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Match write-up by Erik Geib
27 October 2009
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Birmingham, AL - Saturday, October 24th,
2009
University of South Carolina 26, Ole
Miss (University of Mississippi) 00
Louisiana State University 31,
University of South Carolina 05
University of South Carolina 19,
University of Georgia 05
Louisiana State University B 19,
University of South Carolina B 05
University of Tennessee B 35, University
of South Carolina B 00
University of South Carolina B 15,
University of Georgia B 00
Birmingham, AL - Saturday, October 25th,
2009
3rd Place Match (Consolation Final)
University of South Carolina 33,
Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) 00
Match Summaries
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2009/10 Schedule
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Birmingham, AL – The South
Carolina Gamecocks downed the Ole Miss
Rebels 33-00 in the SEC 3rd Place Match,
just one day after a competitive loss to
the #6 LSU Tigers in the tournament's
semi-final.
Traveling to Birmingham, AL for the
fourth year in a row, the Gamecocks
entered both its A & B sides into the
2009 tournament, and walked away with a
3rd place finish in both brackets. While
that may come across as a disappointment
to some, the result is USC's highest
finish yet, and both LSU and Tennessee
(who finished above them) are
first-class programs.
Traveling without a few starters, the
club opened the first day of the
tournament against a sizable Ole Miss
side. Despite the poor field conditions,
the Gamecocks were able to slug through
the mud for four tries, and locked down
the Rebel attack with USC's trademark
defense. The victory set up a semi-final
match against #6 LSU, who was hot off a
victory over previously-#2 Arkansas
State.
According to club president/captain
Anthony Hughes, USC "suffered a couple
of knee injuries and shoulder injuries
very early" because of the conditions,
and the side was not at full strength
against the Bayou Bengals. Nevertheless,
the club played valiantly in defeat,
falling 31-05 in a match not easily
summarized by the score. Though the
Tigers walked away with the win, the
Gamecocks left the field knowing they
were capable of hanging with the
nation's best.
Following the defeat, USC was placed in
a consolation semi-final against the
University of Georgia, with the winner
to await the Ole Miss-'Bama winner in
Sunday's 3rd Place Final. Not deterred
by their previous loss, the Gamecocks
came out hard, stymieng the Bulldog
backline. When the match was said and
done, USC was up 19-05, with the field
deteriorated into pure mud, and scoring
at a premium.
Having learned they would face Ole Miss
again on Sunday did not become an excuse
for complacency. Taking the field as a
team, the Gamecocks were determined to
lock the Rebels yet again. With the
Volunteers and Tigers looking on, USC
came out blazing, disorienting Ole Miss
into costly mistakes by the stout
Gamecock defense. Such play resulted in
a 33-00 final, with USC claiming
outright hold over 3rd place for the
first time since the tournament
re-started in 2006.
Following the tournament, LSU fell to
from #6 to #11 in the
American Rugby
News Top 25. Tennessee made
its debut in the ARN rankings at #20,
and the Gamecocks fell to #25.
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.
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USC scrumming against
Ole Miss |
The Gamecocks against #6
LSU |
LSU B tackling USC B |
USC B versus Tennessee B
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USC against SEC foe
Georgia |
USC downing Ole Miss for
3rd Place |
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