USC Rugby rolls past N.C. State and Lander to improve to 4-0

via www.uscrugby.org

via www.uscrugby.org

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 | 2009/10 Schedule