On an unseasonably warm December day, with good winds blowing from the south, we took the field to kick off the match. UT Dallas kicked off to UD, but was able to take possession away and 2 minutes into the match UT Dallas was putting up the first points of the match. The Try was started by Flyhalf Vince Dutton with some nifty running and a beautiful pass to Marc to slot those first points of the match, but as fate would have it that also was the end of Marc’s day. Due to him spraining his ankle, he now got to sit on the side lines and watch his team-mates play. UD was quick to strike back, having taken the ball away from the attacking UT Dallas side, UD was able to get on the board and tie the match at 7, but that would be all the scoring for UD. As your UT Dallas Comets opened the Try gates with a series of Trys.
The lineup:
1. Erbold Uran, 2. Anthony Paradowski, 3. Nate Pyle, 4. John Bradshaw, 5. Weston Hearne, 6. Ben Bales, 7. Jimmy Chi, 8. Steven Hale, 9. Cameron Brussard, 10. Vince Dutton, 11. Marc Hudac, 12. Dominic Prestia, 13. Chad McDonald, 14. Alejandro Chinchilla, 15. Marcus Burnside.
Reserves: Justin Thompson, Michael Janis, Trevor Smith, Joe Conover, Steven Shaffer, Brian Martinez, Alex Chi, Arturo Sifuentes, Otto Wilkinson and Stephen Boeding.
The match was classic UT Dallas; we came out doing what we needed to do and supporting each other along the way. First half Trys were scored by Marc Hudac as reported earlier, Alejandro Chinchilla, Justin Thompson (his first Try ever), Vince Dutton and Cameron Brussard. Vince was 3 for 5 on conversions into the wind. The score at the end of the first half, UTD -31. UD - 7
Bringing in only one reserve to begin the second half, the plan was to keep pressure on UD, make sure they aren’t able to get quick scores and get back into the game. With about 30 minutes remaining in the match and with having a comfortable lead, reserves began to make their appearance in the match and they contributed in defense and our attack.
Second half scorers were Cameron Brussard, Dominic Prestia, and Trevor Smith (his first Try). Vince was 3 for 3 on conversions this half. The final score UTD - 52, UD – 7.
Later that day the first national rankings for 2012-13, came out for the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) and UT Dallas is still in the top 20. Currently UT Dallas is ranked 18 out of over 120 small college and universities all competing for the NSCRO Championship.
More great news, along with our growing Women’s Rugby team, we now have someone who has joined us, while she hasn’t been officially confirmed, it’s great to have Lauren Sharp or Sharpie as she likes to be called join us in building rugby fo the men and women of the University of Texas at
Dallas.