-Match Results-
Spring 2007
March 24th, 2007: Gentlemen of Dubuque 10 - Augustana 7
PLAYING ON A PITCH SWAMPED WITH MUD AND WATER, THE GENTLEMEN TRAVELED TO QUAD CITIES WITH 20 PLAYERS FOR THE MATCH. THE GAME WAS IMPORTANT JUST FOR ALL THE BOY'S TO GET THE 1ST RUN OF THE YEAR IN AND TO IMPLEMENT AND WORK WITH SET PIECES THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP YET IN THIS YOUNG SEASON. THE PITCH WAS OF SUCH CONDITION THAT IT MADE FAST PLAYERS SLOW, SLOW PLAYERS SLOWER (BUT NOT AS MUCH OF A DROP OFF AS FAST PLAYERS), AND FIELD POSITION WAS ACTUALLY MORE IMPORTANT THEN HAVING BALL. IF THERE WAS ONE MENTAL ASPECT OF THE GAME THAT WE MISSED ON, IT WAS THIS LAST POINT. HOWEVER, WE WERE TRYING TO WORK ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF OUR GAME REGARDLESS OF THE FIELD CONDITIONS.
THE GENTLEMEN CONTROLLED AT LEAST 60 TO 75% OF THE POSSESSION IN THE GAME WHICH WAS BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE 20 MINUTES QUARTERS WITH UNLIMITED SUBSTITUTION AND THE ABILITY TO REENTER. STEVE RUDEN STARTED THE SCORING WITH A TRY OFF OF A GIVE-LOOP-AND RE-GATHER MANEUVER. AUGUSTANA RESPONDED WITH A TRY OFF OF A BREAKDOWN AND A MISSED TACKLE AND A CONVERSION KICK. THE MATCH REMAINED AS SUCH UNTIL ABOUT 5 MINUTES LEFT IN THE MATCH WHEN BRANDON JONES SCORED THE GAME WINNER OFF OF A PENALTY TAP. THE END OF BOTH THE 2ND AND 3RD PERIOD SAW THE GENTLEMEN CONTINUING TO APPLY PRESSURE AND THREATENING TO SCORE EACH PERIOD.
POSITIVES ASPECT WERE SOME GOOD TACKLING, GOOD AND IMPROVED RUCKING, CONDITIONING OF THE LAD'S, AMOUNT OF POSSESSION AND RETENTION, IMPROVED 2ND ROW PLAY (ESPECIALLY BILL AND JASON), COMMUNICATION AMONG THE PLAYERS, AND OUR DISCIPLINE.
PLACES WHERE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK; MORE COMING IN 2'S AND 3'S AT THE BREAKDOWNS, BETTER USE OF THE "BRIDGE", MORE DEPTH AND PACE AT THE ATTACK, BETTER USE OF THE BOOT AS FAR AS DETERMINING OUR NEED FOR FIELD POSITION (ALSO USING THE BIGGER FEET WE HAVE) AND IN CONVERTING OUR TRIES. WE ALSO NEED TO BE MORE PRECISE IN OUR USE OF THE PENALTY TAP AND HOW WE ATTACK AT THOSE PENALTIES. PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE!!
ALL IN ALL, A VERY IMPRESSIVE EFFORT AND A SATISFYING RESULT!!!
TRYS-STEVE RUDEN (1) & BRANDON JONES (1)
MEN OF THE MATCH: Matt Roberts-Forwards, Bradley Kirkland-Backs
March 31th, 2007: Gentlemen of Dubuque 7 - Chicago Lions C 32
MATCH SYNOPSIS: THE GENTLEMEN TRAVELED TO CHICAGO TO PLAY SUPER LEAGUE CHICAGO LIONS C SIDE. THE GENTS TRAVELED WELL WITH 22 PLAYERS SUITED AT MATCH TIME. ALL 22 GOT A RUN BEFORE THE DAY WAS OUT. THE DAY STARTED WITH CLINTON MUDDY RIVER PLAYING AND LOSING A VERY HARD HITTING MATCH WITH LIONS B SIDE. THE GENTS THEN TOOK THE PITCH. AFTER THEIR GAME THE PREMIER MATCH WAS THE CHICAGO LIONS A SIDE PLAYING BELMONT SHORE IN A SUPER LEAGUE MATCH. THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL FOR RUGBY WITH A MILD WIND AND TEMP IN THE 50’S TO 60’S.
IN THE GENTLEMEN'S MATCH, THE BOYS FELL BEHIND 15 TO 0 AT THE BREAK. THE G.O.D. THEN SCORED THE FIRST 7 POINTS RIGHT OFF THE GIT-GO AT THE START OF THE 2ND HALF. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF BALL HANDLING AND ATTACKING RUGBY, AS THE BOYS TOOK THE BALL ABOUT 70 METERS DOWN THE PITCH WITH 5 TO 6 SETS OF HANDS PLAYING THE BALL BEFORE AUSTIN DOTTED DOWN THE TRY BETWEEN THE POST, AND THEN CONVERTED THE 2 POINT KICK. THE LIONS SCORED 3 MORE TRIES BEFORE THE HALF WAS OVER WITH ONE CONVERSION TO GIVE THE FINAL TALLY. THE SCORE IS A BIT DECEIVING THOUGH AS THE GENTS HAD 2 TO 3 OTHER EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT UP TRYS AND THE LAST LION TRY CAME AS THE GAME EXPIRED.
POSITIVES FOR THE MATCH WERE THE NUMBERS OF PLAYERS WHO TRAVELED AND ALSO RECEIVED GAME TIME. ALSO THE PLAYER'S DISCIPLINE ON THE PITCH AND THE HEART THAT THEY SHOWED IN BATTLING TO THE END. THE TACKLING AND SCRAMBLE DEFENSE WERE AS GOOD AS I’VE SEEN US PLAY. SOME OF THE BALL HANDLING AS FAR AS OFFLOADING IN THE TACKLE AND COMMUNICATION WERE ALSO BRILLIANT. KICKING AT PENALTIES AND FOR POST WERE ALSO GOOD.
NEGATIVES WERE WINNING VERY FEW OF OUR OWN SET PIECES OUR LACK OF PACE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RUCKS AND OF COURSE THE RESULT—WE TRAVELED WITH THE INTENTION OF WINNING. FORGOT ONE OTHER NEGATIVE----TOO MANY PENALTIES!!
ALL IN ALL THOUGH, THE TRIP WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AS WE SAW SOME GREAT RUGBY AND WERE ABLE TO SEE WHERE WE NEED TO GO TO PLAY AT THAT HIGHER LEVEL.
PLAYING 60 MINUTES OUT OF AN 80 MINUTE MATCH ON THE DEFENSIVE END OF THINGS IS ALWAYS HARDEST. HOWEVER, THE BOY’S FOUGHT AND TACKLED TO THE WHISTLE. IT’S TOUGH TO SINGLE OUT PLAYER’S IN THAT SITUATION. OF COURSE OUR MEN OF THE MATCH AND OUR POINTS SCORER DESERVE RECOGNITION, BUT I WAS PROUD OF EACH EVERYONE OF OUR LADS WHO TOOK THE PITCH AND THEY SHOULD ALL HOLD THEIR HEADS HIGH FOR HOW THE PLAYED AND THE CHARACTER THEY SHOWED!
TRYS-AUSTIN GOODMAN (1), CONVERSIONS-AUSTIN GOODMAN (1)
MEN OF THE MATCH: Matt Derby-Forwards, Corey Birkel-Backs
April 7th, 2007: Gentlemen of Dubuque 46 - Jones County Gothics 0
MATCH SYNOPSIS: COLD AND WINDY WOULD DEFINE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE GENTLEMEN STEPPED ONTO THE PITCH TO PLAY JONES COUNTY AND SUITED APPROXIMATELY 25 PLAYERS FOR THE MATCH—WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH JERSEY’S FOR EVERYONE TO BE SUITED. JONES COUNTY CAME WELL REPRESENTED WITH 18 TO 19 PLAYERS. FOR THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OF THE MATCH, JONES COUNTY KEPT THE BOYS ON THEIR BACK FOOT BY DOING WHAT THEY’VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS---RUCKING. THE FIRST POINTS OF THE MATCH WERE SCORED WHEN NICK "THE ASSASSIN" SCHUELLER SCORED IN THE CORNER. BEFORE THE HALF THE GENTLEMEN SCORED 1 OTHER UNCONVERTED TRY AND LEAD 10-0 AT THE BREAK. THE GAME WAS STILL VERY COMPETITIVE. THE SECOND HALF SAW THE FLOOD GATES OPEN AS THE GENTLEMEN TACKED ON 6 MORE SCORES AND CONVERTED 3 OF THEM FOR THE FINAL TALLY.
POSITIVES: GREAT NUMBERS AND MOST EVERYONE THERE ON TIME. DISCIPLINE ON AND OFF THE PITCH AS FAR AS OUR BEHAVIOR. 5 OF THE TRIES CAME OUT OF THE BACKLINE (2 BY THE WINGS AND 1 BY THE FULLBACK), SO WE WERE MOVING THE BALL WIDER THEN WE HAD BEEN. THE CHANGE’S IN THE SCRUMS AND LINE OUTS EFFECTIVELY ALLOWED US TO MAINTAIN OUR OWN BALL. THE LADS STARTED TO SHOW QUICKER AND GREATER COMMITMENT TO RUCK BALL, IMPROVED USE OF THE BOOT AS FAR AS ATTACKING FROM FLYHALF AND JUDGMENT AT PENALTY/FREE KICKS. TACKLING ONCE AGAIN WAS A POSITIVE.
NEGATIVES: MUST GET OUT OF THE BLOCKS FASTER. WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON OUR ABILITIES TO POACH THE OPPONENTS BALL AND AT THE SAME TIME GIVE A GOOD PLACEMENT AND PROTECT OUR OWN BALL. FORWARDS NEED TO REMEMBER TO TURN BALL UP FIELD IMMEDIATELY AND STAY AT DEPTH WHEN ATTACKING FROM THE POCKET OR ON PENALTIES. BACK’S HAVE TO ATTACK AT ANGLES TO THE GAP VACATED BY THE TACKLER AND TO ALSO COME AT GREATER DEPTH AT FULL PACE. PATIENCE!
OVERALL, A BRILLIANT EFFORT! IT SEEMS EVERYONE WE PUT ON THE PITCH WAS A FACTOR IN THE VICTORY-AND WE PUT EVERYONE ON THE PITCH!
TRYS: BRIEN ZIEMET(2), ZACH SINGSANK, NICK SCHUELLER, KEVIN O’CONNOR, MATT DERBY, BRANDON JONES, MARK SMITH
CONVERSIONS: AUSTIN GOODMAN (3/6), COREY BIRKEL (0/2)
MEN OF THE MATCH: Matt Derby-Forwards, Corey Birkel-Backs
April 14th, 2007: Spring Tournament
TOURNEY SYNOPSIS: THE DAY WAS BEAUTIFUL AND ONLY GOT BETTER AS IT WENT ALONG. DESPITE VARIOUS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS, THE 9TH ADDITION OF THE CHALLENGE TOURNEY RAN SMOOTHER THEN EVER.
THE GENTLEMEN STARTED THEIR DAY WITH AN IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER A STRONG AUGUSTANA SIDE. THE SEMI FINALS WERE AGAINST THE QUAD CITIES IRISH AND THE GENTLEMEN LOST A HARD LUCK 3 TO 0 VERDICT. THE GENTLEMEN THEN PLAYED IN THE CUP FINAL AGAINST DI POWER PEARL CITY DUE TO QUAD CITIES BEING UNABLE TO FIELD A TEAM FOR THE FINAL AND CEDAR RAPIDS DECLINING TO PLAY 2 CONSECUTIVE MATCHES VERSUS PEARL. AFTER AN UNINSPIRED 1ST HALF THE GENTLEMEN PLAYED A MUCH MORE DETERMINED AND COMMITTED 2ND, HOWEVER THE SKILLS AND ABILITIES OF THE DI CLUB PROVED AN UNBEATABLE BARRIER AND THE BOYS WERE ON THE SHORT END OF A 42-0 SCORE. THE DUBUQUE WOMEN, NUMBERING 4, PLAYED WITH WISCONSIN WOMEN'S RFC AGAINST A COMBINATION OF DES MOINES/PALMER. THE MATCH WAS SHOWCASED ON THE BIG PITCH AS THE PREMIER MATCH AND MADISON CAME AWAY WITH A 36-0 TALLY. KATIE MEYER SCORED THE MATCHES FIRST TRY FOR MADISON, BUT ALL THE DBQ GIRLS, SARAH, BEV, AND KATHLEEN, MADE AN IMPACT AND WERE FACTORS IN THE MATCH. IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY IN DUBUQUE!
POSITIVES: THE BOY’S PLAYED AGAINST 3 QUALITY TEAMS AND SHOWED GREAT HEART AND ATTITUDE. BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE WERE GOOD EXCEPT IN ONE INSTANCE AT THE END OF THE SECOND MATCH WHERE IT MAY HAVE COST US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN. JUSTIFIED OR NOT, WE KNOW HOW WE WANT TO PLAY, AND I’M SURE IT’S A LESSON LEARNED. WE USED THE BOOT IN THE 1ST 2 GAMES WITH GOOD THOUGHT IN MIND. SOMETIMES IT DIDN’T WORK AS WE WERE HOPING, BUT I PERSONALLY DO BELIEVE THAT CONTINUING TO DEVELOP THAT PORTION OF OUR GAME WILL RAISE US TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF RUGBY PLAY. TACKLING AND SPEED AT WHICH OUR BACKLINE INFILTRATED THE OPPOSITION WAS A POSITIVE FACTOR. ALL WHO DRESSED, MEN OR WOMEN, PLAYED AND AS FAR AS ACCOMPLISHING, FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT WE WANTED, THAT WAS ACHIEVED. ANOTHER GREAT TOURNEY!
NEGATIVES: FAILURE TO BE PREPARED TO PLAY HARD AT OUTSET OF GAME AGAINST PEARL CITY. NOT DICTATING PACE OF GAME AGAINST QUAD CITIES IRISH REGARDLESS OF THE SIR. AS ALWAYS, REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE OPPOSITION, WE NEED TO MAKE FIRST TIME TACKLES A PRIORITY AND REGAINING OUR FEET (IF WE HAVE TO GO DOWN TO MAKE THE TACKLE) TO POACH THE BALL. RETENTION OF OUR OWN SET PIECES IS A MUST. WE NEED TO MAKE ACCURATE AND CONSISTENT THROWS ON OUR LINEOUTS. USE STANDARD RUGBY PLAY INSIDE OUR OWN 22 AS A GENERAL RULE. OUR HIGH QUALITY ATHLETES NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT POINT IN THE GAME WHEN THEY NEED TO MAYBE STEP UP AND TAKE CHARGE OF A MATCH. PENALTIES, PENALTIES, PENALTIES—AVOID THEM ON OUR SIDE AND MAKE THEM PAY ON THEIRS!!
SCORING: TRYS: AUSTIN GOODMAN, STEVE RUDEN, BRADLEE KIRKMAN (1 EA)
CONVERSIONS: AUSTIN GOODMAN(2)
PENALTIES: AUSTIN GOODMAN(1)
MEN OF THE TOURNAMENT: Bill Maloney-Forwards, Steve Ruden-Backs
MANY KUDO’S TO GO OUT: STEVE RUDEN, MATT ROBERTS, RON POLE, AND DAVE SCHLUETER FOR ALL THEIR WORK IN MAKING THIS TOURNEY A SUCCESS. TO THE OLD BOY’S, IN PARTICULAR JIM "CONGO" MEYER, FOR RUNNING OUR CONCESSIONS ONCE AGAIN. DAMION ARENSDORF FOR WORKING THROUGHOUT THE TOURNEY. EVERYONE WHO STUCK AROUND IN THE END TO PICK UP. KATIE MEYER FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE WOMEN’S MATCH WHICH I FELT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND SOMETHING WE MUST ALWAYS PRESENT. DAN DOUGHERTY FOR HIS WORK WITH THE CLUB AND IN RUNNING THE SIDELINE. GREAT JOB BY ALL!!
April 21th, 2007: Rugger Daze Tournament @ Luther College
SYNOPSIS: THE GENTLEMEN PREPARED TO TRAVEL TO LUTHER COLLEGE TO PLAY IN THEIR TOURNEY WITH VERY SHORT NUMBERS. MOST OF THE ABSENTEEISM WAS EXCUSED---INJURIES, WORK. HOWEVER, A FEW MEMBERS WHO WE WERE RELYING ON ALSO DECIDED—TO THEMSELVES—THAT THIS WAS AN OPTIONAL TOURNEY.
THIS I MUST ADDRESS NOW!! WE ARE A TEAM AND I LIKE TO THINK WE ARE FRIENDS, LIKE A FAMILY. AS SUCH, WE CANNOT SURVIVE, WE CANNOT KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE, WE CANNOT GROW AND BECOME THE KIND OF CLUB WE WANT TO BE, IF OUR MEMBERS ARE ONLY CONCERNED WITH THEMSELVES AND WHAT'S BEST FOR JUST ME! FORCING YOUR MATES TO TRAVEL WITH LESS THEN A FULL, STRONG SIDE IS DANGEROUS. WE’VE ALWAYS SAID; WORK, FAMILY, GOD ALL COME FIRST---WE EXPECT AND NEED TO BE NEXT IN LINE AS FAR AS A PRIORITY AND WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT EACH OTHER THAT WE WILL CALL IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO PREVENT ME FROM PLAYING AND WE SHOULD ANSWER OUR CELL PHONES WHEN MY TEAMMATES CALL ME SO THEY AREN’T WAITING FOR ME WONDERING IF I’M GOING OR NOT! TRUE FRIENDS ALSO TRY TO CONTACT THEIR FRIENDS LATER TO FIND OUT HOW THEY FARED! PERSONALLY, I DIE WHEN YOU ALL ARE OFF PLAYING AND I CAN’T BE THERE. I NEED TO KNOW HOW THINGS WENT, IF ANYONE WAS HURT, DID YOU HAVE FUN. ENOUGH SAID—YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL AND IF THIS APPLIES TO YOU OR NOT.
DUE TO CERTAIN FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THE GOD TOOK THE PITCH FOR THE 1ST RD AGAINST THE HEADHUNTERS WITH 12 PLAYERS. IN A MATCH THAT STAYED CLOSE THROUGHOUT, THE GENTLEMEN LOST BY A 26-10 COUNT. STEVE RUDEN SCORED BOTH GOD TRIES AND THE SCORE WAS 19-10 WITH NO TIME LEFT WHEN CR TACKED ON ONE MORE SCORE ON A BREAKDOWN. THE LAST 5 MINUTES THE GOD LOST 1 PLAYER DUE TO BLOOD AND SO PLAYED THE LAST WITH 11 PLAYERS---AND WERE KNOCKING ON THE TRY LINE. GREAT HUSTLE, GREAT HEART, BY ALL WHO KITTED UP! IN THE 5TH PLACE MATCH AGAINST HOST LUTHER COLLEGE, WE PLAYED FULL SIDED AS WE ADDED HUSSAIN AND PICKED UP 2 PLAYERS FROM CR. THE END RESULT WAS A BARRAGE OF TRIES AND A 42-5 VICTORY. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY OTHER THEN A STRONG CROSS WIND, WE LOST NO ONE TO INJURY, HAD STORIES GALORE, AND ALL HAD A GREAT TIME WHO WERE AT THE PITCH.
POSITIVES: WE PLAYED WITH MUCH HEART AND HUSTLE, ATTITUDE WAS GREAT, CONSIDERING OUR NUMBERS( AND 2 OF THOSE WERE MYSELF(48) AND RON POLE(2 YEARS YOUNGER THEN MOSES) WE TACKLED AND RUCKED FAIRLY WELL. WE WORKED EXCLUSIVELY ON THE PENALTY PLAY IN GAME 2, WE NEVER REALLY GOT IT DOWN, BUT IT WAS NICE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS TOURNEY AND TRY TO DEVELOP WHAT WE NEED DOWN THE ROAD. FIVE TRIES ON THE DAY CAME FROM THE WINGS AND THE FULLBACK. SOME YOUNG PLAYERS WERE ABLE TO GET SOME VALUABLE GAME EXPERIENCE AND WORK AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS. THEY ALL STEPPED UP AND GAVE GREAT EFFORTS!
NEGATIVES: OBVIOUSLY OUR NUMBERS. OUR DISCIPLINE COULD USE A LITTLE TWEAKING. WE STILL NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH EXECUTING THE BASICS---RUCKING, POACHING, COMING AT PACE.
SPECIAL THANK YOU’S TO BEN ROBERTS WHO DUSTED OFF THE BOOTS AND SCARED THE BEJEESUS OUT OF EVERYONE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BALL. TO ALL THE PLAYER’S WHO KITTED FOR THE MATCH AND GAVE THEIR ALL WITH NO COMPLAINT. AND TO OUR FANS WHO HELPED MAKE THE DAY SPECIAL!
ONE LAST CHEER—FOR MARK AND EMILY SMITH WHO WILL BE BRINGING A LITTLE RUGGER INTO OUR WORLD!!!
SCORING: TRYS: JUSTIN PITT (3), STEVE RUDEN (3), BEN ROBERTS (2), BRADLEE KIRKMAN, HUSSAIN JAILOFALLAMAKEE (1 EA)
CONVERSIONS: RUDEN 0/6, RON POLE 0/1, DAVE SCHLUETER 0/1, HUSSAIN JAILOFALLAMAKEE 1/2
MEN OF THE TOURNAMENT: Mark Smith-Forwards, Justin Pitt-Backs
April 28th, 2007: Gentlemen of Dubuque 20 @ Iowa City Ducks 13
MATCH SYNOPSIS: THE WEATHER WAS A LITTLE TOO HOT AND THE WIND WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR AS THE GENTLEMEN TRAVELED TO IOWA CITY TO FACE THE IOWA CITY DUCKS—A TEAM WHICH HAD JUST FINISHED RUNNER-UP AT THE MIDWEST DIII RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CHICAGO.
TWENTY PLAYERS KITTED FOR THE MATCH AND THE GOD OPENED THE SCORING WITH A TRY BY BRADLEE KIRKMAN OFF OF A HUGE PASS FROM FLYHALF STEVE RUDEN. THE GOD ADDED A PENALTY KICK BEFORE THE HALF AND WENT TO THE BREAK WITH A 8-0 LEAD. THE 2ND HALF THE GOD PLAYED INTO A STRONG WIND. THE MATCH SEESAWED BACK AND FORTH WITH THE GENTLEMEN SCORING 2 TRIES OFF OF GREAT INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS BY RICK BESLER AND STEVE RUDEN LATE IN THE MATCH TO COME AWAY WITH A 20-13 VICTORY. KELSO ADDED A CONVERSION KICK OFF OF THE LAST TRY.
POSITIVES: THE BOYS PLAYED WELL WITH THE BOOT. WE USED THE WIND TO OUR ADVANTAGE WHEN WE HAD IT AND OUR JUDGMENTS FROM FLYHALF AND FULLBACK AS FAR AS TIME AND PLACE WERE BASICALLY SOUND. WE DID HAVE A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO I WOULD DESCRIBE AS "JOE KAZMARSKI TYPE KICKERS" WHO PANICKED A BIT UNDER PRESSURE AND REACTED WITH KICKS THAT WERE POTENTIAL CHAOS. OUR TACKLING WAS BASICALLY SOUND, 1 MAN-1 TACKLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE BACK LINE AND IN PARTICULAR BY KEVIN O’CONNOR (WHICH IS WHAT EARNED HIM MAN OF THE MATCH). SCRUMS WERE SOUND AND SERVICE FROM SCRUM (KELSO) TO FLY WERE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE MOST PART, WHEN HE HAD TIME, CONSIDERING THE WIND. KRIS KIRKPARTRICK THREW NICE BALL FROM LINEOUT, THOUGH WE DID HAVE ISSUE’S AS FAR AS COLLECTING THE BALL. WE PLAYED WITH HEART IN A GAME WHERE WE WERE OUTPLAYED IN THE 2ND HALF. RICK BESLER CAME UP WITH A TREMENDOUS INDIVIDUAL EFFORT WITH TIME RUNNING AND US DOWN BY 5 TO PULL US EVEN AND THEN STEVE RUDEN DID SOMETHING, THAT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, YOUR BIG TIME PLAYER’S MUST DO IN TIGHT MATCHES. HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO ATTACK AND FIND A WAY TO WIN WITH A BEAUTIFUL 80 METER TRY WITH PLAY IN INJURY TIME. IN THE WANING SECONDS THE WHOLE TEAM STEPPED UP AND PLAYED STRONG DEFENSE INSIDE OUR OWN 5 METER LINE TO PRESERVE THE WIN. BOTTOM LINE, WE DIDN’T PLAY AS WELL AS WE CAN OR AS WE NEED TO BUT WE STILL FOUND A WAY TO BEAT A VERY GOOD SIDE. THREE CHEERS!
NEGATIVES: OUR RUCKING WAS TOO LATE AT THE BREAKDOWN. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMBINATION OF SUPPORT GETTING TO THE RUCKS A HALF CLICK TOO LATE AND THE BALL CARRIER GOING TO PITCH TOO SOON OR NOT TAKING CARE OF THE BALL AND DELIVERING A GOOD RUCK BALL. WE ARE A LITTLE TOO GREEDY TO GET THAT EXTRA METER AND NEED TO CONCENTRATE A BIT ON GOING INTO CONTACT IN A PROPER POSITION AND GOING TO PITCH WHEN SUPPORT IS PRESENT. SUPPORT NEEDS TO COME LOW AND WITH PACE AND MAINTAIN OUR FEET. ON OUR TACKLES WE NEED TO MAKE THEM AND IMMEDIATELY REGAIN OUR FEET. RUGBY GAME’S ARE WON BY THE TEAMS THAT GET TO THEIR FEET QUICKEST! OUR LINEOUTS NEED WORK, THOSE ARE BALLS WE NEED TO HAVE. OUR FORWARDS HAD A ROUGH GAME AND SPENT TOO MUCH TIME LINGERING BETWEEN THE SCRUMHALF AND THE FLY. PATIENCE!!! WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES INSIDE THE 22 METER LINE, PATIENCE IS WHAT LEADS TO TRIES. STAY ORGANIZED AND BE PATIENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BALL IS SCRAMBLING. GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. WE AGAIN HAD TOO MANY PENALTIES (TOP QUALITY RUGBY IS EASIEST WHEN WE AREN’T STOPPING OURSELVES). WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB ON OUR PENALTY PLAYS WHICH AGAIN COMES BACK TO RUCKING. REMEMBER, BIG BODIES DO BETTER WITH THE "SHIT" BALL. WE NEED TO MAKE THE "GIMEE" CONVERSIONS AND PENALTIES
OUR BIGGEST NEGATIVE: DISCIPLINE!!! THIS COULD HAVE COST US THE MATCH. HOWEVER, THEIR LACK OF DISCIPLINE WON US THE MATCH. WE MUST KEEP OUR EMOTIONS AND NEGATIVE OUTBURSTS IN CHECK. WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH. WE ARE AN ARMY, WITH A CHAIN OF COMMAND THAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO HAVE THE FINAL VICTORY! DO NOT LET ANYTHING, THE REFEREE OR THE OPPOSITION DETER YOU FROM THAT GOAL. OUR TALK SHOULD BE WITH EACH OTHER IN A POSITIVE MANNER. OUR BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE CONTROLLED AGGRESSION SO WE CAN MAKE PROPER DECISIONS. EXTRA CURRICULAR BEHAVIOR ONLY COSTS US ENERGY THAT COULD BE PUT TO BETTER USE AND WILL BE NEEDED LATER.
SCORING: TRYS: STEVE RUDEN, RICK BESLER, BRADLEE KIRKMAN(1 EA)
PENALTY KICKS: STEVE RUDEN 1/1
CONVERSIONS: RUDEN 0/1, COREY BIRKEL 0/1, KELSO 1/1
MEN OF THE TOURNAMENT: Chris Kirkpatrick-Forwards, Kevin O'Connor-Backs
May 5-6, 2007: ALL - IOWA TOURNAMENT
TOURNAMENT SYNOPSIS:
SATURDAY: THE WEATHER WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD EXCEPT FOR A BIT OF A WIND. BUT OTHERWISE, OVERCAST AND ABOUT 60 DEGREE’S. WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH JERSEY’S FOR OUR NUMBER OF PLAYERS, WHICH IS A GREAT PROBLEM! OUR 1ST ROUND MATCH WAS SCHEDULED TO BE AGAINST DIII MIDWEST RUNNER-UP IOWA CITY DUCKS. HOWEVER, THE DUCKS SHOWED UP SHORT AND COMBINED WITH DIII MIDWEST QUALIFIER QUAD CITIES IRISH, WHO ALSO CAME SHORT OF NUMBERS. THE COUNT AT HALF WAS 14 TO 0 IN THE FAVOR OF THE GENTLEMEN. FROM THERE THE GAME STEAMROLLED TO A FINAL TALLY OF 38 TO 0. THE STORY OF THE MATCH WAS DISCIPLINE!! WE WERE, THEY WEREN’T. FIRST HALF SAW THE GENTLEMEN WHISTLED (IN ONE OF THE BEST OFFICIATING JOB’S WE’VE SEEN ALL YEAR.) 11 TIMES FOR OFFSIDE. IN THE SECOND HALF THAT WAS REDUCED TO 2 OR 3. IT WAS A GOOD FIRST MATCH AND BESIDES DISCIPLINE, A LOT HAD TO BE SAID ABOUT ONE TEAM COMING PREPARED TO PLAY AND HAVING A GAME PLAN, AND ONE NOT. ROUND 2 WAS AGAINST COLLEGIATE DII 5TH PLACE NATIONAL FINISHER, UNI. THE GAME WAS A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE FOR BOTH SIDES. THE BACKLINES HAD EACH OTHER WELL MARKED AND TACKLED. UNI SEEMED TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND IN THE FORWARD PACK AS WE WERE FRUSTRATED AT THE LINEOUT AND WEREN’T AS EFFECTIVE AS WE HAD HOPED TO BE AT THE BREAKDOWN. THE GENTLEMEN OPENED ON TOP WITH A PENALTY KICK 10 MINUTES INTO THE MATCH. UNI ANSWERED WITH A CONVERTED TRY (PUSH OVER MAUL OFF OF A LINEOUT) TO TAKE A 7 TO 3 LEAD TO THE BREAK. THE 2ND HALF SAW THE LEAD EXTEND TO 15 TO 3 (PENALTY KICK AND A TRY OFF OF A 5 METER PENALTY ON A MISSED TACKLE IN THE PACK) BEFORE THE GENTLEMEN RESPONDED WITH A TRY OFF OF BRILLIANT INDIVIDUAL EFFORT BY AUSTIN GOODMAN IN ONE OF THE FEW TIMES WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO SPIN OUT CLEAN ENOUGH BALL TO PLAY IT OUT TO THE WING.
SUNDAY: WEATHER WAS MISERABLE! THUNDERSTORMS AND HIGH WINDS AND COLD. HOWEVER, WE CAME TO PLAY AND WITH A BREAK IN THE WEATHER (AND GOD KNOWS WE’VE ALL PLAYED IN MUCH WORSE!) WE WE’RE ABLE TO PLAY A 3RD PLACE MATCH VERSUS GOPHER COLLEGE FROM ALGONA. THE SCORE AT MATCH END WAS 15 TO 7 IN FAVOR OF GOPHER, WITH OUR POINTS COMING IN THE 2ND HALF WITH THE COUNT AT 10 TO 0. IT WAS HUGE GOPHER COLLEGE PACK! AND WE HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS GETTING CLEAN BALL FROM SCRUM AND STILL HAD PROBLEMS AT LINEOUT. HOWEVER, EVERYONE PLAYED WITH HEART AND NO ONE QUIT. ALL OF OUR PLAYERS REPRESENTED THEMSELVES WELL, ESPECIALLY OUR NEWER PLAYERS. ALSO, WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF OURSELVES AND ALSO OUR OPPONENT AS WE WERE THE LAST 2 TEAMS STILL PLAYING AT THE FINAL WHISTLE. ONLY 1 OUT OF 3 FINALS WERE CONTESTED (DIVISION C FINAL WAS CONTESTED). TWO FINALS TEAMS BAILED AND ALL OTHER PLACING MATCHES, DUE TO THE WEATHER AND OTHER EXCUSES.
POSITIVES: NUMBERS, WE CAME PREPARED, WE WERE ORGANIZED, AND FOR THE MOST PART, OUR DISCIPLINE WAS VERY GOOD. WE DISCOVERED SOME THINGS ABOUT OURSELVES THAT WILL BE VALUABLE COME THE FALL SEASON. WE PLAYED EVERYONE AND EVERYONE PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT—THERE WAS NO QUIT! TACKLING WASN’T BAD AND RUCKING ONCE AGAIN APPEARED BETTER, ESPECIALLY THE 1ST DAY. OUR USE OF THE BOOT WAS GOOD THE 1ST DAY EVEN THOUGH WE COULD HAVE USED IT A BIT MORE IN THE UNI GAME TO BREAK THEIR LINE.
NEGATIVES: WE DO NEED TO FIND A WAY TO WIN OUR OWN SET PIECES CONSISTENTLY AND CLEANLY. WE NEED TO COME AT GREATER PACE AND TIMING TO THE RUCK ( TIMING OF THE SET AND CLEARING OF DEBRIS ARE ESSENTIAL TO TAKE RUCKING TO THE NEXT LEVEL!).
SUMMARY: WE HAD A GREAT TOURNEY ACTUALLY! WE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR A RUN AT A NATIONAL TITLE IN 2008. I WAS PROUD OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF THE GENTLEMEN WHO TOOK THE PITCH! TEAMS SEE YOUR DESIRE TO PLAY (NOT BOAT RACE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP) AND THEY’D RATHER NOT SEE THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE LINED UP OPPOSITE! YOU ARE ALL RUGBY PLAYERS, WE DON’T FORFEIT, WE DON’T LET THE ELEMENTS DICTATE WHETHER WE PUT ON OUR BOOTS OR NOT---WE LIKE PLAYING! WE LIVE! BUT BEST OF ALL, WE LIKE EACH OTHER, WE CARE ABOUT OUR TEAMMATES, WE DON’T WANT THIS TEAMMATE TO PLAY WITHOUT US! I FEEL A LEGITIMATE LOVE ON THIS TEAM!! AND REMEMBER, IF A TEAM DOES NOT HAVE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER, THEY WILL NEVER BE CHAMPIONS!! WE ARE CHAMPIONS!! THREE CHEERS ON A JOB WELL DONE!
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ST ROUND: GENTLEMEN OF DUBUQUE RFC 38 (6) IOWA CITY DUCKS/QUAD CITIES IRISH 0SCORING: TRYS; STEVE RUDEN, BRADLEE KIRKMAN, HUSSEIN FARZAD, BRANDON JONES, RICK BESLER, ZACH SINGSANK(1 EA)
CONVERSIONS; CRAIG KELS0 2/2, ZACH SINGSANK 1/3, AUSTIN GOODMAN 1/1
SEMIFINAL: GENTLEMEN OF DUBUQUE RFC 8(1) UNI RFC 15(2)
SCORING: TRYS; AUSTIN GOODMAN, CONVERSIONS; AUSTIN GOODMAN 0/1, PENALTY KICKS; AUSTIN GOODMAN 1/1
3RD PLACE MATCH: GENTLEMEN OF DUBUQUE RFC 7(1) GOPHER COLLEGE/ALGONA RFC 15(3)
SCORING: TRYS; STEVE RUDEN, CONVERSIONS; AUSTIN GOODMAN 1/1
MEN OF THE TOURNAMENT: DAY ONE: Brandon Jones-Forwards, Austin Goodman-Backs
DAY TWO: Joel Rodriguez-Forwards, Steve Ruden-Backs