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Match write-up by Erik Geib
04 October 2009 |
Boone, NC - Saturday, October 3rd,
2009
1st Division:
University of South Carolina A 25,
College of Charleston A 07
North Carolina State University A 10,
University of South Carolina A 00
University of South Carolina A 20, East
Carolina University A 06
2nd Division:
University of South Carolina B 07, North
Carolina State University B 03
University of South Carolina B 19,
Appalachian State University (AHO) B 07
University of South Carolina C 03,
North Carolina State University
B 00
University of South Carolina C 06,
Appalachian State University (AHO) 05
Boone, NC - Sunday, October 4th, 2009
1st Division Semi-Final:
Appalachian State University (AHO) 09,
University of South Carolina A 06
2nd Division Championship:
University of South Carolina B/C 38,
Clemson University B 00
Match Summaries
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2009/10 Schedule
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Boone, NC – USC men's rugby was
the only side to put a score on host and
eventual champion Appalachian State
University, but their efforts fell just
short.
Traveling as the
third largest
rugby club in the United States,
the University of South Carolina Rugby
Football Club brought three sides to the
annual Rucktoberfest Tournament in
Boone, NC, entering its A side into the
1st Division, while its B & C sides
competed in the tournament's 2nd
Division.
In its first match of the competition,
USC A sprinted past College of
Charleston with excellent play from its
veteran backline, despite persistent
problems in the scrum. Playing on a
narrow field with shortened halves, the
Gamecocks were able to finish off the
Cougars by a score of 25-07.
The second match of the day saw Carolina
put forth its worst effort of the
season, as USC played terribly against
the N.C. State Wolfpack, falling by a
score of 10 to 00. The Gamecocks were
unable to get into a rhythm, and found
themselves on the wrong end of the
scoreline by match's end.
Looking to shake off the upset, USC came
out hard in its final Saturday match
against East Carolina. Despite having
beaten ECU once already, the Gamecocks
were not quick to forget their loss to
the Pirates the year before, and the
entire team looked great in tallying a
20-06 victory over their CRL foes from
Greenville, NC. This victory secured a
berth in the semi-finals against host
Appalachian State University (AHO), who
had yet to be scored on in its 3-0 run
over its competition.
As such, the Sunday semi-final proved to
be spectacular. Both sides came out full
throttle and ready to play. Sophomore
fullback Cullen Clair proved of pivotal
importance, notching two penalty goals
against a physical AHO side in front of
the boisterous noise of its home crowd.
With neither club either to work through
multiple phases of play, the match
eventually lurched into triple overtime,
with App. State at last able to sink a
3rd penalty goal to call it a match,
09-06. The eventual champion
Mountaineers decimated runner-up Clemson
University in the day's final, 16-00.
Much credit is due to the valiant
efforts of the USC A side. Despite their
struggles, the club was easily the
second-best team in the 1st Division
tournament, and is credited on eventual
champion Appalachian State's
website
as giving AHO "its
closest match of the weekend."
The Gamecocks will also be given a
chance to avenge sloppy play against
North Carolina State University, as they
host the Wolfpack on Saturday, October
17th at 1:00 PM on USC's
STWFC Rugby Field.
USC will also get another shot at the
undefeated Mountaineers when they host
Appalachian State University on
Saturday, November 7th, also at 1:00 PM
on USC's
STWFC Rugby Field.
In 2nd Division play, USC's depth and
talent were obvious to all clubs in
attendance. The Carolina second and
Palmetto sides absolutely demolished
every side they played, with both clubs
scoring big wins over Appalachian State
B and North Carolina State B. The sides were
set to play each other for the
tournament's 2nd Division Championship
on Sunday, but opted against such a
match. Many thanks go to Clemson
University for offering its B side as an
opponent to a combined USC B/C side, as
the Gamecocks ran all over the rival
Tigers, winning by a final score of
38-00. USC's B side remains undefeated
on the season, and will merge with the C
side once again in playing at next
weekend's Palmetto Rugby Union
Championship Tournament in Greenville,
SC. The merged B/C side will be USC's
sole representation in the tournament,
as the scheduling of the even over USC's
Fall Break has left the club without
most of its top-side players.
Press Release
concerning the 2009 Palmetto Rugby Union
Championship Tournament
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