Ross Breaks through the Duderstadt line.
Fans came out this past Friday to watch UMRFC close out their Intrasquad Sevens season with an exciting playoffs and final that saw Ross take the win home for the second straight year. It was a great night of rugby for players and fans alike and a good show case of what’s to come as the club gears up for the Collegiate Rugby Championship Sevens Tournament in early June. Click here for tickets to the CRC. If you would like to watch the games yourself, as always they are posted on our YouTube channel with both bird’s eye and sideline views.
Semifinal: James J. Duderstadt 34 – Don Canham 10
The Dudes came off the whistle hungry and won their own kickoff, sending the ball from sideline to sideline before Canham turned it over. A hard run by Drew Vecchio set up an offload and a tremendous one-handed grab by Ian Etheart for a 30m try. Canham won their own kickoff this time, but lost the ball in the try zone, and the resulting 22 was fielded by Duderstadt for a try by Arevuo after cleaning up some loose play. The Dudes again recovered the kickoff and produced another try after winning a Canham scrum to bring the score to 12-7. Canham responded to the kickoff with a quick score by Drew Vecchio, who refused to be brought down until he was within arms’ reach of the try. When the kickoff went into touch, the Dudes attempted their patented long-lineout to Travis Sawyer, but Canham turned it over and led a successful attack through multiple phases, finished in the corner by Jordan Ulmer to end the half in the lead, 15-12. The Dudes started the second half strong, quickly sending Cooper Smart through a gap in the defense for a 70m try. The Dudes recovered their own kickoff but ceded two penalties, and much of the half was punctuated by knock-ons from both sides in Duderstadt territory. A brilliant switch from Andre Cargill to Cooper Smart resulted in a 60m try, and the Dudes won the kickoff to put the final nail in Canham’s coffin with a try by Cargill. The final score was 34-12 Duderstadt.
Semifinal: James Earl Jones 7 – Stephen M. Ross 33
Ross won their kickoff to start, but lost possession after several phases. Play remained in Jones territory despite several Ross knock-ons, but eventually Christian Mentzer stripped the ball away from a Jones drive and scored. Ross momentum held up as they continued to hold Jones in their own territory, finally finishing the half 14-0 after a smart grubber by Joel Conzelmann. Ross started the second half strong with a quick try by Mentzer and Jones responded with a promising possession. An unsupported breakaway by David Hiltzik led to a Ross turnover, which was lost in the rafters by a kick from Chening Duker. This left Jones with possession deep in Ross territory, and a penalty allowed Kenny Andutan to finish the job. Ross managed to slip another one in by Christian Mentzer shortly after the kickoff, bringing the score to 28-7. For the remainder of the match, the ball stoutly refused to stay in bounds, but once Ross got their hands on it they were able to roll Chening Duker into the try zone to finish 33-7.
5th place: Mary Sue Coleman 43 – Bennie Oosterbaan 0
Oosterbaan struggled to make progress despite repeated chances at possession, and an early turnover led to a try by Tohy Rakotovololona. From there Oosterbaan managed to hold up on defense in their own territory for a time, until Coleman forced them to crowd around the breakdown, and sent it wide to Rakotovololona for an unmolested run into the try zone. Coleman kept the pace up with a brutal stiff-arm from Alex Davidson that resulted in a try, but Oosterbaan was finally able to bring the ball out of their half with a long run by Matt Kasten. Sadly, he was caught from behind with an ankle-tap by Davidson, and knocked it on. Play returned to Oosterbaan’s half, and Rakotovololona was soon able to dot it down, bringing the halftime score to 24-nil. The second half saw the same difficulties with Oosterbaan’s defense, and a kick from Sequoyah Burke-Combs was recovered by Drew Calcatterra for an easy try. Oosterbaan almost immediately lost possession of the kickoff through poor passing, and Coleman’s drive to the try zone via Jackson Wagner and Nick Fehrman was swift and unstoppable. Oosterbaan’s team, now mostly first-time players, continued to falter on defense, allowing Coleman to strip the ball and kick it into the try zone to be touched down by Rakotovololona. The demoralizing show was interrupted with a strong run by Riley Hanson, but alas, possession was lost and Oosterbaan ended the match deep in their own territory. The final score: 43-0.
3rd place: James Earl Jones 0 – Don Canham 54
Freshman Zack Burns started the half off on a high note for Canham by fielding his own team’s kickoff and immediately scoring down the sideline. Drew Vecchio followed suit soon after, leading an unstoppable charge through defenders to the post. Canham continued to show dominance in possession, logging tries for Albert Foo, Ian Etheart, and Zack Burns and ending the half 25-0. Canham captain CJ Stock didn’t have long to rest his kicking foot, as Etheart slipped by the defense early in the second half for a 50m try. Jones began to put up more of a fight, forcing Canham’s offense to lose some composure, but were unable to hold possession and let in another Etheart try before long. Canham’s recovery held true, and a crisp string of phases following a Jones knock-on resulted in a try by the divinely-inspired CJ Stock. Jones again stepped up to bat and managed to contain play in Canham territory, but a smart line by Foo resulted in a 60m try. Not to be outdone by a scrummy, Drew Vecchio pushed through after the buzzer for a try of his own, bringing the final score to 54-nil.
Championship: Stephen M. Ross 31 – James J. Duderstadt 21
As the championship game kicked off, spectators were eager to see haughty Team Ross belittled and beaten. Breath was held as the Dudes lost possession but turned over on their own goal line, and a hundred-meter run by Max Arevuo had the crowd on their feet. Sadly, hyper-fit Joel Conzelmann was in pursuit, allowing Ross to make a goal-line stand of their own. Several knock-ons from both sides ensued, but Ross pressure pushed the ball back to their 40m line until Andre Cargill slipped through a pair of defenders for a well-celebrated try. Ross continued with an aggressive press, pushing the ball to the Dudes’ goal line, but yet again the Dudes managed to withstand the onslaught until they ceded a penalty, allowing Chening Duker to tie the game. Joel Conzelmann put another one in after the buzzer, leaving spectators to bite their nails and exchange anxious glances. The Dudes continued to contest fiercely in the second half, meeting Ross pressure with a stifling drive of their own. Sadly, one missed tackle was all it took for Christian Mentzer to find the try zone from 55m out, bringing the score to 19-7. The Dudes didn’t lose face, however, and quickly sent Cooper Smart for an interception resulting in a clean pair of heels to the posts. The kickoff put the ball deep in Ross territory, but they neutralized the Dudes’ pressure by sending the ball sideline to sideline until Christian Mentzer found himself undefended on the wing for an 80m try. Spectators were allowed some relief, however, when Andre Cargill pulled off a brilliant chip kick to bring the score to 26-21. Ultimately it seemed that the ten-minute halves favored Ross’ superb fitness, when Chris Padmos cleaned up a loose ball for an easy try. It was the final nail in the coffin as the spectators’ dreams were snuffed out, ending the match 31-21.
