After Intrasquads Round 1, we listed Jones as the the worst team in our power rankings. Two weeks later, Jones looks like a legitimate championship contender. The race for the title is more open than ever.
We’ve added some new sections this week. Here’s what’s in this article:
- Tournament Standings
- Individual Points Leaders
- Play of the Week
- Team Power Rankings
As always, we’ve also posted videos of each game on Youtube. If you’ve gotten this far in the article and you’re still wondering what MRugby Intrasquads are, click here. Otherwise, let’s dive in!
Tournament Standings
| # | Team | Pts | W | L | T | PF | PA | PD | |
| 1 | Dudes | 17 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 164 | 95 | +69 | |
| 2 | Sues | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 147 | 82 | +65 | |
| 3 | Jones | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 118 | 110 | +8 | |
| 4 | Benny | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 105 | -24 | |
| 5 | Canham | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 111 | 140 | -29 | |
| 6 | Ross | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 56 | 145 | -89 |
Points Leaders
Yes, we’re aware that points scored is not the best metric when it comes to measuring a player’s quality of play. Points don’t indicate any defensive value, and players on better teams are prone to put up inflated numbers. Regardless, this is the only individual player data that we have available.
Upperclassmen dominate the top 15, a testament to the value of experience in rugby. Two underclassmen did make the list, however. Freshman George Janke leads the field in tries with eight, and Sophomore James Olson showcased his blazing speed on Monday. Jordan Perez leads all players with 44 points at the halfway point of the tournament.
Play of the Week
The Round 3 Play of the Week goes to a new guy, Sari Muallem! Facing the Bennies, Jake Bodner was carrying the ball and almost went into touch, but Muallem saved the day by using his body to keep Bodner inbounds. He subsequently assisted Devan Gupta for a try. Muallem’s team, Jones, went on to win 26-10.
Power Rankings
Finally, check out our weekly power rankings below. Remember, these rankings don’t necessarily reflect the tournament standings, and are based on the opinions of this committee.
1. Dudes
Round 3: Win vs. Ross (27-10), Tie vs. Canham (22-22)
Dudes have continued to fly recently, handily putting away Ross and making a massive second half effort to overcome a 17 point deficit against Canham and force a tie. Jordan Perez and Brandon Walter lead the team–they are first and third in the tournament in total points respectively–but Dudes’ biggest strength is their depth. If some of Bill Young, Conor Egan, Lucas Dean, Luke Boll, and Jack Stothoff make it back on the field, Dudes will be a clear favorite to win the tournament.
2. Sues
Round 3: Win vs. Canham (39-7), Loss vs. Jones (14-20)
Despite the blowout win over an injury-riddled Canham, Sues looked less than convincing in their next game against Jones. Jamie Demers led the team to two straight tries in the second half, but it was not enough to prevent the upset. Sues will look to bounce back in Round 4. Freshman George Janke leads the tournament in tries.
3. Jones
Round 3: Win vs. Benny (26-10), Win vs. Sues (20-14)
It was an impressive week for Jones; they were the only team to pick up two wins in Round 3. In their first game, Jones blew out solid mid-tier team Benny. Jake Bodner’s return to health proved pivotal in Jones’ second game against Sues. Jones opened up the game with four unanswered tries, including two from James Olson, and held on for the victory. Jones are hot, and we’ve reflected that in these rankings.
4. Canham
Round 3: Loss vs. Sues (7-39), Tie vs. Dudes (22-22)
Canham had a hard time in the other night’s games. Sues racked up 39 points, and Dudes added on 22. The team generally struggled to communicate on defense, and couldn’t consistently push up the field on offense. Against Dudes, Canham did go up 17-0 at halftime, but they couldn’t hold the lead. Despite their hardships, Canham has had a plethora of close games, evidenced by their two ties. They have a better chance than Benny or Ross of taking down any of the top three teams in the future.
5. Benny
Round 3: Loss vs. Jones (10-26), Win vs. Ross (15-7)
In the Bennies’ first game of Round 3, they simply looked overmatched against a red-hot Jones squad. Benny looked better in their second game against Ross. They rallied as Niko Kyriacou and Juan Marco picked up late tries, sending them ahead in the low scoring affair. Benny might be the most mediocre team in the tournament. Mediocrity isn’t gonna cut it against Dudes, Sues, or Jones.
6. Ross
Round 3: Loss vs. Dudes (10-27), Loss vs. Benny (7-15)
Ross is still struggling.
