Tennessee runs past Gamecocks

This article is from the Tennessee Rugby Website. Please visit their website at:
www.tennesseerugby.org

Tennessee found its pace in the backline and matched South Carolina's formidable set of forwards to claim a critical road win in the South playoffs. The Volunteers found the warm temperatures and sunny skies to their liking on Saturday but could have done without the 20 mph wind in their face in the first half.

Conditions dictated a running game in the first half and the Volunteers responded with several line breaks to score 4 first half tries. In the second half, a more balanced attack produced four more tries. Seniors Kevin Hartley and Matt Abernathy both had solid performances as the conditions required them to be central to the game plan.

In the second match, Tennessee jumped on the Gamecocks with five tries in the first half and then added a lone second half try for the win. Jordan Bowlus, Danny Adams and Jarod Wilson led the Volunteer attack.

Tennessee traveled with over 40 players and were joined by several UT Old Boys and family members of players on the sidelines. South Carolina proved to be determined opponent and the boys in Columbia are taking their rugby very seriously in their inaugural year of division one competition.

University of Tennessee 49,
University of South Carolina 12

Tennessee Line Up
1. DiMeola / Rice @ 60 min.
2. Nabors
3. Randolph
4. Fugate
5. Sturdivant / Hauge @ 40 min.
6. Meccia / Potter @ 40 min.
7. Kelly
8. Abernathy
9. Jones / Baker @ 60 min.
10. Edmunds
11. Melroy / Deaderick @ 40 min.
12. Hartley
13. Silverstein
14. Baker / Wilson @ 60 min.
15. Brown

Scoring Summary (Assist)
9:00 Try by Hartley (Edmonds) / CK by Melroy 7-0
14:00 Try by Hartley (Nabors) 12-0
23:00 Try by USC 12-5
28:00 Try by Abernathy (Hartley) / CK by Melroy 19-5
32:00 Try by Melroy (DiMeola) 24-5
42:00 PK by Deaderick 27-5
45:00 Try by Abernathy (Hartley) 32-5
53:00 Try by DiMeola 37-5
65:00 Try by Deaderick (Hartley) 42-5
70:00 Try by Edmonds / CK by Deaderick 49-5
80:00 Try by USC 49-12

Halftime: Tennessee 24, South Carolina 5
Referee: Graehm Payne
Kickoff: 2:00 PM