Beginning with the women, they played a match in which they were paired off against each other in the first of two 7’s matches. Playing for UT Dallas in the first match was:
1. Ellen, 2. Gisselle, 3. Tiara, 4. Alyssa, 5. Sarah, 6. Marie, 7. Andrea
In this match these 7 ladies showed all the skills they have been taught, scoring 4 Trys and 2 conversions. Scoring Trys were Tiara (2), Ellen (1) and Andrea – scoring her first ever try in a scrimmage/game. Alyssa converted 2 of those Trys all while this side gave up one Try to their opponents. The final score 24 to 5
In the second match, the line up was:
1. Ariel, 2. Amber, 3. Saskia, 4. Stephanie, 5. Lauren, 6. Aimi, 7. Rebeka, with Lisa coming in for Ariel and Alyssa replacing Lauren.
In this match, like the first, the ladies showed all of their skills that they have learned playing rugby, but the result’s wasn’t like the first match. The UT Dallas women were only able to put one Try on the board and that was a first for Lisa, who recently began practicing with the club. This also was a first for the ladies, Lauren who’s been practicing hard and learning the game at scrumhalf was either attempting a tackle or was being tackled when she fell on her shoulder and found out later that she had broken her clavicle (more on her later). The final score was 5 to 17.
I’m extremely proud of how these young ladies have taken this game and have learned some tricky aspects of
it. Including running with the ball, tackling, rucking and basically all parts of this game, it has proven somewhat difficult for them, but they have embraced it and have become a really good team. The future is brighter with these ladies representing UT Dallas Women’s Rugby Club. Now our recruiting must continue, to bring in more ladies willing to step up and play this fun, but strenuous game.
About Lauren, she came out to the club with the thought of writing an article for the school newspaper, to get a
firsthand knowledge of what it takes to play and all the preparations as well as playing in a game. Saturday, she
was either in the attempt of making a tackle or being tackled when they got crunched. She was replaced and her
mother who came out to watch her daughter play for the first time had to take Lauren to the emergency room for x-rays. Lauren found out early in the week that her break was a bit more serious than originally thought and surgery was performed Thursday. I’m happy to say that she came out very well from it and it hasn’t dampened her spirits of wanting to get back out on the rugby pitch.
Now the Men’s recap:
Saturday, the men prepared for their first of two matches for the weekend, their opponents, the University of Denver (DU).
The lineup was:
1. Erbold, 2. AJ, 3. Nate, 4. John, 5. Weston, 6. Ben, 7. Jimmy, 8. Sunshine, 9. Cameron, 10. Vince, 11. Justin, 12. Dominic, 13. Luke, 14. Alejandro, 15. Brian.
Replacements – Mohammad in for Jimmy who was injured but was fine after (10 minutes into the first half), Jonathan a tactical move for Nate (10 minutes into the second half), Chad another tactical move for Luke (10 minutes into the second half).
The first half kicked off on schedule and was fierce; our lads defended all over the pitch and when we had the ball. Our attacks were concise and direct and a couple of times we almost managed to cross the goal line. but the DU defense was as stingy as our defense was. The only difference in this half was that DU was able to capitalize on a couple of mental errors we made and scored two Trys with only one conversion in this half. The end of the first half score – UT Dallas 0, DU 12.
The second half began, which looked like things would change. Our attack line was better focused and we were able to move the ball down the field, ending with a Try by Wing Justin Thompson and Vince Dutton made the conversion. But that would be all the scoring for UT Dallas as the bigger, stronger and not necessarily faster UD
managed to put on 3 Trys, one conversion and one penalty kick to end the game 30 to UT Dallas’ 7.
Sunday, we were to play the loser of the Angelo St./Colorado School of Mines. The loser of that match was Angelo St and this was to be a rematch of the Lonestar Conference Championship, but Angelo St. notified me that their players were banged up (like ours were, but the difference was we still wanted to play) and they had decided not to play and forfeit 3rd place to UT Dallas. While these conversations were going on between myself, Brad (ASU’s
coach), Stephen Cohen (NSCRO’s President) and Shayne Roberson (Lonestar Conference Commissioner) there was nothing we could do to persuade ASU to stay and play the match. So, our UT Dallas Rugby players donned on some spare jerseys and divided them into 2 sides and played 7’s rugby while the two teams playing for the Cowboy Cup Championship warmed up.
I have to say that this club, is so special to me and have become as special to Bear (my Assistant Head Coach)
because in most every game they’ve gone into. They are clearly the underdog in size, but they learn and adapt to everything they’ve been coached and like last year, came away with another undefeated season. This year they were 10 – 0 and haven’t lost a league match in 2 seasons, their combined record is 17 – 0 for the 2 years and two Texas Rugby Union state Championships to prove it.
As far as both the Men and Women’s rugby club’s go, I’m proud of every single one of these players. Many
of whom had never played team sports before joining this club. The women started out with one girl wanting to continue with what she had learned while in high school, recruited girls and now we have 15 registered women on this club. The men, we’ll continue what the previous 2 years have brought us and will work on 3peating next year.
There are a number of people I need to thank and in my next blog in a couple of days will name off all those people who have helped these fine lads and lasses of the UT Dallas Men and Women’s Rugby Club, because without your
help and support, we couldn’t have done what we did.