The 1st match kicked off at 4:10 and the line up:
1. Lupe, 2. Lauren. 3. Cora, 4. Alyssa, 5. Rachael, 6. Judit, 7. Marie
The match was played on a better synthetic turf field than what we had played on before, but it was poorly marked for rugby, but that didn't matter. Since UTSA was short numbers, it was agreed that we would play the best out of 3 7's matches (meaning two 7 minute halves per game). Our ladies were out to get their first victory of the new year and with some new additions to their arsenal (new line out calls and movements) as well as our trusty backs and rumbling forwards. This match wasn't going to be our first win, the ladies while playing hard lost a tough one 22 to 0.
The 2nd match line up:
1. Judit, 2. Lauren, 3. Cora, 4. Alyssa, 5.Rachael, 6. Stephanie, 7. Marie
The second match was a better match for us, the ladies were tackling and making passes to their support team mates. We were in this match better than the previous match and was down 12 - 0 at the end of the first half. The second half began with us receiving the restart. We made some good passes, rucked well and used space very well when Alyssa passed the ball out to a wide open Judit, who then ran 40 yards for our first Try of 2014. Due to the fact that the referee disallowed Alyssa the use of a tee for her conversions made things a bit difficult, but that didn't matter. We now had a game, but like the first UTSA was able to keep us away from any scoring opportunities and they slotted one more Try to end the game UTSA 17 - UTD 5.
Normally that would be the end of the competition, but UTSA asked if we wanted to play a third match, we talked and the ladies said they came to play rugby. So the 3rd game kicked off with our final line up:
1. Lupe, 2. Lauren, 3. Judit, 4. Alyssa, 5. Rachael, 6. Stephanie, 7. Marie
In this game the ladies were determined to play better and better they did play. On one occasion Lupe took on the UTSA prop in a one on one tackle drill and Lupe came out on top, (this picture in on the site) great job. Rachael then showed that she is a force with the ball in hand, she challenged her opposite and knocked her backward and on her back side (this picture is also on the site). Stephanie and Marie both had break away runs only to be tackled. Alyssa made all kinds of tackles, passed the ball to everyone and even attempted a pop kick which went where she wanted it to go, except we just couldn't capitalize on that kick. While Cora didn't play in this final match, she showed a lot of heart in her first 2 matches, she also is pictured making a good tackle. And Lauren playing and showing a lot of heart herself did some incredible rucking (also pictured) in this game as well as winning her share of balls when it came to scrum time. But the highlight of this match was watching Judit take another pass and leave her opponents in the dust, scoring her 2nd Try of the afternoon. Like the previous 2 matches, we just couldn't put enough together to pull out a victory and lost a tough match, UTSA 22, UTD 5
I am proud of all the ladies that made this trip and played their hearts out. They showed improvement in all phases of the game and will only get better with time.
Upcoming Matches
The Men take the field this weekend (kick off 2:00pm) against LeTourneau University, while this season may not have started the way they wanted, considering they reached the Lonestar Conference final 4 last year. They are a team that can be dangerous. They have size, speed and skill at all position and they have made it known that they want to be the team that hands UT Dallas their first defeat in 2 1/2 seasons.
But that's going to be a tall order, because while we have lost a couple of players, we have players stepping up to fill that void and make their own headway now.
The Women take the field at 4:00pm in their second match with cross town TCU, the last time we played them we split a win each and the 3rd and deciding match had to be cancelled due to lighting in the area. So our ladies will be working hard on their skills and will come out ready to play rugby and show those Horned Frogs who the now club is and that we are going to be a force for the future.
We hope to have a huge crowd supporting UT Dallas Rugby's Men and Women as they march on to hopefully a Lonestar Championship. See you all out this coming Saturday.