Saturday, Oct. 29th your UTD Rugby Football Club played their first league match in many years (it could really be as long as 8 years since their last) against Lamar University.
   The day began a little rocky, while trying to find a fabric store to get foam to use as goal post pads (which I found out we didn't have any the night before) I was informed that the current lines on the field we very faint and might need a going over.  Again, we didn't have any of the materials available, and upon finally finding the foam, I was going to purchase the field marking equipment but was told by the club officers that we'll do without it, but to just get there.  Note, it was already 1:20pm and we wanted the match to start roughly 1:00pm.  Once I got to the field, all the players quickly came over picked up our brand spanking new school colored jerseys. socks, match balls and foam for the goal posts and quickly went about taking care of business while I sorted out the lineup, and giving the referee the proper paperwork to start the match.  Finally we have everything done and pregame talks over with, let the games begin.
   The match began about 1:50pm with UTD receiving the kick off, it was great watching the green and orange running around the field.  Defensively both teams were keen and hitting hard, there were a few wows from the side lines because of those hits, but it was UTD that started the scoring, Nathan scored the game opener with a beautiful open field run. we missed the conversion.  Then Lamar utilized the speed they had on the outside and scored 2 Trys themselves and like us they missed both of the conversions.  Lamar seemed to be on their way to a 3rd first half score when one of their fast backs broke through our defense and saw nothing but green in front of him, but our number 8 - Steve H., with support from the fullback Steve S. and wing Marc ran him down and made a beautiful Try saving tackle, and UTD wasn't going to be stopped.  This time it was Dominic with a huge run and great burst of speed scored the game tying Try to end the first half, UTD 10 - Lamar 10.
The line up for the 1st half was:
1. Nick Walker, 2. Zeng (Dwight) Yuxiang, 3. Erbold Uran, 4. John Bradshaw, 5. Weston Hearne, 6. Ben Bales, 7. Zack Ussery, 8. Steve Hale, 9. Cameron Broussard, 10. Stephen Boeding, 11. Ross Chan, 12. Dominic Prestia, 13. Nathan Sohadaseni. 14. Marc Hudak, 15. Steve Shaffer
  The second half began with a few changes to the line up - not that those players were playing badly, but to give a needed spark to the game, since they were fresh, those changes seemed to be what we needed.  Defensively, UTD was very good, especially when Lamar gave the ball to some of their rather large players and when Lamar tried to use that same speed on the outside, they were shut down.  But now it was UTD's turn to turn on the speed and open up with a flurry of Try scoring opportunities.  I can't remember the order of the Trys but here's recap on how the Trys were scored.
   Nathan again using his speed and with the assist from Dominic scored a really nice Try in this half.
   Cameron scored on a broken play from about 5 yards out, assist went to the forwards.
   Ben (this was my personal favorite) scored off of our Line Out from about 10 yards out from a play we had been working on for the past 2 weeks.  He saw the opportunity, made the call John caught the throw and dished it out to Ben who turned the corner and had only Lamar's small wing to stop him which he couldn't.  SWEET!!!
   Alejandro then scored himself from about 70 yards out sprinting past and away from the rest of the Lamar defense.
   The match ended with UTD winning their first league match in school history 34 to Lamar's 10.  This was a huge match for the lads and their conditioning is really starting to pay off, but we aren't going to rest on this because we still have two more league matches to play this fall.
The line up for the second half:
1. Nick Walker, 2. Anthony Paradowski, 3. Erbold Uran, 4. John Bradshaw, 5. Weston Hearne, 6. Ben Bales, 7. Zack Ussery, 8. Steve Hale, 9. Cameron Broussard, 10. Nathan Sohadaseni, 11. Alejandro Chinchilla, 12. Dominic Prestia, 13. Brandon Miller. 14. Marc Hudac, 15. Steve Shaffer
  Coming in the second half - Chad McDonald for Brandon, Josef Velten for Erbold, Parker Hannah for Marc.
   We have the weekend of Nov. 5th off and will have our next league match Saturday, Nov. 12th against Tyler Jr. College.  This will be a Home match for your lads of the UT Dallas Rugby Club and we're working with our Recreation Sports Director Chris McAlpine to hopefully have a field on campus to play this match.  I'll have to send out another e-mail to you all the week of this match with all the information on if we're successful in acquiring a field along with a scouting report on Tyler JC.
   I'd like to thank everyone of you that came out yesterday to watch this exciting match and for some of you this was a drive from Houston and Austin.  This means a lot to them and ME and without your support on the sidelines we'd be playing matches to empty side lines, except for the friends and girl-friends the players have who come out. 
    In closing, we're about to open a UT Dallas web site so that all the supporters of the UT Dallas Rugby Football Club can go to to catch up on all the goings on and news of your team.  When we get this up and going, you will be notified. 
   Also, since this game may be different from anything you have ever seen, I thought you might want to know a little more about it.  There is a book "Rugby for Dummies" written by Patrick Guthrie and Matthew Brown.  This is a very good book, because it will explain the laws of the game, position break downs and many interesting stories about rugby and the traditions of rugby.

    The members of the UTD Rugby club are preparing themselves better this week after the thrashing we took last week against the University of Dallas.  For anyone who hadn't heard the score - UD 62, UTD 12, but there were a number of bright spots in that match. To mention a few of them, Nathan Sohadaseni (Captain) was a tackling machine, he also scored our first Try of the day in the second half.  Steven Boeding has been working on his kicking and now has two conversions this year.  Our newest scrumhalf Cameron Broussard is beginning to be a thorn in the oppositions side with his elusive running style and he scored his first Rugby Try against UD.  Nick Walker at Prop has been steady and getting fitter each week.  And this is really helpful since we lost one of our Props and will need him to play a larger role, which he's doing just fine.  John Bradshaw and Weston Hearne are becoming the Lock Forwards I like to see.  Their strong steadyness in the scrums and lifting and jumping in the lineouts are helping us win good ball. 
   This should be a great weekend for our first league match, the weather should be great and cool and I'm hoping to come home with a win.  Looking forward to seeing all of you if you can make it.
 

  This is a first, a brand new club taking 3 place in a tournament.  It shows the kinds of determination, guts and heart these lads have in taking on this new game, that many didn't know what a rugby ball looked like 6 weeks ago. 
   One other note on this day (and it really wasn't a factor) but two of our players Nathan and Dominic weren't with us because they were playing in their own tournament in Ft. Worth with the Texas Rugby Union Collegiate All Stars.  I heard from the head coach that both of our lads played extremely well and it's tribute to the hard work both put in both on and off the field for their club to get to that point.
   On a rainy day (on and off) the lads took the field against Angelo St. University roughly 11:00am and I think this may have been the first game of the day nerves, but the played well against a very seasoned division 2 club.  We allowed ASU to score twice in the first half, but to the UTD side, we got our defense on and gave up only one more score in the second half.  The final score was ASU 15, UTD 0, despite the score it was a very close game.
   The second match was against St. Edward's University, a rematch of our third and final match in our first round robin tournament in Austin 3 weeks ago.  In that first match, we battled St. Ed's to a 10 - 0 loss.  This time, we took it to them.  For the first time we played almost the entire first half in St. Ed's half of the field.  We passed, we tackled, we were playing as a team and attacking St. Ed's weakness.  We just couldn't punch it across the goal line.  In the last 5 minutes of the match St. Ed's managed to score one and the half ended.  The second half was pretty much like the first half except Sean scored a well deserved Try to bring the score to St. Ed's 7, UTD 5.  Unfortunately we managed to allow them to score one more time.  The final score St. Ed's 12, UTD 5.
   The third match was against UT San Antonio, this was another very good match.  Both teams equal and the first half was played between the 22 meter lines.  Both teams just couldn't break through and the first half ended 0 - 0.  The second half was much better, UTD found their way back into UTSA's red zone and pounded and pressed on, when our Fly Half Vince found an opening and ran 35 yards to score his first Try of the season and the game to put UTD ahead for the first time in any game.  But credit UTSA for battling back, because that's what they did and score a Try near the goal post for an easy conversion.  The final score UTD 5, UTSA 7.
    With all that being done we were preparing for the consolation final against ASU, but they decided to leave and forfeit the match.  Hence UT Dallas won the match and collected the Third Place Trophy, our first of hopefully many more.  It was exciting to watch these men start to come into their own on the Rugby field and I'm having as much fun as they are.
  Below are the line ups for each match:
UTD v ASU           UTD v St. Ed             UTD v UTSA
1. Sean                     1. Nick                          1. Nick
2. Dwight                 2. Chris                         2. Dwight
3. Urbold                 3.  Urbold/Sean             3. Sean
4. Ben                      4. John                          4. John
5. John                     5. Sean/Desmond          5. Desmond
6. Fransisco              6. Ben                           6. Fransisco
7. Zach                     7. Zach                          7. Zach
8. Steve Hale           8. Steve H                     8. Steve H
9. Stephen Boeding   9. Cameron                   9. Cameron
10. Vince                 10. Vince                      10. Vince
11. Alejandro           11. Trevor/Alejandro   11. Alejandro
12. Liam                  12. Stephen B               12. Liam
13. Justin/Trevor     13. Justin                      13. Justin
14. Mark                  14. Steve Shaffer          14. Mark
15. Steve S               15. Ross                        15. Ross
 
  We have this weekend off, no games, but we're working on scheduling a match with the University of Dallas at their field in Irving.  When we have that confirmed, I'll send another e-mail with my scouting report and details on the match.
    I'd like to thank everyone who's supported the lads, bringing food, water, bananas etc. without your help and support to cheer them on, this would seem like an uphill battle.  One item that has so far been mentioned, the other clubs we've played are simply amazed by the support you bring and that means a lot to hear.  When we are voted into the Texas Rugby Union as full members, just the fact that you all are at our games will sway the votes to get us in.  Everyone likes to compete in front of a large fan base, either their own or in front of their opponents and I as well as the members of the UT Dallas Rugby Club thank all of you and look forward to seeing you at more games in the future.
   Lastly, I will be forwarding our schedule by Friday of this week and if anyone has any questions regarding that or anything else, please e-mail me or you can call me on my cell 972-365-0488.  I have an open door or phone for everyone involved with the UT Dallas Rugby Football Club.  Thanks for taking the time to read my short novel.

stuff about the first game