While the ISU football game against Tennessee Tech may have headlined the sports slate in central Iowa Saturday, 45 of Iowa State’s own represented their school in a game from which the headlined sport derived: rugby.

The Cyclone rugby team played in their home opener against Truman State under a scorching sun and on a field as soft as Astroturf.

Play began for the first 40-minute half with Truman State kicking off the ball to Iowa State. Only 1:30 into the match, the game saw its first scrum, which occurs when a team “knocks” the ball forward, or throws it forward, as the ball can only be advanced forward by running the ball or kicking the ball.

Less than two minutes later, Truman State put the ball out of bounds, resulting in a “line-out” for ISU, which is similar to the game of soccer’s throw-in.

Just before the 30-minute mark Iowa State scored the first points of the game on a penalty kick to take a 3-0 lead.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, Truman State received a field-goal opportunity and converted to even up the score 3-3.

Early into the second half Truman State scored the first “try” of the game by crossing the “tryline” and touching the ball down in the “try-zone.” Tries are good for five points.

Truman State converted its extra point and took a 10-3 lead. Five minutes later, Truman State repeated the feat and extended its lead to 17-3.

The Cyclones scored a few minutes later with their first try and an extra kick to make the score 17-10.

The game continued with no scoring until Truman State scored a try and converted on their extra kick to take the lead 24-10 with two minutes remaining. The Cyclones fought hard to close the gap, but Truman State held on for the win.

Rugby Club President, Andy Renner, said most players find out about the rugby team through friends or flyers the team puts up in residence halls.

Renner said while the sport is very physically demanding, it’s also more than that.

“Rugby is about camaraderie,” he said.

The Cyclones’ next rugby match is Sept. 14 against Iowa.