2011/2012 News & Headlines
Six Gamecocks Receive All-SCRC Accolades
Columbia, SC – Carolina Rugby wishes to congratulate the following players for being recognized by the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference as All-SCRC players in 2012:
1st Tier:
Senior Prop (3) Ian Toomey
Junior Scrum Half (9) Tim Holkenborg
2nd Tier:
Senior Prop (1) Owen Shearer
Junior Lock (4) Sam Zakrzewski
Sophomore Flanker (6) David Mysona
Sophomore Wing (14) Matthew Berenato
Matthew Berenato also received an individual recognition as the SCRC Eastern Division Player of the Week during the first week of competition for his impressive three tries and solid backline defense in USC’s 104-3 routing of the University of Kentucky.
For a full report of the 2012 Southeastern Rugby awards, please visit the following link.
1st Tier:
Senior Prop (3) Ian Toomey
Junior Scrum Half (9) Tim Holkenborg
2nd Tier:
Senior Prop (1) Owen Shearer
Junior Lock (4) Sam Zakrzewski
Sophomore Flanker (6) David Mysona
Sophomore Wing (14) Matthew Berenato
Matthew Berenato also received an individual recognition as the SCRC Eastern Division Player of the Week during the first week of competition for his impressive three tries and solid backline defense in USC’s 104-3 routing of the University of Kentucky.
For a full report of the 2012 Southeastern Rugby awards, please visit the following link.
Carolina Rugby Celebrates Team Jameson
Columbia, SC - Losing a parent is a tragedy no one wants to face, but fourth-year exercise science and Carolina Rugby player Patrick Lawler found that, sometimes, it can breed hope, rejuvenation, and a drive to help others. Two years ago, Patrick lost his mother to cancer, and for the last three, he has participated in Relay For Life, a 12-hour, overnight relay to raise money for the fight against cancer. He teamed up with his friend, Maddie Miller, to form Team Jameson in his mother’s honor.
“My mom always thought it was important to celebrate life. So at her funeral, she wanted everyone to enjoy Miller Lite and Jameson Irish Whiskey. We named the team Jameson to remind ourselves how important it is to celebrate life and the lives of those no longer with us,” Patrick says.
Beginning in 2010, Carolina Rugby began supporting Team Jameson and the American Cancer Society, assisting Patrick in raising roughly $8,000 towards a cure. Last year, the team increased their effort and raised $10,000, more than double the amount raised by the team that placed second. Patrick and the team organized USC’s first Bachelor Auction, which continues to this day. For the event, they designed wristbands with the notorious ‘Cocks against Cancer’ slogan and auctioned a football that Coach Spurrier signed, with all proceeds benefitting Team Jameson.
Despite his success, he planned to achieve even more this year, by setting the most aggressive fundraising goal to date of $15,000. With the conclusion of the 2012 relay, we are proud to announce that Team Jameson exceeded that goal and raised a total of $16,539, bringing their three year total to nearly $35,000 for the American Cancer Society.
"I want to say thanks to all who have supported Team Jameson the last three years. I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful family and friends supporting me, and I am blessed to have you all in my life. I know that my mother is proud and all those whom we honor with our efforts and accomplishments," says Lawler.
Team Jameson was founded on one truth: that love and support is in abundance, and by working together to mobilize our efforts we can give and demonstrate all the love and support we have for those who need it today. The most wonderful way to honor the memory of someone special is to exhibit all they have taught us, the experiences, and the love they brought into our own lives.
"Again, we would like to thank those who have shown their support in the past, and we hope you will continue to support Carolina Rugby & Team Jameson as we work to find a cure for cancer and continue to celebrate the wonderful gift of life."
***This article contains segments written by the Garnet and Black Student Magazine of USC***
“My mom always thought it was important to celebrate life. So at her funeral, she wanted everyone to enjoy Miller Lite and Jameson Irish Whiskey. We named the team Jameson to remind ourselves how important it is to celebrate life and the lives of those no longer with us,” Patrick says.
Beginning in 2010, Carolina Rugby began supporting Team Jameson and the American Cancer Society, assisting Patrick in raising roughly $8,000 towards a cure. Last year, the team increased their effort and raised $10,000, more than double the amount raised by the team that placed second. Patrick and the team organized USC’s first Bachelor Auction, which continues to this day. For the event, they designed wristbands with the notorious ‘Cocks against Cancer’ slogan and auctioned a football that Coach Spurrier signed, with all proceeds benefitting Team Jameson.
Despite his success, he planned to achieve even more this year, by setting the most aggressive fundraising goal to date of $15,000. With the conclusion of the 2012 relay, we are proud to announce that Team Jameson exceeded that goal and raised a total of $16,539, bringing their three year total to nearly $35,000 for the American Cancer Society.
"I want to say thanks to all who have supported Team Jameson the last three years. I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful family and friends supporting me, and I am blessed to have you all in my life. I know that my mother is proud and all those whom we honor with our efforts and accomplishments," says Lawler.
Team Jameson was founded on one truth: that love and support is in abundance, and by working together to mobilize our efforts we can give and demonstrate all the love and support we have for those who need it today. The most wonderful way to honor the memory of someone special is to exhibit all they have taught us, the experiences, and the love they brought into our own lives.
"Again, we would like to thank those who have shown their support in the past, and we hope you will continue to support Carolina Rugby & Team Jameson as we work to find a cure for cancer and continue to celebrate the wonderful gift of life."
***This article contains segments written by the Garnet and Black Student Magazine of USC***
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Carolina Rugby Announces Spring Player Awards
Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby is pleased to announce the recipients of the spring 2012 player awards. The recipients have distinguished themselves both on and off the field as dedicated team members who represent the very best of Carolina Rugby.
Carolina Rugby - Most Valuable Player
Josh Walsh
Premier Side - Most Valuable Player
David Mysona
Reserve Side - Most Valuable Player
Daniel Deal
Palmetto Side - Most Valuable Player
Vincient Borelli
Most Valuable Forward
Sam Zakrzewski
Most Valuable Back
Tim Holkenborg
Rookie of the Season
Michael Rudzinski
Most Improved
Alex Fleming
Following the awards ceremony, Head Coach Mark Morris took a few moments to reflect. "I stand here tonight with a great deal of pride in the student-athletes I have the privilege to coach and mentor here at the University of South Carolina. These awards are the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our more than 60 student athletes, and I am honored to recognize a select few who have truly made an impact on our program. I wish all of our graduates and visiting players a successful future, and I look forward to seeing them again this fall at our 40th Anniversary celebration as fellow Olde Boys. The future is bright for Carolina Rugby, and I look forward to the coming season."
Carolina Rugby - Most Valuable Player
Josh Walsh
Premier Side - Most Valuable Player
David Mysona
Reserve Side - Most Valuable Player
Daniel Deal
Palmetto Side - Most Valuable Player
Vincient Borelli
Most Valuable Forward
Sam Zakrzewski
Most Valuable Back
Tim Holkenborg
Rookie of the Season
Michael Rudzinski
Most Improved
Alex Fleming
Following the awards ceremony, Head Coach Mark Morris took a few moments to reflect. "I stand here tonight with a great deal of pride in the student-athletes I have the privilege to coach and mentor here at the University of South Carolina. These awards are the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our more than 60 student athletes, and I am honored to recognize a select few who have truly made an impact on our program. I wish all of our graduates and visiting players a successful future, and I look forward to seeing them again this fall at our 40th Anniversary celebration as fellow Olde Boys. The future is bright for Carolina Rugby, and I look forward to the coming season."
Southeastern Rugby Set for Championship Weekend
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference is proud to announce that Montgomery, Alabama will serve as the official site for the inaugural SCRC Championship Weekend scheduled for April 14th & 15th. The Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery Yellowhammers will be serving as the hosts, with matches to take place at the YMCA Soccer Complex.
The following match times have been established:
Saturday, April 14
1:00 PM West #1 v East #2 - Louisiana State University v. University of Florida
3:00 PM East #1 v West #2 - University of Tennessee v. University of Alabama
Sunday, April 15
1:00 PM Championship Match
“The recent restructuring of the college game has provided our member teams with a remarkable opportunity to advance the sport of rugby on the national stage by using the existing reputation and rivalries of the Southeastern universities as the impetus to do so,” comments SCRC Commissioner James Farrar. “This event is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our more than 500 student athletes and committed coaches. We are proud of the accomplishments of our member teams and we thank our hosts, the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery Yellow Hammers, and the YMCA Soccer Complex for their gracious
hospitality.”
The winner of Sunday’s Championship match will receive an automatic birth in the 2012 USA Rugby Sweet 16 Regional Playoffs on April 28th & 29th in Knoxville, Tennessee to face the winner of the South Independent
Conference.
The SCRC is a USA Rugby Men's Collegiate Division I rugby conference featuring teams from the universities in the Southeastern Conference. The league members include teams from the University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University.
For more information, please visit the SCRC online at www.SoutheasternRugby.org
The following match times have been established:
Saturday, April 14
1:00 PM West #1 v East #2 - Louisiana State University v. University of Florida
3:00 PM East #1 v West #2 - University of Tennessee v. University of Alabama
Sunday, April 15
1:00 PM Championship Match
“The recent restructuring of the college game has provided our member teams with a remarkable opportunity to advance the sport of rugby on the national stage by using the existing reputation and rivalries of the Southeastern universities as the impetus to do so,” comments SCRC Commissioner James Farrar. “This event is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our more than 500 student athletes and committed coaches. We are proud of the accomplishments of our member teams and we thank our hosts, the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery Yellow Hammers, and the YMCA Soccer Complex for their gracious
hospitality.”
The winner of Sunday’s Championship match will receive an automatic birth in the 2012 USA Rugby Sweet 16 Regional Playoffs on April 28th & 29th in Knoxville, Tennessee to face the winner of the South Independent
Conference.
The SCRC is a USA Rugby Men's Collegiate Division I rugby conference featuring teams from the universities in the Southeastern Conference. The league members include teams from the University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University.
For more information, please visit the SCRC online at www.SoutheasternRugby.org
Carolina Runs Out of Time, Falls to Florida
Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby hosted the Gators of the University of Florida this weekend in their final SCRC matrix match of the season. Coming off of a win against the Vanderbilt Commodores, the Gamecocks looked to use the forward momentum to upset the #5 Gators and end the season on a positive note.
Florida came out strong with great offloading in the backline that drew in the Carolina defenders allowing for a quick try on the outside for an early lead. Carolina answered back 15 minutes in with a penalty kick by scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg to bring the score to 7-3. Throughout the next 20 minutes of play, the Gamecocks had to make several substitutions after losing two pack players and scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg due to injuries. The lack of continuity gave Florida the advantage along with their second try minutes before the half. The try was unconverted, taking the teams into the break with a halftime score of 12-03 in Florida’s favor.
The second half proved to be a better one for the Gamecocks, as the both sides of the ball were able to make substantial gains against the Florida backline. 15 points were made in the second half with tries made by 8-man Pat Lawler, fullback Cullen Clair, and prop Ian Toomey. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks were unable to contain the Gators who scored 17 additional points of their own off of three tries and a conversion. Carolina had several opportunities to score throughout the match, breaking within 10 meters of the Gator try line on several occasions, though excellent defense by Florida kept the Gamecocks on the outside looking in. The match ended 29-18 in Florida's favor.
One area of celebration was the performance on the reserve side that dominated in their match against Florida. The first half saw a series of tries by fullback Alex Darrah with a long run on the outside, flanker Christian Black off of a ruck, and 8-man Michael Habat, also off of a ruck, with two of them being converted by center Tom Plumley. At half, the Gamecocks had a commanding 19-0 lead over the Gators, though the second half saw more aggression from the Florida line. Back to back tries by Florida brought the Gators back into contention until USC wing Paradise Taylor scored on the outside putting the game out of reach. The match ended 24-12 in USC's favor. “The reserves did a great job executing the game plan, looking for the offloads and the gaps in the Florida line," notes Coach Morris. "We're proud of their performance and we look for some of them to make their move to the Premier Side next semester."
“Today was a great improvement on both sides of the ball,” said Head Coach Mark Morris. “We won most of our set pieces, keeping the ball under control in the rucks and had great runs through the Florida line. Inside center Peter Boland had a number of line breaks and 8-man Constantine Vana had several pick n’ go’s off the base of the scrum to keep the momentum forward. There were several missed opportunities 10 meters within Florida’s try line that could have easily of tipped the match in our favor, though Florida kept the pressure on and kept us from punching a few in.
Regardless of the loss, Coach Morris remained positive on the outcome of the season. “Overall, I am very proud of the team for turning things around by the end of the season. We were able to make adjustments and improve on our tactics each week, putting up a tougher defense and cleaning up the backline. Coming off last semester with aspirations high, it was certainly disappointing not to perform up to our potential, though the competition of the Southeastern Conference has elevated our game and challenged us in new ways. We were able to hang tough with #5 Florida, hoping for a repeat of last spring’s late match rally, though unfortunately time ran out and a few runs didn’t go our way.”
When asked about player retention over the offseason, Coach Morris was confident in the returning players. “We have several graduating seniors on all three sides, so we’ll be using the upcoming fall season to not only work on our recent shortcomings, but to reevaluate our starting positions and begin to bring a few players up to the next level. The coaching staff is very proud of the performance of our Reserve Side this season, to include big wins over Georgia and Florida, and we’re confident the fall season will give us enough time to experiment with the existing players, as well as incoming players to put together the best combinations for each side.”
With the Carolina season at its end, the Gamecocks look forward to some time off in preparation for the summer 7’s season set to begin in late May. More information on upcoming tournaments will be released in the coming weeks.
Florida came out strong with great offloading in the backline that drew in the Carolina defenders allowing for a quick try on the outside for an early lead. Carolina answered back 15 minutes in with a penalty kick by scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg to bring the score to 7-3. Throughout the next 20 minutes of play, the Gamecocks had to make several substitutions after losing two pack players and scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg due to injuries. The lack of continuity gave Florida the advantage along with their second try minutes before the half. The try was unconverted, taking the teams into the break with a halftime score of 12-03 in Florida’s favor.
The second half proved to be a better one for the Gamecocks, as the both sides of the ball were able to make substantial gains against the Florida backline. 15 points were made in the second half with tries made by 8-man Pat Lawler, fullback Cullen Clair, and prop Ian Toomey. Unfortunately, the Gamecocks were unable to contain the Gators who scored 17 additional points of their own off of three tries and a conversion. Carolina had several opportunities to score throughout the match, breaking within 10 meters of the Gator try line on several occasions, though excellent defense by Florida kept the Gamecocks on the outside looking in. The match ended 29-18 in Florida's favor.
One area of celebration was the performance on the reserve side that dominated in their match against Florida. The first half saw a series of tries by fullback Alex Darrah with a long run on the outside, flanker Christian Black off of a ruck, and 8-man Michael Habat, also off of a ruck, with two of them being converted by center Tom Plumley. At half, the Gamecocks had a commanding 19-0 lead over the Gators, though the second half saw more aggression from the Florida line. Back to back tries by Florida brought the Gators back into contention until USC wing Paradise Taylor scored on the outside putting the game out of reach. The match ended 24-12 in USC's favor. “The reserves did a great job executing the game plan, looking for the offloads and the gaps in the Florida line," notes Coach Morris. "We're proud of their performance and we look for some of them to make their move to the Premier Side next semester."
“Today was a great improvement on both sides of the ball,” said Head Coach Mark Morris. “We won most of our set pieces, keeping the ball under control in the rucks and had great runs through the Florida line. Inside center Peter Boland had a number of line breaks and 8-man Constantine Vana had several pick n’ go’s off the base of the scrum to keep the momentum forward. There were several missed opportunities 10 meters within Florida’s try line that could have easily of tipped the match in our favor, though Florida kept the pressure on and kept us from punching a few in.
Regardless of the loss, Coach Morris remained positive on the outcome of the season. “Overall, I am very proud of the team for turning things around by the end of the season. We were able to make adjustments and improve on our tactics each week, putting up a tougher defense and cleaning up the backline. Coming off last semester with aspirations high, it was certainly disappointing not to perform up to our potential, though the competition of the Southeastern Conference has elevated our game and challenged us in new ways. We were able to hang tough with #5 Florida, hoping for a repeat of last spring’s late match rally, though unfortunately time ran out and a few runs didn’t go our way.”
When asked about player retention over the offseason, Coach Morris was confident in the returning players. “We have several graduating seniors on all three sides, so we’ll be using the upcoming fall season to not only work on our recent shortcomings, but to reevaluate our starting positions and begin to bring a few players up to the next level. The coaching staff is very proud of the performance of our Reserve Side this season, to include big wins over Georgia and Florida, and we’re confident the fall season will give us enough time to experiment with the existing players, as well as incoming players to put together the best combinations for each side.”
With the Carolina season at its end, the Gamecocks look forward to some time off in preparation for the summer 7’s season set to begin in late May. More information on upcoming tournaments will be released in the coming weeks.
Match Roster
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Scoring Report
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Carolina Holds on for Music City Victory
Nashville, TN - Carolina Rugby hit the road for Nashville, Tennessee to play the Commodores of Vanderbilt University this weekend in their third and final road match of the season. Coming off of a long break following a loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the Gamecocks needed a win over the Commodores to end the season on a positive note.
Carolina came out strong with solid back play, keeping the ball in control and in Vanderbilt territory early on, though a lack of size in the forwards allowed the Commodores to seize an advantage in the rucks causing several turnovers. Halfway into the first half, momentum began to shift in favor of the Gamecocks with back-to-back tries, first by wing Alex Fisher and second by center Dan Deal. Scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg converted both, along with a penalty kick at the 35 minutes mark. Following the kickoff, Vanderbilt used some strong runs on the outside to push in a try that was successfully converted, taking the teams into the break with a halftime score of 17-07 in USC’s favor.
The second half proved to be more difficult for the Gamecocks, as Vanderbilt elevated their aggression level and continued to apply steady defense around the rucks and scrums. The Commodores were able to tie up the match with a converted try and a penalty kick before pulling ahead for the first time with another converted try. Vanderbilt continued their streak with a second penalty kick before scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg answered with a penalty kick of his own to make it a one possession game. With 15 minutes left in the half, Carolina made some crucial substitutions to keep the intensity level high, which they did with a converted try by wing Zac Gorman to tie the match with less than 5 minutes to go. The Gamecocks made a last minute attempt to win the match under regulation time with several pick and drives near the try line, though time ran out, sending both teams into their first overtime of the SCRC season.
With an overtime policy of two ten minute halves, both teams were eager to apply the pressure early to maintain control, though Carolina was able to piece together a strong drive to set up the backline within striking distance of the Vanderbilt try line. With less than a minute to go until half, Tim Holkenborg made a pass to fullback Robert Davila for the open try, though the pass was deflected and intentionally knocked by Vanderbilt, awarding the Gamecocks with a penalty try. The match ended 34-27 in USC's favor.
“We drove the ball down right under the middle of the post,” said Head Coach Mark Morris. “The pack was controlling the ball from about 30 meters in, was getting ready to score, and one of the guys that was posting up intentionally knocked the ball forward so we couldn’t score."
The second period was much of the same story with Carolina in a consistent position to score, though time expired before any more ground could be made. "I'm proud of the backline for improving their handling over the break and for doing better under pressure, which they received several times off the set pieces," added Morris. “It was a good thing. We went up there with B and C players and came back and beat a decent team."
South Carolina had to leave several players at home in Columbia, as they could not get out of St. Patrick’s Day shifts at bars and restaurants, making the comeback win that much more impressive.
"We traveled with five subs, and every one of them made a solid contribution in today's match. Tim Holkenborg had a great kicking game and did well with keeping everyone together and making things happen. Both Sam and David were a consistent force in the pack and did a great job with integrating the reserve players into the mix. The coaching staff is proud of everyone's performance and we look to continue that aggression against Florida next week."
Overall, great rugby was played, and the Gamecocks look forward to their coming match against the University of Florida. They know it will be a much tougher matchup against the #7 Gators, though with many of the absent starters returning to action this weekend, the Gamecocks will be ready for the challenge. The match will take place on Saturday, March 24th at USC's Strom Field. Admission is free to the public.
Carolina came out strong with solid back play, keeping the ball in control and in Vanderbilt territory early on, though a lack of size in the forwards allowed the Commodores to seize an advantage in the rucks causing several turnovers. Halfway into the first half, momentum began to shift in favor of the Gamecocks with back-to-back tries, first by wing Alex Fisher and second by center Dan Deal. Scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg converted both, along with a penalty kick at the 35 minutes mark. Following the kickoff, Vanderbilt used some strong runs on the outside to push in a try that was successfully converted, taking the teams into the break with a halftime score of 17-07 in USC’s favor.
The second half proved to be more difficult for the Gamecocks, as Vanderbilt elevated their aggression level and continued to apply steady defense around the rucks and scrums. The Commodores were able to tie up the match with a converted try and a penalty kick before pulling ahead for the first time with another converted try. Vanderbilt continued their streak with a second penalty kick before scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg answered with a penalty kick of his own to make it a one possession game. With 15 minutes left in the half, Carolina made some crucial substitutions to keep the intensity level high, which they did with a converted try by wing Zac Gorman to tie the match with less than 5 minutes to go. The Gamecocks made a last minute attempt to win the match under regulation time with several pick and drives near the try line, though time ran out, sending both teams into their first overtime of the SCRC season.
With an overtime policy of two ten minute halves, both teams were eager to apply the pressure early to maintain control, though Carolina was able to piece together a strong drive to set up the backline within striking distance of the Vanderbilt try line. With less than a minute to go until half, Tim Holkenborg made a pass to fullback Robert Davila for the open try, though the pass was deflected and intentionally knocked by Vanderbilt, awarding the Gamecocks with a penalty try. The match ended 34-27 in USC's favor.
“We drove the ball down right under the middle of the post,” said Head Coach Mark Morris. “The pack was controlling the ball from about 30 meters in, was getting ready to score, and one of the guys that was posting up intentionally knocked the ball forward so we couldn’t score."
The second period was much of the same story with Carolina in a consistent position to score, though time expired before any more ground could be made. "I'm proud of the backline for improving their handling over the break and for doing better under pressure, which they received several times off the set pieces," added Morris. “It was a good thing. We went up there with B and C players and came back and beat a decent team."
South Carolina had to leave several players at home in Columbia, as they could not get out of St. Patrick’s Day shifts at bars and restaurants, making the comeback win that much more impressive.
"We traveled with five subs, and every one of them made a solid contribution in today's match. Tim Holkenborg had a great kicking game and did well with keeping everyone together and making things happen. Both Sam and David were a consistent force in the pack and did a great job with integrating the reserve players into the mix. The coaching staff is proud of everyone's performance and we look to continue that aggression against Florida next week."
Overall, great rugby was played, and the Gamecocks look forward to their coming match against the University of Florida. They know it will be a much tougher matchup against the #7 Gators, though with many of the absent starters returning to action this weekend, the Gamecocks will be ready for the challenge. The match will take place on Saturday, March 24th at USC's Strom Field. Admission is free to the public.
Match Roster
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Scoring Report
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Carolina Rugby Teams Up With Relay For Life
Columbia, SC - Beginning in 2010, Carolina Rugby began supporting the American Cancer Society in its annual Relay for Life walk at USC. Relay for Life is an organization that supports the American Cancer Society to aid in the research and development of a cure for cancer. Through the help of many over the last two years, Carolina Rugby in its partnership with Team Jameson has helped raise more than $18,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, we have set our most aggressive fundraising goal to date and look to raise over $15,000 towards a cure.
Our team was founded on one truth: that love and support is in abundance, and by working together to mobilize our efforts we can give and demonstrate all the love and support we have for those who need it today. The most wonderful way to honor the memory of someone special is to exhibit all they have taught us, the experiences, and the love they brought into our own lives.
Beginning now and up and through the night of the relay, we seek your support as we look to honor those who have lost their fight with cancer, as well as show unconditional support to those who are still fighting today. Please join us this year on Friday, April 20th and help us find a cure for cancer.
How You Can Help
1) Join Our Team - This option allows you to register with our team, Team Jameson, and raise money on our behalf. If you are a survivor, we encourage you to register as one.
2) Donate to Our Team - You can make a donation with your credit or checking card online.
3) Honor a Loved One With Luminaria - You may request to have a loved one’s name written on the bag to honor their memory, their continued battle, or in thanks for their victory against cancer. The bag is illuminated at night to light the way for our relay.
4) If you would like to send cash or a check, please mail it to us at the address below. Please make the check out to “American Cancer Society” for “Team Jameson,” so that the donation is given on behalf of the team.
South Carolina Men's Rugby
1000 Blossom Street
Columbia, SC 29208
Attn: American Cancer Society
Again, we would like to thank those who have shown their support in the past, and we hope you will continue to support Carolina Rugby & Team Jameson as we work to find a cure for cancer and continue to celebrate the wonderful gift of life.
Our team was founded on one truth: that love and support is in abundance, and by working together to mobilize our efforts we can give and demonstrate all the love and support we have for those who need it today. The most wonderful way to honor the memory of someone special is to exhibit all they have taught us, the experiences, and the love they brought into our own lives.
Beginning now and up and through the night of the relay, we seek your support as we look to honor those who have lost their fight with cancer, as well as show unconditional support to those who are still fighting today. Please join us this year on Friday, April 20th and help us find a cure for cancer.
How You Can Help
1) Join Our Team - This option allows you to register with our team, Team Jameson, and raise money on our behalf. If you are a survivor, we encourage you to register as one.
2) Donate to Our Team - You can make a donation with your credit or checking card online.
3) Honor a Loved One With Luminaria - You may request to have a loved one’s name written on the bag to honor their memory, their continued battle, or in thanks for their victory against cancer. The bag is illuminated at night to light the way for our relay.
4) If you would like to send cash or a check, please mail it to us at the address below. Please make the check out to “American Cancer Society” for “Team Jameson,” so that the donation is given on behalf of the team.
South Carolina Men's Rugby
1000 Blossom Street
Columbia, SC 29208
Attn: American Cancer Society
Again, we would like to thank those who have shown their support in the past, and we hope you will continue to support Carolina Rugby & Team Jameson as we work to find a cure for cancer and continue to celebrate the wonderful gift of life.
Carolina Continues Slip, Falls to Georgia on the Road
Athens, GA - Carolina Rugby hit the road for Athens, Georgia to play the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia this weekend in their second road match of the season. Looking to regroup from last Saturday's loss, the Gamecocks knew a win over the Dawgs was critical if they were to keep their playoff hopes alive after falling to higher ranked Tennessee and Louisiana State.
Carolina came out strong with solid forward play, keeping the ball in control and in Georgia territory early on, though handling errors continued to plague the Carolina backline allowing the Bulldogs to score two easy tries off of loose ball. With less than ten minutes left in the first half, the momentum shifted in favor of the Gamecocks with back-to-back tries, first by flyhalf Colin McKeon and second by wing Matthew Berenato. Scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg converted the second try, taking the team into the break with a halftime score of 19-12 in UGA’s favor.
The second half proved to be more difficult for the Gamecocks, as Georgia applied more forward pressure on the backline, forcing unnecessary mental errors and handling errors that the Dawgs were able to capitalize on and extend their lead. Carolina mounted a late comeback with 20 minutes left in the match with a converted try by wing Matthew Berenato, though time ultimately ran out for Gamecocks with a final score of 38-19.
“Georgia proved to be a strong side this year,” said Head Coach Mark Morris of this weekend’s events. “Just like the LSU match, there were several missed opportunities on our part due to knock-ons and poor passing. Handling errors in the backline due to constant pressure by Georgia allowed them gain control on loose ball and pick up some easy tries on the outside. Our kicking game was disrupted by a strong headwind in the second half, though when we stuck to the game plan we did have a lot of success with multiple tries by Mckeon and Berenato. The coaching staff is disappointed in the outcome, though we know what needs to be worked on in practice these next few weeks.”
One area of celebration was the performance on the reserve side that dominated in their match against Georgia. “Backs Dan Deal and Rudy Rudzinski did a great job making things happen with offloads and strong aggressive play. Pat Lawler did well leading the forwards with several pick n’ go’s and charges up the center of the Georgia defense," notes Coach Morris. "We're proud of their preformance and we look to continue that aggression against Vanderbilt in a few weeks."
The loss to Georgia is a huge setback to Carolina’s playoff hopes, though the Gamecocks look to turn their season around against Vanderbilt after taking some much needed rest for spring break. The match against Vanderbilt will take place on Saturday, March 17th at Vanderbilt’s Club Sports Complex. Admission is free to the public.
Carolina came out strong with solid forward play, keeping the ball in control and in Georgia territory early on, though handling errors continued to plague the Carolina backline allowing the Bulldogs to score two easy tries off of loose ball. With less than ten minutes left in the first half, the momentum shifted in favor of the Gamecocks with back-to-back tries, first by flyhalf Colin McKeon and second by wing Matthew Berenato. Scrumhalf Tim Holkenborg converted the second try, taking the team into the break with a halftime score of 19-12 in UGA’s favor.
The second half proved to be more difficult for the Gamecocks, as Georgia applied more forward pressure on the backline, forcing unnecessary mental errors and handling errors that the Dawgs were able to capitalize on and extend their lead. Carolina mounted a late comeback with 20 minutes left in the match with a converted try by wing Matthew Berenato, though time ultimately ran out for Gamecocks with a final score of 38-19.
“Georgia proved to be a strong side this year,” said Head Coach Mark Morris of this weekend’s events. “Just like the LSU match, there were several missed opportunities on our part due to knock-ons and poor passing. Handling errors in the backline due to constant pressure by Georgia allowed them gain control on loose ball and pick up some easy tries on the outside. Our kicking game was disrupted by a strong headwind in the second half, though when we stuck to the game plan we did have a lot of success with multiple tries by Mckeon and Berenato. The coaching staff is disappointed in the outcome, though we know what needs to be worked on in practice these next few weeks.”
One area of celebration was the performance on the reserve side that dominated in their match against Georgia. “Backs Dan Deal and Rudy Rudzinski did a great job making things happen with offloads and strong aggressive play. Pat Lawler did well leading the forwards with several pick n’ go’s and charges up the center of the Georgia defense," notes Coach Morris. "We're proud of their preformance and we look to continue that aggression against Vanderbilt in a few weeks."
The loss to Georgia is a huge setback to Carolina’s playoff hopes, though the Gamecocks look to turn their season around against Vanderbilt after taking some much needed rest for spring break. The match against Vanderbilt will take place on Saturday, March 17th at Vanderbilt’s Club Sports Complex. Admission is free to the public.
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Carolina Set to Face the Dawgs in Athens
Columbia, SC - Coming off an uncharacteristic 71-7 loss to the University of Tennessee, the Gamecocks are ready to hit the road for Athens, Georgia to play the Bulldogs of the University of Georgia this weekend in their second road match of the season. With back-to-back losses to LSU and UT, this weekend proves to be a critical make-or-break match up for the Gamecocks who now sit at third in the Eastern Division behind Tennessee and Florida. "We have faced what is likely to be our two toughest opponets thus far, though you can't look past Georgia," says Head Coach Mark Morris.
Georgia is currently coming off a bye week following a 29-3 loss to the Florida Gators, and are expected to come out strong, hungry for a win. "Last season was a tale of two halves when we traveled to Athens, though I'm confident we've made the right changes in practice this week and will not make the same mistakes twice," notes Coach Morris. "We are excited to receive three solid matches from the Bulldogs this Saturday and look forward to a great day of rugby."
A victory over Georgia would give South Carolina some much needed momentum heading into the second half of the season and provide some leverage in the standings before their match up with #9 Florida on March 24th. All the action starts this Saturday at 1:45pm at Georgia's Intramural Sports Complex. Admission is free to the public.
Georgia is currently coming off a bye week following a 29-3 loss to the Florida Gators, and are expected to come out strong, hungry for a win. "Last season was a tale of two halves when we traveled to Athens, though I'm confident we've made the right changes in practice this week and will not make the same mistakes twice," notes Coach Morris. "We are excited to receive three solid matches from the Bulldogs this Saturday and look forward to a great day of rugby."
A victory over Georgia would give South Carolina some much needed momentum heading into the second half of the season and provide some leverage in the standings before their match up with #9 Florida on March 24th. All the action starts this Saturday at 1:45pm at Georgia's Intramural Sports Complex. Admission is free to the public.
Carolina Left to Regroup After Loss to Tennessee
Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby hosted the University of Tennessee in what could be described as the SCRC Showdown of the Week. Looking to improve on last Saturday's loss against Louisiana State, the Gamecocks came out strong, determined to turn their season around. South Carolina knew a victory over Tennessee would put them back on top in the East and provide some much needed leverage in the standings before their match up with Florida on March 24th.
At the start, it became quickly obvious that defense would be Carolina’s most important asset. The Gamecocks put up a good fight, though Tennessee proved to be persistent and lit up the scoreboard ten minutes into the first half. For the next thirty minutes, the Vols scored three more unanswered tries and converted two of them to end the half at 26-0 in Tennessee’s favor. The second half was much of the same story as poor defense continued to alleviate any chance of the Gamecocks’ ability to capitalize on plays. The highlight of the second half came from sophomore wing Matthew Berenato who scored a try at the fifty-five minute mark. Senior fullback Cullen Clair successfully converted it to make the score 40-7 in Tennessee’s favor. Unfortunately this would be the only time the Gamecocks’crossed the goal line.
“We played the toughest opponent of the season in Tennessee today,” said Head Coach Mark Morris of this weekend’s events. “There were several missed opportunities, though overall our performance was poor on both sides of the ball. Our pack was flat footed and allowed Tennessee to take the tackle on their terms, knocking us back even further from the gain line. We tried to utilize our size on the inside to defend against the numerous pick and drives, though they simply got it out wide and beat us in the backline with fast passes and clean offloads. Our lack of support was detrimental to our game, and we were at a disadvantage in size” The final score ended at 71-7.
The Gamecocks look forward to their match against Georgia this coming weekend. Coming off a bye week following a 29-3 loss to the Florida Gators, the Bulldogs are sure to be a worthy opponent and hungry for a win. A victory over Georgia would give South Carolina some much needed momentum heading into the second half of the season. All the action starts this Saturday at TBA at Georgia's Intramural Sports Complex. Admission is free to the public.
At the start, it became quickly obvious that defense would be Carolina’s most important asset. The Gamecocks put up a good fight, though Tennessee proved to be persistent and lit up the scoreboard ten minutes into the first half. For the next thirty minutes, the Vols scored three more unanswered tries and converted two of them to end the half at 26-0 in Tennessee’s favor. The second half was much of the same story as poor defense continued to alleviate any chance of the Gamecocks’ ability to capitalize on plays. The highlight of the second half came from sophomore wing Matthew Berenato who scored a try at the fifty-five minute mark. Senior fullback Cullen Clair successfully converted it to make the score 40-7 in Tennessee’s favor. Unfortunately this would be the only time the Gamecocks’crossed the goal line.
“We played the toughest opponent of the season in Tennessee today,” said Head Coach Mark Morris of this weekend’s events. “There were several missed opportunities, though overall our performance was poor on both sides of the ball. Our pack was flat footed and allowed Tennessee to take the tackle on their terms, knocking us back even further from the gain line. We tried to utilize our size on the inside to defend against the numerous pick and drives, though they simply got it out wide and beat us in the backline with fast passes and clean offloads. Our lack of support was detrimental to our game, and we were at a disadvantage in size” The final score ended at 71-7.
The Gamecocks look forward to their match against Georgia this coming weekend. Coming off a bye week following a 29-3 loss to the Florida Gators, the Bulldogs are sure to be a worthy opponent and hungry for a win. A victory over Georgia would give South Carolina some much needed momentum heading into the second half of the season. All the action starts this Saturday at TBA at Georgia's Intramural Sports Complex. Admission is free to the public.
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Carolina Hosts the Vols in SCRC Showdown
Columbia, SC - Coming off a 28-8 loss to Louisiana State University, the Gamecocks are scheduled to host the Volunteers of Tennessee this weekend in what is expected to be the most important match up of the season. The Volunteers currently sit atop the Southeastern Rugby Eastern Division standings with decisive wins over both Vanderbilt and Florida. The nine-hour drive to Gainesville obviously didn't faze the Vols this past weekend in their 20-12 victory over the No.4 ranked Gators, so it’s unlikely the four-hour trip to Columbia will be a deciding factor.
A victory over Tennessee would put South Carolina back on top in the East and provide some leverage in the standings before their match up with Florida on March 24th. All the action starts this Saturday at 1:00PM on USC's Strom Thurmond Rugby Field. Admission is free to the public and team merchandise will be available for sale.
A victory over Tennessee would put South Carolina back on top in the East and provide some leverage in the standings before their match up with Florida on March 24th. All the action starts this Saturday at 1:00PM on USC's Strom Thurmond Rugby Field. Admission is free to the public and team merchandise will be available for sale.
Carolina Outmatched by Louisiana State, 28-8
Montgomery, AL - Carolina Rugby hit the road for Montgomery, Alabama to play the Tigers of Louisiana State University this weekend in their first road match of the season. Looking to capitalize on last Saturday's win over Kentucky, the Gamecocks came out strong with a try by outside center Robert Davila in the opening minutes to take an early lead. Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long as LSU quickly capitalized on poor handling in the Carolina backline to win possession of the ball for back-to-back tries. With the wind to their backs, both conversions were complete and the halftime score stood at 14-5 in LSU’s favor. The second half was much of the same story as poor handling continued to alleviate any chance of the Gamecocks’ ability to capitalize on plays.
“We played a competitive LSU side,” said Head Coach Mark Morris of this weekend’s events. “There were several missed opportunities on our part due to knock-ons and missed passes. Handling errors cost us some easy tries on the outside which allowed LSU to take advantage and score.” The final score ended at 28-8.
Overall, it was an up and down day, though the Gamecocks look forward to their coming match against Tennessee. Coming off a 20-12 victory over the Florida Gators, the
Volunteers may be Carolina’s toughest match-up of the entire Southeastern Matrix. The action starts at 1:00pm on USC’s Strom Field.
“We played a competitive LSU side,” said Head Coach Mark Morris of this weekend’s events. “There were several missed opportunities on our part due to knock-ons and missed passes. Handling errors cost us some easy tries on the outside which allowed LSU to take advantage and score.” The final score ended at 28-8.
Overall, it was an up and down day, though the Gamecocks look forward to their coming match against Tennessee. Coming off a 20-12 victory over the Florida Gators, the
Volunteers may be Carolina’s toughest match-up of the entire Southeastern Matrix. The action starts at 1:00pm on USC’s Strom Field.
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Carolina Rugby Cracks the Top 10 of RugbyMag's Top 25
Columbia, SC - Following a 104-3 victory against the Kentucky Wildcats, South Carolina has cracked the Top 10 of RugbyMag's Top 25 rankings for the very first time at #8.
The Gamecocks are ready for their first road match of the Southeastern Rugby matrix this Saturday as they are scheduled to play the Tigers of Louisiana State. This will be LSU’s first match of the season, as their match with Alabama was cancelled last weekend due to inclement weather.
For those looking for a great day of rugby in Columbia this weekend, the Carolina Rugby Developmental Side is scheduled to host Davidson College at Strom Field for a 1:00pm kickoff on Saturday. Please come out and support our players to their second victory of the season!
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), and Arkansas (24) all meriting attention.
The Gamecocks are ready for their first road match of the Southeastern Rugby matrix this Saturday as they are scheduled to play the Tigers of Louisiana State. This will be LSU’s first match of the season, as their match with Alabama was cancelled last weekend due to inclement weather.
For those looking for a great day of rugby in Columbia this weekend, the Carolina Rugby Developmental Side is scheduled to host Davidson College at Strom Field for a 1:00pm kickoff on Saturday. Please come out and support our players to their second victory of the season!
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), and Arkansas (24) all meriting attention.
Carolina Uses Experience to Outmatch Kentucky, 104-3
Columbia, SC - Carolina Rugby opened up spring matrix play this past Saturday with a home match against the Kentucky Wildcats. Excited to kick the season off, the Gamecocks played with energy and speed, never allowing the Wildcats to get a good hold on the match. The final score ended at 104-3.
The Gamecocks scored 16 tries and made 12 conversions in the match, and Kentucky’s points came from a kick after a penalty. Carolina fielded an experienced side of many seniors and juniors while Kentucky’s team is still young, accounting for the some of the positive plays that went the Gamecock’s way. Matt Augustine of Carolina cited experience and solid scrums as the main reasons for success. Strong scrums opened up solid passing lanes and smooth movement to the back lines for the Gamecocks, allowing them to create spacing and break away for long advances. Augustine did credit the Wildcats with excellent rucking when they had the ball, pointing out that Kentucky held strong in the trenches when they were on offense.
Overall, great rugby was played, and the Gamecocks look forward to their coming match against LSU. They know it will be a true test of their ability and hope to bring the same energy they had in the Kentucky match to next weekend’s game.
The Gamecocks scored 16 tries and made 12 conversions in the match, and Kentucky’s points came from a kick after a penalty. Carolina fielded an experienced side of many seniors and juniors while Kentucky’s team is still young, accounting for the some of the positive plays that went the Gamecock’s way. Matt Augustine of Carolina cited experience and solid scrums as the main reasons for success. Strong scrums opened up solid passing lanes and smooth movement to the back lines for the Gamecocks, allowing them to create spacing and break away for long advances. Augustine did credit the Wildcats with excellent rucking when they had the ball, pointing out that Kentucky held strong in the trenches when they were on offense.
Overall, great rugby was played, and the Gamecocks look forward to their coming match against LSU. They know it will be a true test of their ability and hope to bring the same energy they had in the Kentucky match to next weekend’s game.
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Carolina Rugby Quietly Moves to #10 in RugbyMag's Top 25
Columbia, SC - In what is anticipated to be a highly competitive season of Southeastern Rugby, South Carolina benefits from an early shake-up in the polls to move into the Top Ten a week before their match up with Kentucky.
South Carolina finished strong last fall with a 9-0 record, including 6-0 in regulation match play. Highlights from this past season include defeating long-time ACRL rivals Clemson and North Carolina and winning the Palmetto State Championship. With the core of the team returning this spring, joined by a strong freshman class, the Gamecocks look to continue their success in the SCRC matrix with much of its tougher competition, Tennessee and Florida, traveling to Columbia. South Carolina's first match will be at home against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, February 4th.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), and Arkansas (23) all meriting attention.
South Carolina finished strong last fall with a 9-0 record, including 6-0 in regulation match play. Highlights from this past season include defeating long-time ACRL rivals Clemson and North Carolina and winning the Palmetto State Championship. With the core of the team returning this spring, joined by a strong freshman class, the Gamecocks look to continue their success in the SCRC matrix with much of its tougher competition, Tennessee and Florida, traveling to Columbia. South Carolina's first match will be at home against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, February 4th.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), and Arkansas (23) all meriting attention.
A Semester of Victory: Carolina Rugby
Columbia, SC - The Fall 2011 Semester was a successful one for the Carolina Men’s Rugby Team. The Gamecocks finished strong with a 9-0 record, including 6-0 in regulation match play. The three shortened victories came from a sweep of the Palmetto State Tournament, including a 15-13 victory over Clemson in the final. The team faced in-state and neighboring-state teams, including Clemson (twice), Coastal Carolina (twice), North Carolina, North Carolina State, and both the Greenville and Columbia Men’s Club teams. The wins brought Carolina’s home record to 5-0-0 for the fall season, and extended the overall home record to 18-1-1 for the last 20 home matches.
Highlights from the season include defeating Clemson twice and winning the Palmetto State Championship. Clemson has not beaten USC since 2006, and the State Championship was Carolina’s sixth title in program history, making it the most of any team in the state. The Carolina Rugby program has been nationally ranked the last four years, maintaining a Top 25 ranking the entirety of the fall season. The Gamecocks currently sit in the 11th spot in RugbyMag’s Top 25 heading into the spring matrix.
The team competes at the Division I level in USA Rugby and is the second highest ranked team in the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference. The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4th), Tennessee (17th), and Arkansas (23rd) all meriting attention.
The completion of this season marks the third year that the team has had three full competitive sides. Carolina is the only team in the South that has three sides that consistently compete, and USC is one of the largest teams in the nation with over sixty-five players. The Gamecocks boast one of the largest coaching staffs in the South with eight USA Rugby certified coaches, including assistant coach Geoff mason who is one of only a few former professional players coaching a collegiate rugby program in the nation today.
The team is proud of its success over the past few years and is excited to build upon it even further in the coming spring semester. Carolina will have three home matches (Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida) and three away matches (LSU, Georgia, and Vanderbilt) in the spring matrix, and their performance will determine eligibility to compete for the national championship in May. The Gamecocks expect to perform well in the spring and hope to add to their successes from this and past semesters.
Highlights from the season include defeating Clemson twice and winning the Palmetto State Championship. Clemson has not beaten USC since 2006, and the State Championship was Carolina’s sixth title in program history, making it the most of any team in the state. The Carolina Rugby program has been nationally ranked the last four years, maintaining a Top 25 ranking the entirety of the fall season. The Gamecocks currently sit in the 11th spot in RugbyMag’s Top 25 heading into the spring matrix.
The team competes at the Division I level in USA Rugby and is the second highest ranked team in the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference. The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4th), Tennessee (17th), and Arkansas (23rd) all meriting attention.
The completion of this season marks the third year that the team has had three full competitive sides. Carolina is the only team in the South that has three sides that consistently compete, and USC is one of the largest teams in the nation with over sixty-five players. The Gamecocks boast one of the largest coaching staffs in the South with eight USA Rugby certified coaches, including assistant coach Geoff mason who is one of only a few former professional players coaching a collegiate rugby program in the nation today.
The team is proud of its success over the past few years and is excited to build upon it even further in the coming spring semester. Carolina will have three home matches (Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida) and three away matches (LSU, Georgia, and Vanderbilt) in the spring matrix, and their performance will determine eligibility to compete for the national championship in May. The Gamecocks expect to perform well in the spring and hope to add to their successes from this and past semesters.
Carolina Rugby holds at #11 in RugbyMag's Top 25
Columbia, SC - In another SEC Rugby-versus-Atlantic Coast matchup, South Carolina defeated in-state rival Clemson for the second time this season with a final score of 25-19. The Gamecocks finish the fall season undefeated at 9-0 (6-0 in regulation time) as they now prepare for the Southeastern Rugby matrix in the spring. South Carolina's first match will be at home against the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday, February 4th.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), and Arkansas (23) all meriting attention.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), and Arkansas (23) all meriting attention.
Gamecocks face challenge with UNC but still emerge victorious 26-19
Columbia, SC - The Gamecocks continued their winning streak for the all semester by defeating the University of North Carolina team on November 5th. This win improves the Gamecocks to 8-0-0 for the fall season and 5-0-0 at home. USC fell behind early, however, as UNC posed a great challenge, but South Carolina resurged in he second half to claim the win.
The Tar Heels controlled the first half, forcing the Gamecocks to conform to their preferred pace, slowing the Gamecocks down and disrupting flow. The Gamecock forwards failed to engage well at the rucks and tackling was not up to par. Also, support in the pack was almost non-existent on drives down the field did not amount to much. The Tar Heels capitalized on defensive lapses from the Gamecocks, scoring 19 in the first half, and stymied much of the South Carolina offense.
Coach Mark Morris commented, “We weren’t playing our style of rugby.” He cited selfish back play along with the forward woes as reasons for the poor performance. In the second half, however, the Gamecocks fought back and tied the game at 19-19 around the 75 minute mark. Riding this wave of momentum, South Carolina drove the ball down the field in the last minutes, using a long run from forward Owen Shearer to create space in the field. A pop pass to back Peter Boland resulted in a try for Boland in the waning minutes of the match, and the conversion was added by Cullen Clair. This brought the score to 26-19, which is how the match ended.
South Carolina was proud of their come-from-behind victory, the first true deficit they had faced during the fall season. UNC, previously undefeated in the fall as well, proved a tough adversary, but the Gamecocks were able to find a win. They look forward to their last match of the season at Clemson University, their in-state rival, on November 11th.
The USC B-side played against a UNC B-side that was player-deficient. Several USC players played for the Tar Heels in both halves, and Shane Sweeney, Dan Deal, and Michael Doyle were all USC players that scored in Tar Heel uniform in the first half. The second half saw scoring from both sides as players were substituted within and between teams.
The Tar Heels controlled the first half, forcing the Gamecocks to conform to their preferred pace, slowing the Gamecocks down and disrupting flow. The Gamecock forwards failed to engage well at the rucks and tackling was not up to par. Also, support in the pack was almost non-existent on drives down the field did not amount to much. The Tar Heels capitalized on defensive lapses from the Gamecocks, scoring 19 in the first half, and stymied much of the South Carolina offense.
Coach Mark Morris commented, “We weren’t playing our style of rugby.” He cited selfish back play along with the forward woes as reasons for the poor performance. In the second half, however, the Gamecocks fought back and tied the game at 19-19 around the 75 minute mark. Riding this wave of momentum, South Carolina drove the ball down the field in the last minutes, using a long run from forward Owen Shearer to create space in the field. A pop pass to back Peter Boland resulted in a try for Boland in the waning minutes of the match, and the conversion was added by Cullen Clair. This brought the score to 26-19, which is how the match ended.
South Carolina was proud of their come-from-behind victory, the first true deficit they had faced during the fall season. UNC, previously undefeated in the fall as well, proved a tough adversary, but the Gamecocks were able to find a win. They look forward to their last match of the season at Clemson University, their in-state rival, on November 11th.
The USC B-side played against a UNC B-side that was player-deficient. Several USC players played for the Tar Heels in both halves, and Shane Sweeney, Dan Deal, and Michael Doyle were all USC players that scored in Tar Heel uniform in the first half. The second half saw scoring from both sides as players were substituted within and between teams.
Carolina Rugby moves quietly to #11 in RugbyMag's Top 25
Columbia, SC - In another SEC Rugby-versus-Atlantic Coast matchup, South Carolina defeated in-state rival Clemson 15-13 to claim the 2011 Palmetto State Rugby Tournament held at Furman University. The Gamecocks look ahead to UNC Chapel Hill on Saturday, November 5th to keep their undefeated streak alive.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has five teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), LSU (20), and Arkansas (24) all meriting attention.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has five teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (4), Tennessee (17), LSU (20), and Arkansas (24) all meriting attention.
Gamecocks dominate at the Palmetto Tournament, leave Champions
Greenville, SC - The Gamecocks dominate at the Palmetto Tournament, leave Champions USC entered the Palmetto Tournament over the Halloween Weekend undefeated and thirsty for more victory. The Tournament, which hosts teams from all around South Carolina, is played at Furman every year and always showcases the state’s best rugby talents. Other teams included in the tournament were Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Greenville, and Furman. USC took two teams.
The USC A team proved their prowess through three games, defeating Greenville, Coastal Carolina, and Clemson to claim the Palmetto Tournament Cup for the 6th time. Pool play started on Saturday as the Gamecocks faced the Greenville Men’s squad. USC easily dispatched Greenville with a 64-0 victory. Tries were added by Matt Augustine (2), Colin McKeon (4), and Peter Boland, among others. Cullen Clair contributed the conversions.
Following this success, the Gamecocks faced Coastal Carolina for the second time this semester. The result was much the same as the first meeting, with USC emerging victorious 49-5. Again, the list of scores was long, including tries by Ian Toomey, Tom Plumley, Matt Augustine, and Alex Darrah. Clair contributed the conversions again.
The final match proved a test of the Gamecocks fortitude as they faced rivals Clemson. USC jumped out to a lead in the first half with dynamic backline play. Plumley and McKeon (2) added tries, but no conversions were made. Solid defense held Clemson to three points, bringing the score at the half to 15-3. The second half was a battle, however, and Clemson rallied to make the game a contest. The Gamecocks could not mount any offense and at one point had two players in the sin bin. The Tigers scored a try with about five minutes remaining, cutting the lead to 15-8. Using their momentum and good field position, they scored again quickly in the last minute. The Tigers could not capture the conversion that would have tied the game, and a last defense stand by the Gamecocks resulted in a USC victory, 15-13.
The Gamecocks hoisted the Palmetto Cup high as they remain undefeated on the season. The match against Clemson came as the first true test, and they prevailed with victory. The USC B side did not fare as well, losing all of their matches, but they fought hard and continue to improve and gain experience with each match.
USC eagerly looks forward to the next week’s match against UNC. The Carolina rivals meet regularly and always provide good competition. UNC is also undefeated and will provide a challenge for the Gamecocks when they travel to Columbia on November 5th. It will be a battle, but the Gamecocks are confident in their skills and look forward to emerging victorious again next week.
The USC A team proved their prowess through three games, defeating Greenville, Coastal Carolina, and Clemson to claim the Palmetto Tournament Cup for the 6th time. Pool play started on Saturday as the Gamecocks faced the Greenville Men’s squad. USC easily dispatched Greenville with a 64-0 victory. Tries were added by Matt Augustine (2), Colin McKeon (4), and Peter Boland, among others. Cullen Clair contributed the conversions.
Following this success, the Gamecocks faced Coastal Carolina for the second time this semester. The result was much the same as the first meeting, with USC emerging victorious 49-5. Again, the list of scores was long, including tries by Ian Toomey, Tom Plumley, Matt Augustine, and Alex Darrah. Clair contributed the conversions again.
The final match proved a test of the Gamecocks fortitude as they faced rivals Clemson. USC jumped out to a lead in the first half with dynamic backline play. Plumley and McKeon (2) added tries, but no conversions were made. Solid defense held Clemson to three points, bringing the score at the half to 15-3. The second half was a battle, however, and Clemson rallied to make the game a contest. The Gamecocks could not mount any offense and at one point had two players in the sin bin. The Tigers scored a try with about five minutes remaining, cutting the lead to 15-8. Using their momentum and good field position, they scored again quickly in the last minute. The Tigers could not capture the conversion that would have tied the game, and a last defense stand by the Gamecocks resulted in a USC victory, 15-13.
The Gamecocks hoisted the Palmetto Cup high as they remain undefeated on the season. The match against Clemson came as the first true test, and they prevailed with victory. The USC B side did not fare as well, losing all of their matches, but they fought hard and continue to improve and gain experience with each match.
USC eagerly looks forward to the next week’s match against UNC. The Carolina rivals meet regularly and always provide good competition. UNC is also undefeated and will provide a challenge for the Gamecocks when they travel to Columbia on November 5th. It will be a battle, but the Gamecocks are confident in their skills and look forward to emerging victorious again next week.
Carolina Rugby moves back to #13 in RugbyMag's Top 25
RugbyMag.Com Staff - "In another SEC Rugby-versus-Atlantic Coast matchup, South Carolina pounded NC State 38-7. The Gamecocks have a couple of impressive wins over area men's clubs in the bag this preseason, which coupled with the way they finished last year, has them looking quite dangerous."
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (7), Tennessee (17), and LSU (19) all meriting attention.
The Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference has four teams ranked overall, with rivals Florida (7), Tennessee (17), and LSU (19) all meriting attention.
Carolina crushes NC State, remains undefeated (4-0)
Columbia, SC - Eager to continue their success on the pitch, the Gamecocks Men’s Rugby team played the NC State Wolfpack this past Saturday. Carolina emerged victorious again 38-7, proving the ACRL 7s Champions are no match for USC.
The matches was a battle from the beginning, an interesting match of NC State’s strong forwards and Carolina’s quick back line. It was clear from the beginning that NC State would control the majority of the set pieces as their forwards overpowered Carolina. Quick passes, smart decisions, and strong runs from the Gamecock back line proved effective, however, as Carolina scored first on a strong run from O’Shea. Cullen Clair added the conversion. The Gamecock backs kept up the solid support and O’Shea punched in two more tries in the first half. Clair converted one of those two tries. NC State was held scoreless by the Carolina defense despite the strong forward, bringing the score 19-0 at the half.
The second half saw more strong pack play from NC State, but the Carolina forwards step up to match their intensity more than in the first half. Possession shifted back and forth early in the half, but the Gamecocks eventually turned a breakaway in the backs into a try from Colin McKeon. The conversion was unsuccessful. NC State fought back, though, and punched in a try with about 20 minutes remaining and completed the conversion, bringing the score to 24-7. Carolina recovered, however, and closed out the game with two more tries from Peter Boland and Rob Davila and also added the conversions. The match ended with the Gamecocks winning 38-7.
Carolina’s next matches come in the Palmetto Tournament on October 29th. The Gamecocks are excited about the opportunity to face more South Carolina teams and to continue to test their skills. They plan to continue their success, but know it will not be an easy road in the tournament.
The matches was a battle from the beginning, an interesting match of NC State’s strong forwards and Carolina’s quick back line. It was clear from the beginning that NC State would control the majority of the set pieces as their forwards overpowered Carolina. Quick passes, smart decisions, and strong runs from the Gamecock back line proved effective, however, as Carolina scored first on a strong run from O’Shea. Cullen Clair added the conversion. The Gamecock backs kept up the solid support and O’Shea punched in two more tries in the first half. Clair converted one of those two tries. NC State was held scoreless by the Carolina defense despite the strong forward, bringing the score 19-0 at the half.
The second half saw more strong pack play from NC State, but the Carolina forwards step up to match their intensity more than in the first half. Possession shifted back and forth early in the half, but the Gamecocks eventually turned a breakaway in the backs into a try from Colin McKeon. The conversion was unsuccessful. NC State fought back, though, and punched in a try with about 20 minutes remaining and completed the conversion, bringing the score to 24-7. Carolina recovered, however, and closed out the game with two more tries from Peter Boland and Rob Davila and also added the conversions. The match ended with the Gamecocks winning 38-7.
Carolina’s next matches come in the Palmetto Tournament on October 29th. The Gamecocks are excited about the opportunity to face more South Carolina teams and to continue to test their skills. They plan to continue their success, but know it will not be an easy road in the tournament.
Gamecocks steamroll alumni at COB Weekend 2011, move to 3-0
Columbia, SC - The speed and quickness of the Gamecock backline proved to be too much for the older, stronger alumni.
First college hit-out a huge success for USC; Gamecocks beat Coastal 61-10
Columbia, SC - After their victory in their first match of the fall semester, the Gamecocks were eager to continue their success. Carolina came into the match with a win over the Columbia area men’s team and wanted to prove their worth against collegiate opponents as well. Despite boasting a roster still filled with players from its 2009 D3 national championship, the Chanticleers could not keep pace with the Gamecocks. The match was another great showing for the Gamecocks, though, as they controlled play in both halves and secured the victory, 64-14.
The match started out with the Gamecocks taking control. Quick tries were scored in the first ten minutes, and there was no looking back. Tries were put down by O’Shea, Zakrzewski, McKeon, and Boland (with Boland scoring two). Cullen Clair made four out of the five conversions, giving the Gamecocks a 33-0 lead at halftime. There were strong moments for Coastal Carolina in the first half, and they almost scored off of strong forward play and sloppy defense by the Gamecocks around the midpoint of the first half. Turnovers and penalties, however, kept them from putting points on the board.
The Gamecocks continued the strong play in the second half. Several tries were scored in quick succession by Carolina, including ones from Mysona and Lawler. The Gamecocks scored three more tries and scored two of the three conversions, making the score 52-0 with about 20 minutes left. Coastal Carolina had strong moments in the second half, though, and they put together a scoring drive that shocked Carolina. The conversion was good and they were on the board 52-7. The Gamecocks responded with two more tries and began experimenting with different players for the conversion and converted one of the two, bringing the score to 64-7. Coastal Carolina punched in other try near the end of the match, but they could not dent the lead the Gamecocks had established. The match closed with the final score at 64-14.
Head Coach for the Gamecocks, Mark Morris, commented, “Our guys are finally understanding that this is an unselfish passing game about off-loading to keep ball moving forward without stopping.” He complimented the team’s support throughout the game and the domination in the set pieces. “We won 100% of lineouts, were strong in the rucks, and won almost every scrum. It was a beautiful team effort,” he added.
The Gamecocks are happy with their early success this fall but look forward to their match against NC State coming up on October 15th. This match will be a true test of their ability to support each other in open field play and will require big play from both forwards and backs. Carolina hopes to continue this win streak throughout the rest of the semester.
The match started out with the Gamecocks taking control. Quick tries were scored in the first ten minutes, and there was no looking back. Tries were put down by O’Shea, Zakrzewski, McKeon, and Boland (with Boland scoring two). Cullen Clair made four out of the five conversions, giving the Gamecocks a 33-0 lead at halftime. There were strong moments for Coastal Carolina in the first half, and they almost scored off of strong forward play and sloppy defense by the Gamecocks around the midpoint of the first half. Turnovers and penalties, however, kept them from putting points on the board.
The Gamecocks continued the strong play in the second half. Several tries were scored in quick succession by Carolina, including ones from Mysona and Lawler. The Gamecocks scored three more tries and scored two of the three conversions, making the score 52-0 with about 20 minutes left. Coastal Carolina had strong moments in the second half, though, and they put together a scoring drive that shocked Carolina. The conversion was good and they were on the board 52-7. The Gamecocks responded with two more tries and began experimenting with different players for the conversion and converted one of the two, bringing the score to 64-7. Coastal Carolina punched in other try near the end of the match, but they could not dent the lead the Gamecocks had established. The match closed with the final score at 64-14.
Head Coach for the Gamecocks, Mark Morris, commented, “Our guys are finally understanding that this is an unselfish passing game about off-loading to keep ball moving forward without stopping.” He complimented the team’s support throughout the game and the domination in the set pieces. “We won 100% of lineouts, were strong in the rucks, and won almost every scrum. It was a beautiful team effort,” he added.
The Gamecocks are happy with their early success this fall but look forward to their match against NC State coming up on October 15th. This match will be a true test of their ability to support each other in open field play and will require big play from both forwards and backs. Carolina hopes to continue this win streak throughout the rest of the semester.
Olde Grey no match for USC in each side's Fall opener
Columbia, SC - As part of a long-standing tradition, South Carolina took on its local men's affiliate Columbia Olde Grey in its fall season opener on Saturday September 10th. And, as a continuation of that tradition, the Gamecocks prevailed once again. The match began with good efforts from both teams, but Carolina’s youth and conditioning soon took a toll against Olde Grey as the Gamecocks went on to win 56-5.
During the first ten minutes of play, both Carolina and Olde Grey had attempts for a try. Carolina tried to strike first but was stopped by the Rhinos as poor passing turned the ball over. Olde Grey drove the ball down the field with good passing and runs from the backline, and they seemed poised to score when the progress was stopped about ten meters out. The forwards regrouped and attempted pounds, but the Carolina defense stepped up in impressive fashion to meet their opponents. The Gamecocks held their ground and stole the ball from Olde Grey before any points were scored. Carolina used that stop as a big momentum shift and then took control of the match from there. The rest of the first half was all Gamecocks as they turned up the intensity. They scored quickly and often, putting up 36 points before halftime was called. Tries were scored both by the backline and the pack. Six tries were put down and three conversions were good. Old Grey struggled to match the Carolina effort and could not put up any points in the first half.
The second half continued with Carolina controlling the ball and pace of play. The Gamecocks really pushed hard to focus on support in all aspects of the game. As coach Ken McCarthy commented, “I can’t say anything negative. Of course we have room to improve, but our play today was outstanding. The support out there was great.” Carolina went on to score four more tries in the second half. Two players, Matt Augustine and Alex Fisher, scored their first tries on the Carolina A-Side. Olde Grey showed a small resurgence at the end of the game, taking advantage of Gamecock mistakes to score a try in the final minutes of the match. The final was 56-5.
During the first ten minutes of play, both Carolina and Olde Grey had attempts for a try. Carolina tried to strike first but was stopped by the Rhinos as poor passing turned the ball over. Olde Grey drove the ball down the field with good passing and runs from the backline, and they seemed poised to score when the progress was stopped about ten meters out. The forwards regrouped and attempted pounds, but the Carolina defense stepped up in impressive fashion to meet their opponents. The Gamecocks held their ground and stole the ball from Olde Grey before any points were scored. Carolina used that stop as a big momentum shift and then took control of the match from there. The rest of the first half was all Gamecocks as they turned up the intensity. They scored quickly and often, putting up 36 points before halftime was called. Tries were scored both by the backline and the pack. Six tries were put down and three conversions were good. Old Grey struggled to match the Carolina effort and could not put up any points in the first half.
The second half continued with Carolina controlling the ball and pace of play. The Gamecocks really pushed hard to focus on support in all aspects of the game. As coach Ken McCarthy commented, “I can’t say anything negative. Of course we have room to improve, but our play today was outstanding. The support out there was great.” Carolina went on to score four more tries in the second half. Two players, Matt Augustine and Alex Fisher, scored their first tries on the Carolina A-Side. Olde Grey showed a small resurgence at the end of the game, taking advantage of Gamecock mistakes to score a try in the final minutes of the match. The final was 56-5.
Geoff Mason Announces Retirement as Head Coach
Columbia, SC - Following the completion of his 13th year as Head coach of the Carolina Rugby program, Geoff Mason announced his retirement from the position in the Fall of 2011 and a return to the assistant coaching staff.
Mason’s tenure included an overall record of 166 wins, 94 losses and 8 ties. Under his leadership the rugby team enjoyed five South Territory appearances, five Palmetto Tournament championships, and a promotion to South Division I, a title held by only six other universities at the time.
A native of Australia, Geoff Mason played both rugby league and rugby union for 35 years, beginning at age seven. A success on the field, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Sydney University, Newtown and Penrith in the 1970's as a prop and second row and represented Newcastle against New Zealand in 1978. From there, he emigrated to the US in 1980 and was a Player/Coach at USC from 1983-1985. Upon graduation, Mason played for the Columbia Olde Grey from 1986-1990 where he represented the South in the National All-Star Championships. In 1991, Coach Mason returned to USC where he assumed the head coaching position for four seasons, taking the team as far as the South Final Four.
With Coach Mason's return to USC in the spring of 2004, USC rose to new heights. Taking over a previously under-achieving Division II team, Coach Mason quickly helped the team reach the USA Rugby South Division II playoffs in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Building on this success, coupled with increased performance on the organization level, the team moved to the South's Division I. From 2008-2011 USC was continually ranked in the National Top 25 Division 1 rankings and received a bid to the South Playoffs against Arkansas State in 2010. As a result of his strong leadership of the Team, Carolina Rugby now boasts three sides, making it one of the largest collegiate rugby teams in the nation.
Considering Mason’s competitive nature and love for Carolina Rugby, it came as no surprise that he would stay on as an essential part of the program. “It is hard to step back from the head coaching position, but family and other commitments require it. I have been able to have positive and long lasting friendships with hundreds of players and coaches both at USC and the rugby community at large and hope I have created an ongoing love for the game among the students who have participated in our program.”
If you wish to contact Coach Mason, he can be reached by email at GJM45@SCDMH.ORG
Mason’s tenure included an overall record of 166 wins, 94 losses and 8 ties. Under his leadership the rugby team enjoyed five South Territory appearances, five Palmetto Tournament championships, and a promotion to South Division I, a title held by only six other universities at the time.
A native of Australia, Geoff Mason played both rugby league and rugby union for 35 years, beginning at age seven. A success on the field, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Sydney University, Newtown and Penrith in the 1970's as a prop and second row and represented Newcastle against New Zealand in 1978. From there, he emigrated to the US in 1980 and was a Player/Coach at USC from 1983-1985. Upon graduation, Mason played for the Columbia Olde Grey from 1986-1990 where he represented the South in the National All-Star Championships. In 1991, Coach Mason returned to USC where he assumed the head coaching position for four seasons, taking the team as far as the South Final Four.
With Coach Mason's return to USC in the spring of 2004, USC rose to new heights. Taking over a previously under-achieving Division II team, Coach Mason quickly helped the team reach the USA Rugby South Division II playoffs in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Building on this success, coupled with increased performance on the organization level, the team moved to the South's Division I. From 2008-2011 USC was continually ranked in the National Top 25 Division 1 rankings and received a bid to the South Playoffs against Arkansas State in 2010. As a result of his strong leadership of the Team, Carolina Rugby now boasts three sides, making it one of the largest collegiate rugby teams in the nation.
Considering Mason’s competitive nature and love for Carolina Rugby, it came as no surprise that he would stay on as an essential part of the program. “It is hard to step back from the head coaching position, but family and other commitments require it. I have been able to have positive and long lasting friendships with hundreds of players and coaches both at USC and the rugby community at large and hope I have created an ongoing love for the game among the students who have participated in our program.”
If you wish to contact Coach Mason, he can be reached by email at GJM45@SCDMH.ORG
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