First Two Weeks of Intersquad Sevens Shows Promise for Coming Months (Week 1)

Matias Ferro goes for a break on the outside

On Friday, January 16, UMRFC had its first round of intersquad sevens matches to start off 2015. With the large increase in numbers from new fall players, all  teams appeared to be much more balanced than in years previous. This also allowed for all teams to play all of their own players without having to fish from other teams. For many of the new ruggers this was their first experience playing actual sevens rugby while veterans from the CRC team last year showed their skill and experience. Needless to say the games were quite interesting to watch, and although at times it was not the most beautiful rugby, it was easy to see the determination and drive in all players’ eyes as they strive to improve.

The link to the video of this weeks games can be found here

Game 1: James Earl Jones 24 – Mary Sue Coleman 20

The game started out quite evenly with good defense played by both sides. But 4 minutes in off of a lineout, Tohy Rakotovololona is able to get the ball in hand and break for the try line. However, at 10 meters out he attempts to juke the sweeper, and having feet so fast that his own brain cannot keep up, performs a maneuver that could only be described as slipping on the white line. Fortunately he is able to recover and dish the ball out, moving it across the field to Juan Aguirre on the opposite wing, who is able to touch the ball down. No conversion, Mary Sue leads (0-5). Off of the following kickoff once again Tohy is able to recover the ball and sprint for the try with nothing but green astroturf in front of him. Again no conversion, Sues lead (0-10). After the horn of the 7 minute mark there was a final scrum to Jones. Not wanting to finish the first half without an answer, new team captain Zack Burns (Retro) is able to get the ball and break the defense before dishing it to Cody Griffin to touch it down. No conversion. Mary Sue leads the first half (5-10).

30 seconds into the second half, Matt Kasten ( AKA Kat Masten) throws in a lineout which is then batted back down to him. Seeing a gap in the defense and having kat like reflexes, he uses his speed to exploit the opportunity and put Jones into the lead. Conversion by Zack Burns (retro) is good, Jones takes the lead (12-10). Only a minute and a half later Kasten is able to intercept a pass and have another break for 50 meters to score the try. Conversion by Zack Burns (retro) is good again. Jones in the lead (19-10). With only 3 minutes remaining in the game, Mary Sue’s Nick Fehrman is able to break the defense off of a lineout and pass to Tohy, who gets tackled near the try line. After a few phases, Alex Carson is able to get through and get points more points on the board for Mary Sue. No conversion, Jones still leads (19-15). With only one minute left in the game, Zack Burns (retro) does some one handed foolery that had head coach Brandon Sparks been there to see, would have resulted in what could have been nothing else but copious amounts yelling at sprints. However, through some magic, Burns is able to make it work and break 50 meters for a try. No conversion, Jones leads (24-15). The Mary Sue’s still had spirit though, and seconds after the final horn to mark the end of regulation time, Tohy is able to make an offload to Sequoyah Burke-Combs who gets the final points up there. Jones defeats Mary Sue (24-20)

Game 2: Ross 31 – Oosterbaan 5

Ross has historically been a very strong team in the past, and showed no plans in changing that in their match against Oosterbaan, (although everyone on UMRFC excluding the Ross team believes their days are numbered). Ross was able to show consistent aggression and dominance against Oosterbaan throughout the entire match. Two and a half minutes in, Ross poaches a ball off of a ruck is able to get the ball out to Chening Duker, who breaks through the outside and touches the ball down in the middle for an easy conversion. Joel Conzelmann kicks the conversion and Ross leads (7-0). A short time later Jared Bosma is able to poach another ball and pass the ball out to Joel who scores with no conversion, (12-0). With 1:30 remaining in the first half, Bosma is able to get a solid pass out to Duker who scores the try. Good teamwork by club presidents both past and present. Kick by Conzelmann is good, Ross leads (19-0). Oosterbaan feeling salty about the less than stellar first half doesn’t want to end the first half with no points on the board. Returning part time player known to me only as “Robbie” who played a few weeks last year was able to display his speed and touch the ball down in the corner to get Oosterbaan on the board.

Despite the finish in the first half, Oosterbaan was not able to keep their momentum going. In the second half new player Meng Shi is able to make a break and offload to Bosma to score. Converted by Conzelmann 5-26. Conzelmann and Duker were able to make a break an offload to Matt Ko who scores for Ross, no conversion. Ross beats Oosterbaan 31-5

Game 3: Duderstadt (Dudes) 19 – Canham 17

This game started with an exciting kickoff as John Palladino kicked the ball into the hands of Zack Burns Jr. (sophomore) who proceeded to completely bowl over Cooper Smart and make him look weak of mind, body, and spirit. Zack Burns Jr. was then able to make a 65 meter break and it looked as though he was surely going to score, but fortunately John Palladino was able to cut him off and slow him down at the 15 meter line and Cooper Smart tackled him from behind to preserve his own pride. Canham played several tough phases against the Dudes’ defense, but Jordan Ulmer was able to use his big legs to step around the defense and touch the ball down in the middle. No Conv (0-5). However, two minutes into the game at the Dudes’ own 25 meter line, Cooper Smart saw a gap in Canham’s defense and make a break all the way down the field to score and bring The Dudes into the lead. (7-5). Cooper Smart scored again soon after off of a bobbled pass by Canham in their own end. Dudes lead Canham (12-5). Right as the horn blared to mark the end of the half, Zack Burns Jr. received a pass out wide where he was able to make a 65 meter run to score . No conv, all tied up (12-12.)

The first try of the second half came from a lineout by Canham at The Dudes’ own thirty. After a couple of phases Albert Foo was able to fake out the defense and dish it to the weak side to Zack Burns Jr. who side stepped his defender and broke another tackle to make it to the 5 meter line, where he was able to make a falling offload to Jeremy Reid. Canham leads (17-12). The game went back and forth after that until the very last second where Andre Cargill was able to make it around the outside, and just seconds before the crossed the try line, the horn for the end of the match was music to The Dudes’ ears. Andre was able to kick the ball in between the posts and secure victory for Duderstadt. Final score (17-19).

Game 4: Ross 21 – Mary Sue 7

No scores came until 5 minutes into the first half of this game. The game went back and forth until then, when Chening Duker was able to harness his noodle-y power and slip himself through several Mary Sue defenders to make a 75 meter break and score between the posts. Conv is good, Ross leads (7-0).

Unfortunately the second half of the game footage was unintentionally unrecorded, but I do have the very brief notes taken by player which are as follows: “Bos (Jared Bosma) 80 yard break out of the scrum”, “Meng Shi scores after a long break by Chening Duker”, and “Juan Aguirre to Tohy Raktovololona after a few breaks.” Ross wins (21-7)

Game 5: Duderstadt 31- Oosterbaan 0

The Dudes were undeniably the dominant team in this matchup, and the whole team showed great ball movement and effort. The first try of the game came from Jessie Fenno of the The Dudes 1:30 minutes into the match. Jessie received a pass out wide 30 meters out, where he made a break for the outside and was able to cut back across the field at the last second to touch the ball down for a try at the left post. Conv good, Dudes take the lead (7-0). Dudes proceeded to have some good ball movement, and at 3:30 minutes Jesse was able to offload to Andre running a hard crash line. Andre broke through the defensive line with ease and ran 35 meters for a try. Conv is good, Dudes lead (14-0).

The Dudes were able to score again against Oosterbaan in the first minute of the second half. Through good ball movement and teamwork, The Dudes were able to make it down the field when Andre gave a funky offload to Nate Fisher (Fish) right behind him. Fortunately Fish displayed his good hands and caught the ball to break 25 meters to the try line. Conv is good. Only a minute later fish would score again as he was able to break a tackle on the outside and break 40 meters for his second try in one minute. No Conv, dudes lead (26-0). The final score came from John Palladino, who got the ball from the pass off a penalty on the 5 meter line. John ran across for a fake switch with Andre, and just made it over the line with ball in hand. Conv is good, Dudes win (31-0).

Game 6: Canham 14 – James Earl Jones 29

The final game of the night was close for the first half, but Jones was able to pull away in a strong lead before the game was over. 1:20 into the game Ben Clemens of Jones was able to see a gap in the defense off of a ruck at the 10 meter mark and do a quick pick and go to get into the try zone untouched. Not converted, Jones leads (0-5). One minute later Jordan Ulmer harnesses his prop speed and is able to make a 25 meter run for the try zone and touches it down between the posts. Converted, Canham leads (5-7). Sadly, the lead for Canham would be short lived. On the kickoff following Ulmer’s try, Big Chris Byer catches the ball and makes a break through the defense, with Kasten in support, Byer was able to offload it to the nimble wing who was able to finish the final 20 meters and score. Jones leads (10-7).  With 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Canham is able to make multiple breaks and it looked as though they were going to score. Sadly the ball is knocked on and recovered by Kasten, who makes a 65 meter break to bring Jones up (7-17).

2 minutes into the second half, Zack Burns (retro) gets the ball off of a lineout and makes an overhead pass to Caputo who touches the ball down between the posts. Conversion by Burns is good, Jones leads (7-22). With just under 2 minutes remaining in the second half, Jones is able to pull off a play that definitely involved some level of witchcraft and/or wizardry. Zack Burns (retro) attempts a dropkick as the clock is ticking down. Due to Oosterbaan’s low ceiling and Burns’ less than professional level of kicking, the ball bounces off of the roof and back into Burns’ own hands. Knowing that balls that bounce off the ceiling are live, Burns is able to take advantage of the bewilderment he has caused and runs the ball into the try zone. Screams of shock and awe naturally follow from the sideline. Before the game ended however, Canham had one last say. As the 14 minute horn sounded, Jeremy Reed was able to make a 70 meter break which was converted. Jones wins (14-29).

The team scoring system is as follows:

3 points for a win
2 points for a tie
1 point for a loss
0 points for a forfeit