Last week, Rick Martinez showed up at our practice bearing gifts. He went out and purchased warm up t-shirts for all the rugby players at UT Dallas. With that I send a HUGE Thank you to the Martinez family for their gifts to the players. As Rick put it, when he saw MSU show up with their club t-shirts on. There was no way we were ever going to look bad before the game. So far we haven’t looked bad on the field either and we don’t want to start this weekend.
Your UT Dallas Women play UTSA, Saturday at 4:45pm and again about 6:50pm. They’ll be playing 7’s meaning there’s only 7 players on the regulation pitch and they play two 7 minute halves. This is exciting and a brand new era, the ladies have been practicing even harder than before. Especially now, that they have a match under their belts and ready to do it all again. UTSA like us is a new club and their ladies haven’t had too many opportunities to play and speaking with their coach. They’re as excited as we are. This will be a true battle of new forces, and a look at the future of Women’s College Rugby.
After the ladies play, UT Dallas Men’s Rugby Club will take the field against LeTourneau University. Remarkably (and I’m not surprised) LeTourneau finished fourth in the Lonestar Conference and earned this spot in the playoffs.
The match kicks off about 5:15pm.
We have played LeTourneau twice and beat them both times, the first time we played them. The final score was 53 to 10, but the match was a lot closer than the score indicated. Our next match with them was a much closer game. They held us scoreless in the first half and we were able to beat them 17 to 3. So the gap between them and us is shrinking and need to remember, on any given Saturday any club can be beaten. We must respect the ability and skills that LeTourneau brings. They are the only club that has kept us from earning a bonus point for scoring at least 4 Trys in a match. They bring everything to the table and we have to be prepared to dish it out.
Last year, we were the new kids on the block and no one took us serious, but we came out and played. This is what we’ve been stressing in practice all week and I think the lads are ready. I know for a fact that they wish today was Saturday and the match was beginning now, but they have to wait. We all have to wait.
After the UT Dallas/LeTourneau match, the women take the pitch again for their second round match against UTSA in another 15 minute match.
If we win on Saturday, we come back to UTSA to play the winner of the UT San Antonio v Angelo State match. UTSA holds a slight edge on ASU, they tied 24 all in their first meeting and UTSA beat ASU 34 to 5 the second time. We’ll have to wait and see which two teams meet for the Lonestar Conference Championship. The championship match will take place at noon on Sunday, March 3rd.
I realize it’s a late start for two playoff matches, but we’ve been assured quality referees and assistant referees for these playoffs and because of the late start, we’re pretty much guaranteed good people in the middle and touch lines.
The coaches, Bear, Sharpie and I are excited about this upcoming weekend and like the guys and girls playing, we’re all looking forward to having you come out and cheer us on to 3 wins on Saturday and one on Sunday.
I’ve posted the address and directions to UTSA on the web site, but if
anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to contact
me.