arrived in Manhattan early last week to watch KU play a game before their match took place.

Junior captain Aaron Loida said Kansas' sloppy play led them to losing their match, leaving the Truman Bulls highly optimistic and confident that they can defeat the Jayhawks at home Saturday afternoon, Sexton said.

"Of course you don't want to take anyone for granted," Loida said. "But we are definitely a better team than KU, we just have to go out there and prove it.

"Colorado State was a perfect first game for us. It's almost better that it turned out the way it did because it leaves us hungry and confident knowing we can compete with top teams."

This week, the Bulls have a few issues to work on during practice.

"We played really well as a team, so that was good to see," senior vice-captain Jason Ralph said. "But we also showed that we need more conditioning. We ran out of gas in the second half.

"We also need to really work on our lineouts and breaking down before tackles in the open field. I think for the most part everybody played within their limits, but we got a little sloppy at times."

Sexton said the success the Bulls experienced in last week's game should bolster the their confidence, leaving them prepared for their upcoming showdown with KU on Saturday.

"Despite the loss, our intensity and the performance of our new players was very impressive," Sexton said. "I truly believe we will be the superior team on the field this week. We are looking to take it to them."

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