By the time the first half was over, SMU had knocked out 2 of our starting XV and our first reserve.
The line up:
1. Caleb, 2. Myles, 3. Brandon, 4. Chris L., 5. Chris D., 6. Greyson, 7. Daniel, 8. Jake, 9. Alex, 10. Andrew W., 11. Eric, 12. Andrew D., 13. Nicky, 14. Steven, 15. Zac
Reserves into the game - Manny, Conner, Seth, Bryan, Ryan, Edmund
The match had all the intensity of a championship match, SMU was playing for their first win of the season and also to try and maintain to dominance they had created last year. While UT Dallas was playing for our 2nd win of the year and get back the advantage that the earlier UTD teams had over SMU.
It was UT Dallas to draw first blood on the scoreboard, Alex kicked a penalty kick to give us a 3 to 0 lead, but on the next kick off, SMU played a bouncing ball deep into our territory and grounded their first converted try of the game. Now the score SMU 7, UT Dallas 3. This would be all the scoring in the first half.
The second half had UT Dallas going into a rather stiff wind, which meant any kicks needed to be low and hard. But the wind didn't stop them, this half UT Dallas had a sense or urgency in their pick and goes. The forwards did a much better job at rucking and maintaining possession.
During the 2nd half, a scrum was at the SMU 5 meter line, # 8 Jake picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and rumble into goal for the first try of the day and the lead. UT Dallas 8, SMU 7. And again that lead wouldn't last long, SMU would come back and convert another try to regain the lead. SMU 14, UT Dallas 8. All of these scores were done in the first 10 minutes of the second half and it would remain like this for another 15 minutes.
With about 15 minutes remaining in the match, UT Dallas played great and made some good lines in the attack and quick rucks, UT Dallas found the goal line and the conversion was needed to take the lead and it was Andrew Whiteis who nailed the conversion. Which gave UT Dallas a 15 to 14 lead, but SMU had other plans, they stepped up their game and with about 10 minutes remaining. SMU found themselves down a player, due to a yellow card and that was about all that UT Dallas needed.
We maintained possession of the ball with good rucks, and well timed passing in the backs. It was a good team victory over SMU yesterday. We have slowly moved up from the bottom of the pack to become a competitive team.
The girls report will come later this week, after I get a report on the games from yesterday. Pictures of their tournament will be posted later as well.