Published: November 08, 2009 08:15 am      

Blues knocked out of rugby playoffs

CLEVELAND -- The Traverse Bay Blues were knocked out of the playoffs with a 42-12 loss to the East Suburbs from Cleveland in the regional quarterfinals.

The Blues lost a man to a red card 10 minutes into the game and had to play the rest of the way short-handed.

"My guys played their guys out," Blues coach Tony Dell'Acqua said. "We just couldn't make up for playing a man down. It was a great season for our guys, though."

Ryan Fortune scored a try for Traverse Bay before halftime and Matt Thomas added another in the second half, this one converted by Griffin Benson.

Dell'Acqua said the team -- which finished the season with a 6-2 record -- would resume the season in April with some exhibition matches.