CLUB NEWS...
In June 2005 the Columubus Rugby Football Club earned the Indiana High School Rugby Association's Division II State Championship. In a very dramatic fashion the Rhinos recaptured the lead with a 30 meter penalty kick to win the game at the end of injury time. Brazillian exchange student, Fernando Figuiera (a.k.a. Fez), brought home the title with a lofty but accurate kick to win the match by a score of 16-15.
Bloomington RFC, a long time rival and commrade to the Rhinos, fought hard and lead for most of the match. Despite having lost the previous two matches against Columbus, BRFC took the game to the Rhinos with the expectations of claiming the state title. After a 10-0 deficit at the half, the Rhinos tied the match with two unconverted tries at the 35th and 43rd minutes. Around the 50th minute Columbus took the lead with a penalty kick from 30 meters out. With approximately 3 minutes to play the powerful inside center for Bloomington exploded thru the Rhino defense leaving center Justin King unconcious and scoring a 40 meter try to regain the lead. With little time on the clock the Rhinos marched the uncoverted ball back to the half-way line. The kickoff was high and deep, which allowed the Rhinos to exert pressure on Bloomington leading to an eventual mistake by BRFC Captain, Sam Enari. This resulted in a penalty situation, which was converted for 3 points and a victory. Much to the shegrin of Head Coach Laithe Shaaban (a.k.a. the Dark Prince), former IU Mudshark teammate, Coach Marcus Hurley, lead the Rhinos to a third victory over BRFC and claimed the state championship.
The Columbus RFC had a bye in the first round, beat Hamilton SE 'B' 28-5 in the second round, and won the championship game 16-15 over Bloomington RFC.
McGrady Gives USA U20 Women Win over Welsh in Nations Cup Opener
Thursday Jul 9, 2009 in Women National Teams
(Indiana University star Tyra McGrady is the heroine. Alex Goff photo.)
Uxbridge, UK - The last time the USA U-20 Women faced Wales, they were winning six minutes into injury time, only to let the victory slip away with a game-ending penalty kick. During the opening match of this year’s U-20 Nations Cup, it came down to the final play again … except this time, the junior Eagles celebrated the ref’s whistle, as Catherine Parkhill converted Tyra McGrady’s corner try, 7-3, the final score.
“It was even more than a nail-biter,” coach Bryn Chivers said. “We had eight players in Cardiff two years ago when we lost on the last kick of the game. It was like they’ve been carrying the weight of that defeat for two years, and when that whistle blew today, it was a huge emotional release for them.”
As Chivers expected, today’s match was a physical, forwards-dominated contest, with both back lines receiving very little ball. Wales got on the board 10 minutes in with a penalty. Parkhill had a couple opportunities to even it up but the kicks fell short. Nevertheless, the USA maintained their composure – a focal point of the two days’ worth of training prior to the match – and settled down.
While the remainder of the first half remained between the 22s, the junior Eagles dominated the second stanza, maintaining the majority of possession and staying in Wales’ half.
“We had a number of opportunities, getting down to the five-meter a number of times, but something always stopped us up,” Chivers said. Erica Cavenaugh, who made some big, physical tackles on the wing, was sinbinned about 15 minutes in for a high tackle – a repercussion that stunned sideliners.
The USA managed to keep territorial advantage despite being a man down, while the forwards continued to bang each other up.
“We had advantage in the lineouts, and the ref was calling the breakdowns in a way that made them an opportunity to really fight for possession,” Chivers said. “It wasn’t messy, just heavily contested, because a lot was allowed in the rucks. They just hammered away at each other because of the opportunity the breakdowns represented.”
Chivers tipped his hat to the forwards for staying with it and in particular the back row. Flanker Jozy Gessner brought more than her usual brand of ferocious rugby and set the tone for her teammates.
Their true test came with three minutes to go, when the USA gave up a series of penalties that allowed the Welsh to send a kick into the USA’s half. Patience and diligence paid off when a dropped ball was scooped up by winger McGrady on the USA 40 meter. She ran a beautiful pattern down the center of the field, evaded one chaser and dotted down in the corner. Parkhill made the difficult sideline conversion for the icing on the cake.
“We’re just enjoying our victory right now,” Chivers said of the near future. “Wales was technically and tactically better than us – they’ve been watching and playing rugby, their national sport, since they were eight years old. But we deserved this win. We tackled well, covered the field incredibly well, and weren’t just lucky.”
The USA is off tomorrow, but after watching the England vs. Canada match, which England won 45-0, their subsequent match against their hosts can’t be far from their minds. When they do hit the practice pitch again, Chivers will focus on quicker ball from the breakdowns. The USA sat on the ball a little too long today – a luxury they won’t enjoy against England.
“It’s not to say that our game plan and our personnel won’t create the opportunities to score against England,” Chivers conceded. But for now, the USA will enjoy the win, draw upon the confidence that an international victory provides, and buckle down against England on Sunday.
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McGrady Invited to All-American Camp