Both teams after the first meeting between the schools.
The UMRFC got off to a rough start in its match against Air Force on Friday, and a strong second half by Air Force resulted in a 53-19 defeat.
Despite playing some of its best rugby, Michigan couldn’t find an answer for No. 7 Air Force. Multiple Wolverine mistakes contributed to Air Force’s counterattack, and a better-conditioned Air Force squad’s strong defensive press sealed the game.
Michigan started the game receiving the ball and after a few phases, won a penalty to move play up field. The resulting line-out was long and gave Air Force the ball and possession headed into their attacking half. They soon turned this advantage into a score and with the conversion low, were ahead 5-0 only a few minutes in.
Scrumhalf Ian Etheart attacking and distributing.
The Wolverines found their footing soon after and were mounting pressure in the Air Force half. Scrumhalf Ian Etheart short side from a ruck to find freshman Terence Taylor who broke through the line and dished to wing Sequoyah Burke-Combs. Burke-Combs shed the Academy fullback and went in for the five-pointer in front of a large U of M contingent. The conversion was missed by Grady Bridges and the score was tied 5-5.
The next two tries were converted by Air Force off of multiple Michigan mistakes and quickly made the score 19-5. The Wolverines pulled within a try, though, when an Air Force penalty within 10 meters of the try zone allowed Grady Bridges to dish to Joel Conzelmann for an easy route in. Bridges converted the try to make the score 19-12. Air Force scored another try before the half, and in the final minute of the half, Michigan took a gamble when it chose to go for the try instead of kicking for points off of an Air Force penalty deep in their half. The Wolverines failed to score and they found themselves down 24-12 at the half.
Joel Conzelmann with Michigan’s second try.
The second half was not much easier for Michigan. Air Force scored five unanswered tries in the second half through a dominance of possession. Strong runs by the forwards allowed the Air Force wings to find space out wide. Though the scores were in favor of the Falcons, both teams kept the ball in hand and rewarded the strong home crowd with some entertaining running rugby.
Grady Bridges on the attack with Joel Conzelmann and Ian Etheart.
Looking for an answer, the Wolverines used their full compliment of subs, which gave junior Cameron Scott Watson his first A-side cap. John Palladino played well off the bench and Will Miller displayed his solid frame with a jarring tackled late in the game.
Michigan squeezed in a try in the final minute of the game, when Kenny Andutan muscled his way into the south try zone. Bridges converted and made the final score 53-19.
Kenny Andutan ending the game with a Michigan score.
1. Brennan Arnett (Rourke 44′)
2. Pete Melgren (Miller 56′)
3. Nic Bishar (Harrison 56′)
4. Matt Pilon (Rocha 56′)
5. Drew Vecchio
6. Dave Hiltzik (Watson 68′)
7. Kenny Andutan
8. Mike LaCivita
9. Ian Etheart
10. Grady Bridges
11. Sequoyah Burke-Combs
12. Christian Mentzer (Palladino 56′)
13. Terence Taylor (Bosma 50′)
14. Chris Padmos (Lazurka 68′)
15. Joel Conzelmann
16. Evan Rourke
17. Sebastian Harrison (Bishar 62′)
18. Sergio Rocha
19. Will Miller
20. Cam Watson
21. John Palladino
22. Jared Bosma
23. Nick Lazurka
Tries: Burke-Combs 9′, Conzelmann 28′, Andutan 79′
Cons: Bridges 29′, 80′
B-Side
This past Friday’s match versus Air Force Academy marked the first rugby match of several players on the UMRFC’s B-side. For others, it was their first rugby match of the 2012 fall season. The UMRFC battled what showed to be a strong and experienced Air Force team with more team chemistry at this point in the season. Despite the lopsided score, there were still many glimpses of inspirational play that will surely increase with more time.
In the initial ten minutes of the first half, both squads held their ground and kept their opponent from breaching the try zone. However, a quick set of penalties from Michigan’s B’s allowed to Air Force to strike first with a penalty kick in the 12th minute. After that, Air Force took off and landed in the try zone at a consistent rate to make it 41-0 at the half.
In the second half, Air Force continued to control possession of the ball with the help of some hefty forwards. The constant pounding proved to be too much for Michigan’s second side to handle and Air Force put up another 3 tries before the end of the match. Tough day for U of M but excellent effort should be noted by Stuart Starkweather, a second generation Michigan rugby player. It will only be a matter of time before, Michigan’s Killer B’s swarm again!
1. Ben Shapiro
2. Will Miller
3. Jordan Ulmer
4. Scott Miller
5. Brent Dreaver
6. Stuart Starkweather
7. Olly Gregerson
8. Nelson Worner
9. Shawn May
10. Evan Noon
11. Kevin Linder
12. Zach Burns
13. Joe Poznanski
14. Vinodhan Ravichandran
15. Max Arevuo
16. Troy Redmond
17. Travis Sawyer
18. Kazem Alidoost
19. Cam Watson
20. Neal Slabbekoorn
21. Kevin Cheng
22. Chris Batdorf-Barnes
