Princeton wins the 2016 New Jersey State Collegiate Championship and retains the Rickerson Cup
The 10th annual New Jersey State Championships took place within a festival of rugby at West Windsor on Saturday April 2, 2016. Princeton Rugby played host to Seton Hall and William Paterson University. The A-side home team successfully defended the Rickerson Cup by defeating Seton Hall 33-7 followed by a 26-12 win over William Paterson. Especially satisfying, the match against William Paterson featured 4 Princeton players making their A-side debut. In a great match between Seton Hall and William Paterson, Seton Hall was the winner and took away the other finalist trophy. PURFC also took away the top prize in the B-side category overcoming Seton Hall in a closely fought game.
Players, their families and coaches spent the day playing rugby and, when not on the pitch themselves, watching the Women’s Invitational 7’s Tournament (won by the US Naval Academy with Princeton coming in second) and an exhibition match featuring high school girls from Morris and Union Counties, won by Morris in the final match of the afternoon. All in attendance appreciated the presence of the Tiger Food Truck, serving warm beverages and food throughout the day.
The photo below shows Princeton’s own Stu Rickerson who presented all the awards to the winning sides as well as to Princeton’s Billy Haynes selected as the Most Valuable Player of the New Jersey State Championship.
Left to right – Stu Rickerson, Billy Haynes & Richard Lopacki
This 2016 event was extra special in that we welcomed Penn Mutual as our partner sponsors. Their support throughout was much appreciated; it was marked by the special commemorative balls used throughout the day. Of most significance, once again the tournament acted as a fundraiser for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Over the years, we are most proud of the over $300,000.00 that has been raised for this very worthy cause. For more, search “2016 Rickerson Cup” or go to: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/RickersonCup2016/RickersonCup
