The match began on time (9am) on a still wet field from yesterday’s storms that rolled through Dallas. This made ball handling and footing a bit tricky, but at least it was both sides feeling the pressure of those mistakes. But it was UTD to put up the first points, Fly half Vince Dutton scored the first Try and his own conversion just 7 minutes into the match. Luke Taran notched his own Try at the 15 minute mark of the half and we weren’t done yet. Vince Dutton
connected on a Penalty Kick at the 27 minute mark and Chad McDonald finished the half by scoring his first Try of the season in the 39th minute. With that missed conversion, the first half ended with UTD in command 20– 0.
A few changes were made due to minor injuries or tactical substitutions, the second half began and it didn’t take long for UTD to capitalize on a Lamar miscue and Alejandro Chinchilla scored his first Try of the match in the
41stminute, this time Vince converted the Try. Cameron Broussard scored a Try in the 46th minute, Vince
conversion was good. Then Vince Dutton ran through the Lamar defenders to score his second Try of the match and converted his own Try. But UTD wasn’t done yet, history was about to be made and that historical shot was Vince Dutton connecting on his first Drop Kick of the season and I believe UTD history, with that kick in the 60th minute, this gave UTD a commanding 44 to 0 lead. Lamar would eventually score a Try of their own, but by then the match was clearly over. The final score UT Dallas 44, Lamar 5.
The starting lineup is listed:
1. Josef Velten 9. Luke Taran
2. Anthony Paradowski 10. Vince Dutton
3. Erbold Uran 11. Marc Hudak
4. John Bradshaw 12. Dominic Prestia
5. Weston Hearne 13. Nathan Sohadaseni
6. Ben Bales 14. Alejandro Chinchilla
7. Zachary Ussery 15. Steven Shaffer
8. Steven Hale
The reserves and times they entered the match are listed:
Chad McDonald = 27th minute for Dominic (12)
Cameron Broussard = 35th minute for Luke (9)
Jonathan Holmes, Luke Lewis & Ross Chan = 41st minute for Erbold, Marc & Steven S (3, 11 & 15)
Alex Chi, Richard Clubine& Brandon Miller = 50th minute for Josef, Ben & Nathan (1, 6 & 13)
Jimmy Chi & David Weisser = 57th minute for John & Weston (4 & 5)
Stephen Boeding = 60th minute for Vince (10)
Scott Fehle = 63rd minute for Anthony (2)
Carter Nelson = 73rd minute for Zach (7)
My opinion the top performers this week is the entire club, each player gives me what I ask of them, whether it's starting or coming in as a reserve in the final minutes of a match. But to single out a couple players who have really stepped up in their play. Alex and Jimmy Chi, Alex a prop is beginning to get what a props role is and now starting to make opponents suffer. Jimmy a converted prop, now playing second row is now becoming a standout on the pitch and I know he could step up on the first 15 and not miss a beat. Another prop really coming on like gang busters is Jonathan Holmes, he's becoming a one man wrecking ball on the field, picking up the ball at the back of rucks, tackling his opposites and anyone else sorry enough to carry the ball into his domain. Hooker Scott Fahle, each week he shows that he's a viable member of this club and is starting to come out of his shell.
Every one of my players played as hard as possible not only during this match, but every match we’ve played and every practice. Who would have thought that this UT Dallas Rugby Club would finish the season undefeated and with the number one seed to host the Texas Rugby Union Collegiate Division III Championship? Personally I only wanted us to be competitive, I thought we’d win some games, but I had no clue that these young men would bond together like they have and play as well as they have.
But it’s not over, there is a Championship to be won and this week at practice, we’ll be concerning ourselves with getting ready to host UTSA. This championship will be on the UT Dallas campus (Field 6), the match is currently scheduled for Sunday, Feb.26th, but waiting to hear back from them and then will need to see if we (UTD and the players) can work this out.
If you witnessed the first meeting between UTSA and UTD, the first half ended 5 – 0 in UTSA’s favor, but the second half was all UTD, winning 15 to 5. But that match was tougher and closer than the score indicated.
UTSA is a very good club and they are coached by a very good guy, and it’s going to take all of our focus and concentration to overcome all the minor obstacles that’s going to be coming our way. We plan on preparing for this upcoming match the same as we’ve prepared for every one of our matches before and we’ll come out ready to play.