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Match write-up by Erik Geib
17 October 2009
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Columbia, SC - 11:00 AM
University of
South Carolina C 60, Lander University A 12
Columbia, SC - 1:00 PM
University of
South Carolina A 19, North Carolina
State University A 07
Columbia, SC -
2:30 PM
University of
South Carolina B 48, North Carolina
State University B 00
Legacy Field
- STWFC
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Match Summaries
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2009/10 Schedule
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ARN Article |
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Columbia, SC – USC Men's Rugby
was in top form this past weekend,
putting forth a dominant performance
despite the low score of 19-07. Facing
Carolinas League
foe N.C. State, the Gamecocks came out
hard, pinning the Wolfpack deep in their
own territory for much of the contest.
Club president/captain Anthony Hughes
said that the Carolina, "played a very
controlled game," one in which the club,
"dominated in the set pieces and rucked
very well." According to Hughes, USC
"could have scored a lot more but NCST
should be applauded for their stout goal
line defense."
The Gamecocks led 19-00 at the half, but
“a few backline injuries meant several
key players were replaced and the backs
were disjointed," according to head
coach Geoff Mason (as reported to ARN).
Nevertheless, Mason "was pleased with
the forwards efforts and the defense was
strong all day.”
Junior Nick Hart played an exceptional
game, filling in scrum half, and slotted
one of USC's 3 tries on the day. Seniors
Justin Schlachterman (hooker) and Chris
Stevens (wing) put in USC's other two
tries, and sophomore Cullen Clair was
2/3 in conversions, once again playing
excellent rugby. Of note, the match
produced the lowest combined-score in a
USC A-side match in the history of the
club's play at the
STWFC
Rugby Field. The club is now
14-5-1 at home since it began play at
their current location in February 2007.
In the B-side match, Carolina's depth
and talent was on display once again,
overwhelming the Wolfpack 48-00. The
Gamecocks second XV is undefeated on the
season, and was a large portion of the
club that won the
2009 Palmetto
Collegiate Cup last weekend
in Greenville, SC. Against N.C. State,
USC 'B' played a masterful match,
dominating ball possession and scoring
countless tries of well-timed dump
passes and running into space. Fullback
Tom Plumley was the key player on the
day, running in a nice try in the second
half of play, while also making
conversions and penalty goals all game
long.
Lander University A proved no problem
for USC C, as the Gamecocks D3 Palmetto
Side put up 60 points on the visiting
Bearcats. Flanker/lock Jack Protzman led
the team with high intensity and,
according to club president Hughes, "was
a rucking machine." "Seeing how much
those 30 guys have improved from the
beginning of the year is really
exciting. It is a testament to how much
our program has improved and how much
potential these young guys have." The
match marked USC C's final match of the
Fall semester, as the side will now be
integrated into USC A & B for the club's
two remaining events. This spring the
Gamecocks C-side will play in USA Rugby
South's Division III competition, taking
on Furman, College of Charleston, The
Citadel, Lander, and Armstrong Atlantic
State in the Palmetto League - a brutal
conference that has produced the last 7
South Championships while capturing 6 of
the last 7 Division III National
Championships. Such competition will do
wonders for the continued growth and
success of USC rugby, as participation
in last year's league is a large factor
behind USC's dominant run so far in Fall
2009. The University of South Carolina
is the only school in all of USA Rugby
South to operate 3 full sides in South
matrix competition, with USC A and B
participating in USA Rugby Division I.
Next weekend Men's Rugby at the
University of South Carolina travels to
Birmingham, AL for the fourth
consecutive
SEC Championship
Rugby Tournament, a
tournament that was recently revived in
2006. Last year the club's A-side
finished 4th, losing to Division 1 rival
Florida in the Plate Final. In the
Second Division, USC B finished 1-1, but
was denied the opportunity to defend its
2007 Plate Championship, as the
tournament eliminated the Second
Division 3rd-place game.
Heading into the tournament, USC has to
be looked upon as one of the favorites,
though getting past Tennessee or LSU
will be no easy task. The Volunteers
have dominated the Gamecocks in recent
rugby action, and LSU heads into the
tournament fresh off its upset of
then-#2 Arkansas State. The victory
moved the Tigers up to #6 in the
American Rugby
News Top 25. The Gamecocks
will unfortunately be without backline
player Richard Pyke (knee) and flanker
Andrew McCauley (face) for the remainder
of the season, as both players were
injured in action against N.C. State.
USC finishes its Fall season at home on
Saturday, November 7th at 1:00 pm
against Appalachian State University.
The B-side match will follow at 2:30 pm.
Both matches will take place at USC's
STWFC
Rugby Field, behind the Strom
Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center.
American Rugby
News article on the match |
USC B versus NC State B
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USC B versus NC State B
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USC B versus NC State B
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USC B versus NC State B
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USC C taking on Lander University A
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USC C taking on Lander University A
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