The Lineup for this game:
1. Camille, 2. Alex, 3. Lupe, 4. Cari, 5. Ashley, 9. Alyssa, 10. Baylie, 12. Mel, 13. Andrea, 14. Brittany
Reserve - 16. Elaine would come in for Alyssa at the beginning of the 2nd half.
The UT Dallas Women took the field for their very second playoff game, but the difference in this game. This is the final game of the 2015 season and this match was for 5th place in the Lonestar Women's Conference (LSWC). Our opponent for the day was supposed to be Sam Houston St., but they backed out earlier this past week, so Letourneau Univ (LTU). gladly accepted the challenge. The match kicked off at 1:30 and it was LTU that was on fire, they came out pushing the ball down field with a steady attack and defense and LTU put up the first 5 points of the game with a nifty try. They failed to convert it so, it was LTU 5, UTD 0 in the early moments of the game.
That try must have woken up the ladies of UTD, because they then came out with vengeance. A tackle was made on a LTU girl, and on the ensueing ruck, UTD came away with an excellent poach. The ball was passed out to an awaiting Cari, who had space and time to make a nice run to score her first try of the day. The conversion was missed. 4 minutes later, Cari was at it again, just like the first run, the ball got into her hands from a busted ruck that UTD was able to poach. Cari again sprinted to score her second and final try of the afternoon, but that wouldn't end UTD's scoring chances. Alyssa made the conversion and the half ended UT Dallas 10, LTU 5.
The second half was pretty much like the first half, both sides tackling, running and general play of hard nose rugby. LTU did manage to score another Try and conversion, but it was the hard work of the UTD Lady forwards that earned the 3rd and final try of the afternoon. UTD managed to poach another ruck from LTU, Lupe picked up the ball and marched down field. It was the maul that never ended, Lupe worked to get inside LTU's 5 meter line and tried to score the try. But is was Camille who found the ball at the end of a ruck, picked it up and attacked a small space to score UTD's final and game winning try of the afternoon. Alyssa converted that try and the final score UT Dallas 17, LTU 12.
With this win, the UT Dallas Women's Rugby Club legitimately comes in 5th place out of 10 clubs competing in the Lonestar Women's Conference. Other results of the dad, for third place it was Angelo St. Women beating Texas St. Women. The championship game, it was UT San Antonio beating University of North Texas in sudden death.
Congratulations to all the women's clubs that competed yesterday, we're on our way to becoming a fully compliant 15's teams in the near future.
Now for the guys, for the 2nd strait time facing Angelo St. Univ. (ASU), the temperature was not kind. The last time we played them, it was 32 degrees and snow on the ground. Last night the temp was roughly about 48 degrees and a stiff wind that made it feel like it was in the upper 30's lower 40's.
The lineup for the match:
1. Caleb, 2. Josh, 3. Ryan, 4. Precious, 5. Chris, 6. Wade. 7. Daniel, 8. Jake, 9. Andrew W. 10. Edmund, 11. Franklin, 12. Nicky, 13. Seth, 14. Eric, 15. Brian
Reserves: 16. Will, 17. Adam, 18. Talhah, 19. Connor, 21. Andrew D.
Note: Each of these players would come into the game either at the beginning of the second half or with 30 minutes remaining.
The match kicked off 40 minutes behind schedule due to the over running women's matches. But when both the men sides took the field there was an electricity in the air. ASU came out wanting to take advantage of their overall size difference, but UTD was willing to bend but not break and fought to keep ASU out of goal. But with constant pressure coming from the huge ASU pack and back line, it wasn't long before ASU put a try on the board. Then from here it was all ASU, they found the secret to their success and found that some of our back line wasn't the steadiest of tacklers. It was here that UTD found themselves down 12 to 0. But something happened on the UT Dallas side, a spark of energy was found inside the 15 guys on the field. Next thing we know UTD is attacking, with a quickness not seen to often, and Nicky was able to score the first try of this game and Andrew made the conversion. Upon getting the ball back on the ensuing kick off, and 5 minutes off the clock, it was UTD to match down the field for the second score of the half it was Andrew Whiteis and he converted his own try. UTD would take the lead over ASU for a few minutes 14 to 12. But as things would have it, ASU would come back and score 17 more points in the first half and UTD would not have anything to answer. The score at the end of the first half UTD 14, ASU 29.
The second half would come with a few change made by both sides, but it would be ASU to finish the scoring by running in 3 trys and convert 2 of those trys. The final score UTD 14, ASU 48.
The girls are done until the spring (when class resumes in January) after winter break. They will begin practice for a 3 series of 7's tournaments to be held in Denton, Huntsville and San Antonio. More info on that to come later.
The guys have one last league match, on Dec. 5, they travel to Nacogdoches to play Stephen F. Austin, if you remember anything on this club, they are big and fast. Not as big as ASU but still everyone is bigger than us. Our guys have to continue to work on their legs and conditioning throughout the Thanksgiving break and come back with a renewed vigor. More on that later.
I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and I know I give thanks to both my assistant head coaches, John "Bear" Hinson and Jonathan Holmes, the players both guys and girls. Also the parents of these players, and most important my girl-friend Suzi. Who puts up with all the work I do on this web site, reporting the scores, referee evaluations and all my time away from home.
If anyone in the UT Dallas Rugby Family is still in Richardson on Thanksgiving Day with no where to go, please think no more and come out to Keller and have dinner with Suzi and myself.