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Clemson University A/B
(4-4) @ #21 University of South Carolina A/B
(10-0-1) |
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Match report from
American Rugby News, as the USC staff is
on Spring Break:
#21 South Carolina has capped off an
unbeaten run through the inaugural
Carolinas Rugby League with a 20-10 win
against Clemson Friday night at home in
Columbia, SC.
The win means the Gamecocks will
represent the CRL in the South
Championships later this month.
It was 17-3 at halftime in favor of USC,
but they took their foot off the gas in
the second frame and allowed the Tigers
to get back into the game.
South Carolina scored three tries, all
in the first half, by Corey Benov,
Anthony Hughes and Steve Hengehold.
As has been the case for much of the
season, USC’s proficiency at the pick
and drive set the platform for the
victory.
“The ball was bouncing around and passes
didn’t go to hand,” South Carolina head
coach Geoff Mason told ARN. “It wasn’t a
pretty effort, but a win’s a win.”
Article correction:
USC's tries were scored by Corey
Benov (1), and captain Anthony Hughes
(2), who scored twice.
Additional Information by webmaster
Erik Geib:
USC 'B', the inaugural
Carolinas Rugby
League
B-Side Champions, defeated Clemson 32-00
to finish off its undefeated run through
the CRL's second table. The Gamecocks'
second side finished the year at 12-2-1
overall, which included the capturing of
the 2009 Rucktoberfest B-Side
Championship, as well as a 3rd-place
showing at the 2009 SEC Championship
Rugby Tournament. According to
USC club captain Anthony Hughes, the try
scorers in the B-side defeat of Clemson
included Nick Koch, Alex Ruggiero,
Justin Schlachterman, and Colin McKeon
(2) - who scored twice. Tom Plumley also
made a penalty goal for the Gamecocks.
The win by the Gamecocks A-side caps
a perfect season at
home
(8-0-0), and an undefeated record in
full, 80-minute matches on the year
(11-0-1). USC finishes the regular
season 19-3-1 overall (including
tournaments), including the club's
capturing of the
2009 Palmetto
Rugby Union Championship, and
a 3rd-place showing at the
2009 SEC
Championship Rugby Tournament.
USC will now have the daunting task of
taking on #8 Arkansas State University.
Should the Gamecocks win, they will go
on to face the winner of Florida vs.
Tennessee/Georgia (the Southeastern
League title is still TBD). The
participants in that match will go on to
represent the South in the USA Rugby
National Round of 16
in Marietta, GA and Santa Barbara, CA on
April 16 & 17.
As result, the South Final Four is
roughly the equivalent of a national
'Round of 32,' and this year will be
held in Murfreesboro, TN on March 27.
It is still to be determined as to
whether or not USC will capture the
inaugural
Carolinas Rugby
League
Championship, as they lead N.C. State by
3 points in the standing with the
Wolfpack having one CRL game remaining.
N.C. State will travel to Clemson this
Friday to take on the Tigers, and will
deny USC (the league's top Division 1
side) the crown should it emerge with a
victory. However, should the Wolfpack
lose or tie (even with a bonus) to the
Tigers, the Gamecocks will take home the
trophy. The conclusion to the season is
as thrilling as predicted, and should
come down to the finish as the feisty
Tigers battle for pride at home.
Thanks to all our many fans, friends,
and alumni who made it out to the final
home match of the year. We encourage you
to follow us to Murfreesboro, TN to see
the Gamecocks take on the #8 ASU Red
Wolves on March 20th, 2010. Go Cocks! |
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Carolinas Rugby League:
A-Side
Standings |
|
|
|
|
Record |
|
|
Bonus |
|
|
Team |
Div |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
PF |
PA |
+4 |
-7 |
POINTS |
|
University of South
Carolina |
I |
06 |
05 |
00 |
01 |
122 |
053 |
01 |
00 |
23 |
|
North Carolina State
University |
II |
05 |
04 |
00 |
01 |
125 |
056 |
02 |
00 |
20 |
|
University of North
Carolina |
I |
06 |
04 |
02 |
00 |
223 |
104 |
03 |
01 |
20 |
|
Appalachian State
University |
II |
06 |
03 |
03 |
00 |
119 |
055 |
02 |
03 |
17 |
|
Wake Forest University
|
II |
06 |
02 |
04 |
00 |
115 |
214 |
01 |
01 |
10 |
|
Clemson University
|
I |
05 |
01 |
04 |
00 |
064 |
121 |
01 |
01 |
06 |
|
East Carolina University
|
II |
06 |
00 |
06 |
00 |
073 |
241 |
01 |
01 |
02 |
|
|
|
Carolinas Rugby League:
B-Side
Standings |
|
|
|
|
Record |
|
|
Bonus |
|
|
Team |
Div |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
PF |
PA |
+4 |
-7 |
POINTS |
|
University of South
Carolina |
I |
06 |
06 |
00 |
00 |
142 |
010 |
06 |
00 |
30 |
|
University of North
Carolina |
I |
06 |
05 |
01 |
00 |
136 |
049 |
05 |
00 |
25 |
|
Clemson University
|
I |
04 |
02 |
02 |
00 |
044 |
064 |
01 |
00 |
09 |
|
North Carolina State
University |
II |
04 |
01 |
03 |
00 |
037 |
074 |
01 |
01 |
06 |
|
East Carolina University
|
II |
04 |
01 |
03 |
00 |
020 |
062 |
00 |
01 |
05 |
|
Appalachian State
University |
II |
02 |
00 |
02 |
00 |
000 |
040 |
00 |
00 |
00 |
|
Wake Forest University
|
II |
04 |
00 |
04 |
00 |
000 |
080 |
00 |
00 |
00 |
|
|
|
Key: |
|
Div - Division |
PF - Points For (in a
match) |
|
GP - Games Played |
PA - Points Against (in a
match) |
|
W - Win (4 pts) |
-7 - Bonus (1pt) - Loss
by 7 or fewer |
|
L- Loss (0 pts) |
+4 - Bonus (1pt) - 4
tries in a match* |
|
T- Tie (2 pts) |
POINTS - Total League Points
(pts) |
|
* - Forfeit victories
also receive a bonus
point, as they are
recorded as 20-00 (4
tries) |
___
The
Carolinas Rugby
League is USC's new spring matrix, and consists of the top 7 clubs
in North and South Carolina, including
USC, Wake Forest, Clemson, North
Carolina, Appalachian State University,
North Carolina State University, and
East Carolina University. As the league
is a mixture of Division I and Division
II competition, it will send its top DI
school into the South DI Final Four and
its top two DII clubs to the South DII
Quarter-Finals. The CRL will be naming
its own all-star team and MVP, as selected by
coaches and referees, and will reward
the top club with its own trophy at the
end of each season. The brainchild of
former UNC head coach Andy Richards, the
league is intended to limit regional
clubs' travel time while promoting local
growth through rivaled competition.
The Gamecocks Palmetto ('C') side is
playing in USA Rugby South's Division III
competition, taking on Furman, College
of Charleston, The Citadel, Coastal
Carolina, and Armstrong Atlantic State
in the Palmetto League - a brutal
conference that has produced the last 7
South Championships while capturing 4 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 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. |
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Copyright 2010. Erik V. Geib
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