Match Report - Army vs. Norwich (NERFU Playoffs rd. 1)
6 Nov 2006
The Men's Army Rugby hosted Norwich for the second time this season on Saturday at high noon. Army entered the game, the first NERFU playoff match, with a perfect record of 7-0 and a strong belief in themselves and their ability as a team. Last week, Army handily beat Boston College 73-12. The past week's training was extremely productive, as all players reached a new level of focus and commitment. The weather was as a good you could expect from New York in the month of November. The wind was gusty and the temperature was cold, but as always, the synthetic field at Anderson Rugby Complex provided the fast, clean, and wide-open game that plays into Army's strengths. Saturday's game was against Norwich, a team that is always known to bring their best rugby when they play Army. Being a military collegiate side, Norwich is always disciplined, tough, and fit.
A Side: 78-12
As the game started, Norwich immediately let it be known that they were here to play. They stifled Army's play for the first several minutes as there were multiple lineouts and scrums that kept the pace of the game slow and in favor of Norwich. Army soon began to wake up and apply the pressure to Norwich. After several good phases of rugby, Army put the ball down for five via winger Chris Grevious. The forwards were dominating scrums and lineouts were of equal quality. The Norwich flyhalf and scrumhalf chose to play a game of field position against Army. This tactic, unfortunately for them proved to be quite counterproductive as the back three of Army fielded all of their kicks and struck back with aggressive counterattacks. Fullback Brendan McCarthy and wings Robert Zargan and Chris Grevious showed their ability to play opportunistic rugby as they took what Norwich gave them and punished with it. The scrumhalf / flyhalf combination of David Lodwick and Andrew Locke were on the same page Saturday, as both were reading the game extremely well and provided much havoc for the Norwich defense. By halftime, Army had scored 6 tries. Forwards Chris Wallgren and Clint Hail both touched the ball down and backs Chris Grevious, Chris Bahr, and Robert Smalls all put the ball down as well. The second half was much the same as Army scored 6 more tries in the second half. As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 78-12.
Yet another dominant victory for the Men's Army Rugby team in the first game of the NERFU playoffs. The NERFU championship is only 2 games away, Army Navy 2006 is in less than 2 weeks, and only 6 games separate Army from a National Championship. The team is focused, determined and is salivating at the next chance to impose their will against the next opponent.
A Side Starting XV:
1 Sam Ketcham
2 Erik Waage
3 Chris Wallgren
4 John Breneman
5 Clint Hail
6 JP Flach
7 Jay Berger
8 Nate Peper
9 David Lodwick
10 Andrew Locke
11 Chris Grevious
12 Chris Bahr
13 Robert Smalls
14 Robert Zargan
15 Brendan McCarthy
| Name: | Tries: | Conversions: | Penalty Kicks: | Total Points: |
| Andrew Locke | 1 | 5 | ||
| Chris Bahr | 2 | 10 | ||
| Clint Hail | 2 | 10 | ||
| Robert Zargan | 4 | 8 | ||
| Brendan McCarthy | 5 | 10 | ||
| Nate Peper | 1 | 5 | ||
| Robert Small | 2 | 10 | ||
| Chris Grevious | 2 | 10 | ||
| Chris Wallgren | 1 | 5 | ||
| John Flach | 1 | 5 | ||
| Total: | 78 |
C/D Side against Dartmouth A/B:
On Sunday, Dartmouth traveled down to face Army's C and D sides in what would prove to be a great development for both teams. Dartmouth's A side defeated our C side 44-26 in a tough match. Dartmouth's A side proved too experienced and wise for Army's young, tough, and athletic C side to overcome. Army's D side soundly defeated Dartmouth's B side 55-5 in showcase of our young players.
