Match Report - Army vs UCONN
27 Oct 2006
The Army Rugby team traveled to the quiet town of Storrs Mansfield, Connecticut this past Saturday to face off against the University of Connecticut Huskies on the rugby pitch.
The dreary, overcast day produced slippery and wet conditions for the match. The A side match kicked off at 1300, followed by the B side game at 1430.
A Side: 63-5
The Army Rugby XV started out the game against UCONN on the right foot. Less then 5 minutes into the game, fullback Brendan McCarthy slotted a 37 yard penalty kick to put Army on top early. Riding this early momentum, Army proceeded to touch down 5 tries in the first half alone. Back row players, Nate Peper and Jay Berger scored the first two tries of games. Both tries showcased Army’s potent back row of 8 Man Nate Peper, and flankers Jay Berger and Dan Strathman. Following Berger's try, McCarthy touched the ball down for the third try of the game.The try was a great team try that started with a scrum in the center of the field.8 Man Peper took the ball out the back of the scrum and passed to scrumhalf David Lodwick who then pinned his man perfectly putting McCarthy away to finish the play.
Chris Bahr, inside center, scored the next try that was the result of Army’s pack winning a defensive scrum. Peper picked the ball quickly, immediately dishing off to Lodwick.Berger received a nice ball from Lodwick and then gave the ball to Bahr on a hard route that took him through the defensive line and into the try zone.Outside center Brett Hanger finished off the scoring in the first half with a nice try set up by his precise running line.
In the second half Chris Grevious started off the scoring with a trying corner that was the culmination of good multi-phase rugby by Army. Around 15 minutes into the second half Coach Pohlidal began to work in the reserve players. Adam Ewoldsen, Juan Banales, Tony Fatula, Sean Flachs, and JP Flach all came in and played key roles in finishing off UCONN.Banales, at flyhalf, scored soon after entering the game by reading the defense perfectly and finding the gap.
Prop JP Flach soon thereafter took the ball just outside of Army’s own 22 meter line. He then showcased great speed, especially being a prop, and beat UCONN’s winger and center around the corner and proceeded to rumble all the way down to the 5 meter line before offloading perfectly to Grevious for an easy try.
Rob Zargan scored the last try of the game once again caused by precise running lines and well timed routes.Zargan also kicked a penalty and three conversions in the second half.
Final score: 63-5
Army rugby showed much improvement in the areas identified as problem areas after last weeks game against Northeastern. The team is developing in a timely fashion is beginning to showcase that the sky is the limit for this years Army Rugby XV.Next week the team takes on Norwich at home.
A Side Starting XV:
1 Sam ketcham (Flach @ 70)
2 Erik Waage (Fatula @ 65)
3 Scott Haran
4 John Breneman
5 Clint Hail
6 Jay Berger (Waage moved from Hooker @ 65)
7 Dan Strathman
8 Nate Peper(Berger moved from Flanker @ 65)
9 David Lodwick (Flachs @ 65)
10 Andrew Locke (Banales @ 65)
11 Chris Grevious
12 Chris Bahr
13 Brett Hanger
14 Robert Zargan (Ewoldsen @ 65)
15 Brendan McCarthy (Zargan moved from winger @ 65)
| Name: | Tries: | Conversions: | Penalty Kicks: | TotalPoints: |
| Jay Berger | 1 | 5 | ||
| Chris Bahr | 1 | 5 | ||
| Juan Banales | 1 | 5 | ||
| Chris Grevious | 2 | 10 | ||
| Brett Hanger | 1 | 5 | ||
| Robert Zargan | 1 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| Brendan McCarthy | 1 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| Nate Peper | 1 | 5 | ||
| Total: | 63 |
