Match
Summary:
The Men's Rugby Football Club at the
University of South Carolina took the
field for its first test series this
past Friday night after a rousing
intersquad scrimmage the weekend before.
The opponent, much like last year, was
in-town affiliate Columbia Olde Grey.
The outcome, however, was quite
different. Last year, a very strong
Carolina squad lost to Olde Grey 26-27
during the last few minutes of a
rain-drenched affair on the club's Strom
Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center
rugby pitch. This time around, a very
young first XV took it to the
more-experience Columbia squad. Whether
this was a reflection of the conditions,
the regulations, or the opponent remains
to be seen, but the result was viewed as
encouraging amidst the coaching staff.
Faced with an opponent low in numbers
(the men's senior club was in pre-season
mode, as their season is largely in the
spring), USC opted to play two 40-minute
affairs with its respective sides,
having originally hoped for three
40-minute matches due to Carolina's
overwhelming numbers. This was done so
as to allow most members of the club a
chance at real opposition prior to the
start of USC's season the following week
against East Carolina University.
Nevertheless, some club members logged
the majority of their time in another
Garnet and Black match following Olde
Grey's departure.
The 'A' side for Carolina looked sharp
early, putting on its usual display of
aggression and explosiveness for the
on-looking capital city crowd. Junior
Max Minnillo put in Carolina's first try
of the season off a nice second-phase
ball in the near-corner to give the
Gamecocks an early first-half lead.
Moments later other opportunities were
at hand, but Olde Grey was able to shut
down the Carolina offense near its
goal-line, costing the club several
chances at putting the game away early
and sending USC to the half with a
meager 5-0 lead.
Shortly after the break, club newcomer
Chris Stevens pulled away for a try up
the far sideline that put the Gamecocks
up 10-0, which would prove to be enough
for the evening. Olde Grey was
eventually able to tack on a try and
conversion later in the half to pull the
match to 10-7, but after 40 minutes of
grueling play the Carolina first XV
walked away victorious.
In the second 40-minute match of the
evening, USC's reserve-grade side looked
strong despite their relative
inexperience. Per the usual, the second
side pack displayed impressive size and
tenacity, though the backline was
impressive in its own right with crisp
passing and sturdy defense. Columbia was
unable to put any points on what was
largely USC's 'B' side in the first 20
minutes, and Carolina was able to
threaten at several key points in the
match. A number of former U19 players
have proven to be quality additions to
the club, and the coaching staff was
excited by their quick adjustment to a
higher level of play.
After the half Carolina put in a number
of raw recruits who were logging only
their first or second rugby match, and
Olde Grey was at last able to take
advantage, putting up three tries and
two conversions through their veteran
leadership and experience. Despite this,
many, many players for Carolina seem to
hold countless potential, and the club
is confident in the newcomers' ability
to compete and win against
similarly-experienced collegiate
competition.
Next week the club heads to Greenville,
North Carolina to take on 2008 USA Rugby
South Division II Champion & National
Quarter-Finalist East Carolina
University in what should be an early
statement game. Last year, the Carolina
first XV squeeked out a 20-19 home
victory over the Pirates in what
ultimately proved to be a testament to
Carolina's standing as a Division One
club. This season, East Carolina is
2-0 thus far, having beaten North
Carolina State 43-12 and Cape Fear 40-10
on September 13th, earning them a #6
national ranking among Division Two
clubs on erugbynews.com.
Statistics for the University of South
Carolina versus Columbia Olde Grey from
Friday, September 12th, 2008 at USC's
Blatt P.E. Center Field:
Statistics: |
|
University of South Carolina First XV
'A' |
Columbia Olde Grey |
|
# |
Player |
Time |
# |
Player |
Time |
|
1. |
M. Dillard |
|
1. |
|
|
|
2. |
J. Schlachterman |
|
2. |
|
|
|
3. |
G. Tabasko |
|
3. |
|
|
|
4. |
N. Cacheiro-Hamdi / Kane C. |
20:00 |
4. |
|
|
|
5. |
J. Drum |
|
5. |
|
|
|
6. |
M. Minnillo / Benov C. |
20:00 |
6. |
|
|
|
7. |
A. Hughes (c) |
|
7. |
|
|
|
8. |
Jas. Jacobs |
|
8. |
|
|
|
9. |
N. Hart |
|
9. |
|
|
|
10. |
M. Vernery |
|
10. |
|
|
|
11. |
C. Stevens |
|
11. |
|
|
|
12. |
D. Chandik |
|
12. |
|
|
|
13. |
B. Kieber |
|
13. |
|
|
|
14. |
M. Nelson |
|
14. |
|
|
|
15. |
A. Hannah |
|
15. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scoring Summary |
Scoring Summary |
|
6. |
M. Minnillo |
TRY |
8:00 |
15. |
|
TRY |
30:00 |
|
11. |
C. Stevens |
TRY |
21:00 |
10. |
|
CON |
30:00 |
| |
|
|
University of South Carolina Second XV 'B' |
Columbia Olde Grey |
|
# |
Player |
Time |
# |
Player |
Time |
|
1. |
Z. Coffman |
|
1. |
|
|
|
2. |
O. Shearer |
|
2. |
|
|
|
3. |
R. Raymond / I. Toomey |
20:00 |
3. |
|
|
|
4. |
W. Schwabe / C. Storey |
20:00 |
4. |
|
|
|
5. |
V. Pierce / S. Hangehold |
20:00 |
5. |
|
|
|
6. |
L. Tarantini / C. Clair |
20:00 |
6. |
|
|
|
7. |
C. Courtney / C. Jamison |
20:00 |
7. |
|
|
|
8. |
S. Tinman |
|
8. |
|
|
|
9. |
C. Hobbs (c) / C. O'Callahan (c) |
20:00 |
9. |
|
|
|
10. |
S. Brenner |
|
10. |
|
|
|
11. |
V. Calzone |
|
11. |
|
|
|
12. |
S. Kornahrens / M. Weidman |
20:00 |
12. |
|
|
|
13. |
S. Leslie |
|
13. |
|
|
|
14. |
A. Callicott / Peaches |
20:00 |
14. |
|
|
|
15. |
N. Koch / T. Acree |
20:00 |
15. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scoring Summary |
Scoring Summary |
|
|
|
|
|
#? |
|
TRY |
23:00 |
|
|
|
|
|
10. |
|
CON |
23:00 |
|
|
|
|
|
#? |
|
TRY |
34:00 |
|
|
|
|
|
10. |
|
CON |
34:00 |
|
|
|
|
|
#? |
|
TRY |
40:00 |
| |
|
University of South Carolina
Garnet |
University of South Carolina Black |
|
# |
Player |
Time |
# |
Player |
Time |
|
1. |
Z. Coffman |
|
1. |
I. Toomey |
|
|
2. |
C. Benov |
|
2. |
O. Shearer |
|
|
3. |
M. Dillard |
|
3. |
L. Stark |
|
|
4. |
P. Muldowney |
|
4. |
C. Storey |
|
|
5. |
C. Turmelle |
|
5. |
S. Hangehold |
|
|
6. |
J. Drum |
|
6. |
C. Clair |
|
|
7. |
C. Burns |
|
7. |
C. Jamison |
|
|
8. |
V. Pierce |
|
8. |
C. Kane |
|
|
9. |
C. Hobbs (c) |
|
9. |
C. O'Callahan (c) |
|
|
10. |
A. Thornduke |
|
10. |
L. Tarantini |
|
|
11. |
Jam. Jacobs |
|
11. |
B. Bennett |
|
|
12. |
P. Lawler |
|
12. |
S. Kornahrens |
|
|
13. |
K. Henning |
|
13. |
M. Weidman |
|
|
14. |
T. Plumley |
|
14. |
A. Coffman |
|
|
15. |
N. Koch |
|
15. |
A. Callicott |
|
|
16. |
A. Fraser |
|
16. |
A. Hannah |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scoring Summary |
Scoring Summary |
|
|
|
|
|
5. |
S. Hangehold |
TRY |
29:00 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo Gallery |
Photos provided by Assistant Coach Mark
Morris.
Additional match photography available
here.
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