Post match on Chistmas 7's --click HERE.
First match v Wild Geese ended in a tie before about 500 spectators --most hardly knowing rugby law but they cheered and clapped anytime we entered a mud puddle, raked, or punched. Our second match v Virginia Old Boys lead by the legendary Terry Whelan and Mike Puopulos was a burner. Our backline exploded with five trys. Brilliant runs by the Bracken Brothers at the centers and some niftly moves by Keal at 10. Butler had his usual solo try from 10 meters out. Got to name Doug Lumpkin, Man of the Match, for huge effort and contribution around the tackle zone. Doug was everywhere on the loose ball and hand some nice runs--hats off to Doug for overcoming serious physical problems in the last 12 months. What a comeback!
This is a partial transcribe of Danny Patterson's post match--full account is archived at our unitedrugby email group.
We suffered a bitter 15-12 defeat to Roanoke on Sat.
Roanoke opened the scoring with a remarkable ty under the posts. What was remarkable was Roanoke did not have to cross the try line to get the 5 points. The player was on his knees in front of the try line and threw it forward for the try!? We knew we were in for a difficult match. Later in the match when we were 10 yds from the try line and pushing their pack like they had roller skates on, a roanoke player came off sides and kicked the ball between our #8 into touch. This referee showed his roanke old boy colors and trully was the deciding factor in the game.
We consistently penetated the gain line with close support and hammered them back into their territory, we had Roanke on their heels most of the time.
Steve scored our first try off a quick slant off a ruck about 10 meter out.
Early in the second half good pressure by Steve, Brian, and Daryl resulted in a deflected kick gathered by Mike Kelly from his wing position at about midfield. Mike beat his man to the outside and found support on the inside from Tomas for the touchdown.
Aside from the ref, my biggest complaint is that we did not adjust to him. We gave him too many opportunities to blow his whistle. The sidelines were very quiet after this match We HATED losing and that is a good thing.
The forwards absolutely seized this match with power and a will to score in close inside the 15 meter line. Tries were produced by Mirza,Tyler, Boog (with a deuce,Tim Brown--I may be missing somebody. At any rate our scoring was in close with brutal power drives. Our defense was effective and predatory, particulary when we were able to drive Burbs off their own put in. Coleman continues to lead the defensive pressure with low physical tackles all over the pitch. Coleman recovers to his feet in a breathtaking instant. Tim Crum works his ass off at the rucks clearing opponents away from the tackle area. Cody, as well, showes a high work rate in attack and in defense. Tyler was a hand full with the ball in his arms making his way up the pitch. Tim Brown's power is a wonderful thing to witness.
Our backline had few opportunities with the ball in that Western Suberbs opted to kill most of our good possesion with penalties rather than face our backs. Brian Patterson had a nice break in the first half but in general our backline sought territory for our forwards with kicks and relieved pressure with kicks. We may as well not deny it, we are a holy terror inside our opponents 22 meter and our brand of rugby is 8 men --hell for leather.
So, how do we add to our weapons. How can we get our backline more involved? We have huge confidence in close: we can translate that confidence into a more focused brand of possesion in the midfield area. For example, we rucked and scrummed well between the 22s but our ball to the backline was often under immediate pressure. The backline was nearly always compelled to kick for space and territory in every instance if there wasn't a penalty: so we really were unable to build any offensive momentum. We look good when the ball is OFF the ground with our forwards: we are really not a ruck and run type of pack. Why not set up some pick and drives off our scrumdowns and our rucks just like we do inside the 22? We aren't trying to score off these moves, of course, but we will be able to concentrate the defense, occupy their mobile looseys, and then we give it to the backline! We have so many demonstrated strenghts yet much promise still waiting to be exploited.
Sept 28 Virginia Gentlemen v VCU Old Boys
The Gents took this one 12 to 5 in a manner identical to our A side style of play. Both touchdowns were the result of pack drives in close. The first came off a lineout to Jerry and driven by Phil back to Peter , our cagey Welsh scrumhalf, who drives through the last group of defenders for the try. Billy Cauthorn scored the last try off a series of brief violent rucks and driving picks to the score. Billy's try secured the victory in the waning minutes. His quote for the day,"That try was just like sex--the last 3 seconds was the best part." Danny Patterson in action video .
Sept 21 v Norfolk
Our match commentary on Norfolk is an edited condensed, combined report submitted by Danny Patterson and Pete Murray. Their original detailed account is archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unitedrugby. Thank you Danny and Pete. Here is the "Readers Digest" version:
We lost the A side match without question, yet we did have some bright spots. Our scrummaging was dominant and our rucking was fine when we had the ball. Daryl played a stellar match covering their kicks. Coleman, as usual, was everywhere with the hits. Tim Crum as a rucking monster. Thank you Frank Cassidy for playing hooker. Old Boy, Dan O, scored his second try of the season and Tyler Schmal touched one down too. Physically we matched up with Norfolk in the close contact stuff; we did not have to committ so many penalties at the break down to stay with Norfolk. We had , at least, 8 penalties that cost us a load of possession and territory. We can play Norfolk straight up without cheating. It is really hard to stop a team that can break the gain line with pace and still keep the ball alive--that's what Norfolk did all day---we can learn from their example. Defense---we must get across the gain line and force the tackle line behind their gain line. Without that element we are dead, we tackled but were on our back heels frequently and eventually overwhelmed.
The B side borrowed a couple of the Blues and we started well with a brilliant try up the middle by Aram,touching down between the sticks.Aram kicked his own conversion. This match was wide open with both sides trading lots of territory and points. We would have prevailed but greedy Norfolk substituded some of the A siders late in the half to secure the win. I feel sorry for those Norfolk B siders that had to yield their positions so Norfolk could win this friendly match. I am proud United does not treat our players that way.
Sept 7th B side match
With a mixture of age and youth, fitness, and fatness, The United Seconds took the field against a tired, retread Severn River A side (they traveled with 18). United jumped to a early lead rucking well but making the same mistakes as the first side, namely not clearing the ball away and starving our scrumhalf "Diablo" Cassidy of good ball. Tries were scored by "Twinkle toes" Bicehouse and "Not that" Bowman. Severn slippped in a few fresher legs in the second half and scored three unanswered tries. Alas, the game was blown up prematurely because of fighting.
submitted by Pete Murray
Sept 7th v Severn River
We snatched this one 25-23. The predominant theme here was our tenancity to hang in there and find a way to win. We started the match kinda slow, gave up penalties and a couple of tries and enjoyed meager territorial advantage. Yet, we always seemed to revert to our strength today. Our scrummaging was brutal, as pointed out by Pete Sweet at the half: Mirza, Tyler,Jenda,Tim (to name a few)drove Severn River into tiny bits. We surged forward just about anytime we took fancy to the idea.
Video of pack scoring off a huge surge forward
Tim Brpwm showed lots of power. We tended to clean the ball off Tim's turn and pick: we could exploit this even more with the pick and drive when Tim turns and shows the ball.
With our possession we seemed to have difficulty getting the ball past the inside center with any confidence. Mike our inside, crashes well, and was able to engage one or two defenders with aplomb but our support at this critical juncture had no shape. The Severn pack to their credit was smaller and more mobile than us; we stuggled with consistent phase ball. We need to strike off Mike's shoulder as he moves into contact or , at least, have the flyhalf loop off Mike's contact and relaunch the outside center, wing, and fullback. Phil , our winger, always looks dangerous if we can get him into space. Video of Phil scoring. We are on the verge of penetrating with our centers, however, until we can move the ball thru contact with our centers it will be difficult to give Phil, our danger man, multiple opportuties to finish. We have something to learn by Dan O's knack for supporting the ball carrier as he moves into contact. Click on Dan's picture to see the video. 
.
Enough said on that.
It was gratifying to see how our side continued to remain in the match: no matter our short comings. Brad , at hooker, converted and kicked his penalty goals with deadly intent and composure. In the end, we have to recognize Brad , as Man of the Match, the man has a beautiful, slow, diliberate, kicking stroke like an international player. Cheers to Brad.
Brad
Our side showed character,wisdom, and a will to win today that will surely fortify us to improve in the coming weeks.
Sorry, could not stay for the B side---would welcome a post match summary on that match.
contact Cary.
This was our first match---we started v Harrisburg with virtually no ball retention but our defense and tackling was outstanding. Steve , Coleman, Will, Jendl, Gerhart Aram, Brian made outsanding "stop in your tracks" tackles. In the first half, our backline seldom saw the ball. We played defense wit determaination but playing without the ball is draining and exhausting. Yet , in the second half, we adjusted. Steve Griffith launched our backline to produce three memorable backline tries. First try moved the ball to the right to the short side of the field and Phil only needed to make one step. With pace, individual flair, and awsome power Phil broke several tackles to touch down in the right corner. Brian had a nice one about 30 meters out straight up the middle with a step to the left and quick right step leaving all the defenders grasping in desperation as he touched down between the sticks. The last try was a beauty passing thru all the backs hands with pace for the easy dot down in the left corner for Tyson.
We know how to score--we can tackle like our life depends on it---yet our ball retention going into contact is a huge source of dismay. We dropped the match 17 to 15 with less than 30% possession in loose play and the lineouts. If we can hang onto the ball in contact and produce quality possesion for our talented backline---we will win.
Steve, lock forward and Captain
Severn River 7's
June 22
Seven ironmen drove to Annapolis today, Daryl,Phil,Nigel,Scott, Lindley,WP, and David. We were placed in a tough pool and managed one convincing win v Quantico running in 5 trys. Nigel is no longer a virgin (player devoid of a touchdown ever in tournament play). We dropped matches to ourstanding sides from Wash Irish and Severn River. We made it to the Bowl knockout and proceeded to thrash Fredricksburg and Severn River B for the Bowl championship. Congratulations men. Our attacking pattern paid us some nice results with Daryl forcing the ball up the field with Nigel on the loop and David at center in support and looking for gaps with Daryl ball in hand. These three guys combined for some consistent success with our attack. Phil at wing , always dangerous, made some nice passes to the inside support. Scott , at prop, scored some trys--not bad for his first 7's tournament ever. Daryl , our captain, did point out in post match anaylsis that we need to make a better effort to spread our attack and avoid bunching up on defense. Yet, altogether a solid effort for the mates that represented our club in Annapolis today.
It was a perfect day for 7's. Lots of sun but not too hot and the turf was a lush green. Today reminds us how lucky we are to play the greatest game on grass. Our side today, lead by Daryl Lowery, and supported by Eric Payne, JR Zola, and Brian Burnette and a cadre of our South African brothers put together some highlights but not enough to get us into the win column. Daryl had some outstanding jinking runs through multiple defenders to score some solo trys from over 50 meters out. JR was relentless in defense and attack; his fitness is superlative. JR produced a break up the left side and timely pass to the inside to Daryl for the try. Beautiful communication on that one. The SA boys were particulary devastating in close and not bashfull about challanging the defense to make the tackle. Consistent ball handling, better organization on defense, and offensive intent are simply holding us back from better results.
Special thanks to Eric Payne for organizing the tournamnet and special thanks to Jerry Manning for setting up the hospitality grill.
See ya tues at Mt. Rd. for 7's training. Video highlights will be published soon.
Best regards,
Cary
United v Winchester
United 70 Winchester nil, My knee held up splendedly through 60 minutes (came out so Aiden could get some work). Hat tricks by Daryl and Steve. Nigel's kicking was very accurate. Sent Dennis off to his new home in Atlantic City with a resounding victory.
Submitted by Charles Grant
We played a great match last night beating James River 19-16 with a penalty kick as time expired. The legendary Welshman, Mark Fowler, was playing fly for River and our opponent played well but we really played better. Even though we only won by three points, we kept pressure on them most of the night. The forwards controlled the ball hence the match.
Take care,
Reyn Kinzey
