Another exciting season is behind us. We had some ups and downs in the fall portion, playing to a 2 win, 2 loss. But when the spring portion of our season began, we were able to put together 3 complete victories without a loss to finish with 5 wins and 2 losses.
  That record propelled us to finish 3rd in our conference, our highest ranking in the past 3 years. With the playoffs beginning this coming weekend and with 8 clubs competing in these playoffs, our ranking came out as 5 in the Lonestar Conference.
    The playoffs will be played at Tarlelton St. Univ. on March 4th and 5th.  Saturday's game will be played as 20 minute halves, Sunday being two 40 minute halves.
     Our opening opponent will be Sam Houston St. and this game should begin about 12noon. Depending on the results of that game, we could play either at 3:00pm or 4:00pm.
​      The address to Tarlelton St. will be post paternal today (Monday). We're looking forward to having everyone come out and support the lads as they make their run in these playoffs.

     Address info is listed in the Game Day Directions section of this web site.

    On a unseasonably warm winter's afternoon, your UT Dallas Rugby Club put up the goal posts, set the rope barriers and laced up their boots.  All this in preparation for the final league match of the 2016-17 season against Rice University. 
     Rice Univ. made the trip up from Houston for this match, since there really isn't any history between the 2 clubs.  In reality, the closest thing to history I can think of is that Rice was the very first team UTD faced in our very first game ever 6 years ago.  And in that game, Rice beat us good, but we did manage to score our very first try against them, and I still remember it like it was yesterday.  Off of a ruck, quick ball was spun out to the Wing (Steven "Sunshine" Hale) where he went to the left side of the pitch, then Captain Nathan Sohadiseni called for the ball, Sunshine gave it to him and Nathan sprinted 50 yards for that epic Try.  Ok, enough of the past, let's get back to the present.
     Kick off was at 4:33, and both sides went at each other, moving the ball up and down the pitch.  It was a real good battle of 2 well coached clubs. 
The line up:
1. Caleb, 2. Nicky, 3. Ryan, 4. Connor, 5. Aly, 6. Andrew P., 7. Steven L., 8. Kevin, 9. Michael, 10. Andrew W., 11. Coleman, 12. Chase, 13. Steven M., 14. Eric, 15. Zack
Reserves: 16. John M., 18. Jarvis, 19. Edmund, 20. Will, 22. Yahve, 23. Andrew B.
      As I stated, both clubs attacked and defended with good pace, but it was UTD in the 9th minute that got on the score board first, with a Try from Flanker Andrew Palet.  It was an interesting play, Number 8 Kevin took a pass from the backs and cut through the Rice defense.  Was tackled by the Fullback and while on his back, he passed the ball to (we thought no one was there) Andrew who continued the movement into the goal for his first Try.  Others scoring in the first half was Andrew, Chase and Steven M.  The first half ended UTD 15, Rice 0.
     The second half became a game, Rice fought back to put 10 points on the board, to come within 5 points and getting back into the game.  But the UTD defense stood firm and we attacked to get move points in the second half.  We managed to get 12 points in the half, with scores coming from Will and Eric both scoring a Try and Andrew W, converting one of those Trys.
     And this epic match came to a conclusion, UTD 27, Rice 10.  This completes the 2016-17 league season and UT Dallas finished with a 5 win, 2 loss record our best in 3 years and a strong lock on 3rd place before the Lonestar Playoffs begin on March 4th and 5th.  Those playoffs will be played at Tarleton St. Univ. in Stephenville, more about that later as I get more details on those playoffs.
     After the Rice match, Rice entertained the notion and suited up 7 of their players that didn't get to play, and like wise did UTD.  We took the pitch for 2 seven minute halves, with 15 different players playing in those 2 halves it was fun watching them run and tackle, but the real surprise was rookie Weston Ho scoring not one but 2 Trys in his first rugby match of his young career.  Well done Weston.

    On a cold, gloomy afternoon, your UT Dallas Rugby Club took on St. Edward's University (SEU).  For the record, UT Dallas has not been able to beat SEU in the past 4 years, but this is a new team and a new year.
 The line up:
1. Caleb, 2. Nicky, 3. Ryan, 4. Aly, 5. Daniel, 6. Steven L., 7. Clint, 8. Kevin, 9. Michael, 10. Andrew W., 11. Coleman, 12. Chase, 13. Edmund, 14. Eric, 15. Zack
Reserves: Conner, Seth, John M.
     The match kicked off on time and it was on, both UTD and SEU came out on fire, and it took only 6 minutes into the match for the first score to be grounded.  And that score was by UT Dallas Number 8, Kevin Clift who took a nifty pass and sliced through SEU to score the first Try of the game and Edmund made the conversion to give UTD a 7 to 0 lead over SEU.  But that lead wouldn't last long, SEU was able to take possession of the ball and marched down the pitch to score 2 Trys along with one conversion.  Now SEU had the lead 12 points to UT Dallas' 7 and that is how the first half came to an end.
     The second half began and was pretty much like the first half, both sides attacking each other and both sides defending their territory in a very entertaining match, unless you were on the side lines, then you were probably biting nails.  Early in the second half, Connor (UTD) was able to score a Try to even the match at 12 points each.  Which gave us life, but there was still a lot of time remaining and SEU wasn't giving up.  Then SEU found a gap in the UTD defense and rumbled in to score their 3rd Try of the match, now SEU had a 17 to 12 lead over UTD.  This time, it was UT Dallas turn to take advantage of turn over ball, deep in SEU territory.  SEU defended their goal line with a very stiff defense, but it was Andrew Whiteis who was able to sneak through and score the game tying Try.  Now with the score even at 17, it was anyone's game.  SEU was marching down the pitch and controlling the ball with a series of pick and goes and their fullback joined the attack line to get deep into UT Dallas territory.  This time is was UTD's turn to defend their goal line and that they did in great fashion and even managed to steal the ball from SEU.  UT Dallas in an effort to get SEU out of our red zone, we kicked away possession, and the SEU fullback was only able to bring it to about mid way between the half way line and goal line and again UTD was able to poach away SEU's possession.  And one of the series of rucks, Scrumhalf, Michael Shamoun saw a gap in the SEU defense picked up the ball and ran almost 65 yards down the field to score the game winning Try and Kevin converted that Try to give UTD a score of 24 to SEU's 17.
     That is how the game ended, and for the first time in 4 years UT Dallas was able to beat St. Edward's.  St. Edward's is a very good team and I know that if we meet them in the playoffs, they will be ready to avenge this match and I think that we'll be just as ready.
      This week everyone has the weekend off, with the USA Eagles set to play a game in Round Rock, I'm encouraging everyone to make the trip to watch and support the Eagles.  Our next match will be Feb. 18th at home against Rice University.  I'll write a little about the Rice/UT Dallas history next week.