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Maverick Rugby Results
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DARC - 12 MAVERICKS - 10
High Point Park Plano, TX - March 22, 2008
The Mavericks took on DARC in their last cup match of the season. The match was to be played at Lake Highlands
Park in Dallas but because it's in somewhat of a flood plain and with all of the rain Dallas Parks and Rec
decided on Friday afternoon that it would be closed so the match was played at their practice pitch, High Point
Park in Plano. The pitch was a little below minimum requirements but it did have fancy blue striping. Given the
change in locale we still managed to get 20 plus players notified and out to the pitch
The Mavericks received and started off slow which was right on par with how their pre-game preparation went as
they were never able to get any consistency going. A knock at the DARC 22 appeared to stop a scoring chance but
the Mavericks were able to steal the put and on the second phase Michael T. was able to get the ball to JP who
got it out to Stephen Marino who made a few of his stop on the dime jukes and break through for a try in the
corner at the 8 minute mark. DARC countered a few minutes later and after an offsides penalty inside our 22 went
for points but the worm burner kick never had a chance. Over the next 15 minutes the Mavericks had a few good
opportunities to put points on the board but came away empty. DARC misplayed a bad kick and grounded the ball
after they were called for diving over. The ensuing scrum lead to a maul that was held up and the 5 meter scrum
was turned into a penalty for DARC due to dissent towards the referee. A deep kick after another DARC infraction
found us with a line out 15 meters out which was won but the ball was lost in the next phase. At the 24 minute
mark DARC was called for yet another infraction and the kick to touch put us just outside the 22 but the throw
in was not straight. DARC spun it wide off of the scrum and their speedy winger went untouched the last 50
meters to dot it down between the posts for a 2 point lead. The set pieces were a thorn in our side as we
probably only won half our scrums and line outs. With less than 5 minutes left in the half we were actually able
to steal a DARC line out inside the 22 and looked like we were going to score but we got called for not
releasing about 5 meters out. With half time approaching there were 2 quick taps off of DARC infractions that
led to Thunder being stopped short of the goal line and the ball becoming unplayable ending the half.
Half Time Score: DARC - 7 Mavericks - 5
The Mavericks had 3 good chances to start but weren't able to capitalize. Minutes into the second half DARC was
called for offsides on a clearing kick and the choice of a scrum up put us about 10 meters out but we lost the
scrum. Shortly after that two more DARC penalties for offsides and dissent resulted in a quick tap 15 meters out
but the ball was knocked on in the tackle. At the 50 minute mark DARC was generous once again with an
obstruction call inside their 22. After a toe and go and few phases Ryan broke through from about 15 meters out
and crossed the line to the right of the posts but had trouble getting the ball off his hip. A DARC defender
never gave up, tackled him about 5 meters deep and it appeared that the ball was or in the process of being
grounded when the referee blew his whistle. The Mavericks were finally able to capitalize when DARC dropped a
clearing kick about 30 meters out and the good coverage produced quick ball with JP getting it out wide and two
passes later Stephen was able to score near the corner for a second time and a 3 point lead at the 62 minute
mark. With the Maverick clinging to the lead DARC got the ball inside the 10 with a good run from their Prop,
Gonzo but the ball was stolen but the clearing kick never found touch and their quick, young fullback who had a
good match countered getting the ball out wide where they were able to score in the corner with about 7 minutes
left. The Mavericks were never able to get anything else going to get back the lead as the many missed
opportunities and decision to pass up points ended up haunting them in the long run.
Final Score: DARC - 12 Mavericks - 10
John K. - 3/26/08MAVERICKS - 34 FORT SILL - 33
Lawton, OK - March 8, 2008
The Mavericks traveled up to Lawton, OK to take on the Fort Sill Gunners in another important cup match. Due to injuries, work, school and other commitments there were only 16 players available to make the trip and we were lucky all of them made it before or right at kick-off. We had two who were almost an hour late to the IHOP. A handful that called asking for directions because the website was down. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get a map. Another got lost and was on his way to visit Dorothy and Toto but manned up, blamed his wife and made it to the pitch by kick-off (that's to the pitch and not actually on it). Throw in the three that decided to play battle shits at the commissary a 1/2 mile away 10 minutes before kick-off instead of using the port-a-john at the pitch and to say the club was not prepared at the start would be an extremely huge understatement.
The Mavericks kicked off with 14 players to start the match and the Gunners didn't waste much time as after a few phases they broke free for a long 50 meter for the first points of the match and followed that with another try at the 6 minute mark for a quick 12-0 lead. With the Mavericks now at full strength they were looking to get things rolling and were inside the Gunners 22. A retaliation by their prop got him binned and Thunder slotted the penalty to cut the deficit to 9. The Mavericks were not able to capitalize on the man advantage like Fort Sill did to start the match. With possession going back and forth the Gunners were able to break free for another 50 meter run at the 28 minute mark to extend their lead to 16. The Mavericks still could not get things going and Sill's young fast wing went 40 meters a few minutes later which didn't look good for our playoff chances.
Half Time Score: Fort Sill - 26 Mavericks - 3
The Mavericks took the second half kick-off and don't know if it was Shay's half time talk or what but we came out firing and after a few runs and phases Tate banged over from 10 meters out less than a minute into the half cutting the lead to 18 as Thunder missed the conversion. The Mavericks continued with that opening second half intensity with good pack play that got them inside the Gunners 22. After another couple of phases Brian Stauffer was able to slip through for a converted try to pull us to within 11. The Gunners attempted to mount some pressure of their own but the improved tackling and poaching gave possession back to the Mavericks just outside the 22. After a few phases a hard run by Reggie Parker found him in the sin bin as the referee didn't care for the stiff arm in the face. It took about 5 minutes for the Gunners to put the man advantage to use as they broke free for another long try that put them back up by 18 with just over 20 minutes to play. With their backs against the wall, season in the balance and any other cliche you can think of it was time to play to the strength of the club and that was bangers, mauls and pick-n-go's by not just the pack but some of the backs as well. It was almost like a 12 man maul at times with everyone running hard and determined. A majority of the remainder of the match was played in the Gunners half and after many phases Shay was able to dive over from a few meters out at the 63 minute mark that Thunder converted to cut the lead to 11 again. There was plenty of time left to score 2 more tries needed to pull out the victory but it almost slipped away. With 12 minutes left and the Gunners having possession near midfield their hard running outside center, Marcus was able to break free to the outside with just Thunder in his way of putting the match away when Tate who was also in pursuit made a diving ankle tap tackle that resulted in a knock when he went to deck and squelching the last scoring chance the Gunners would have this day. The Mavericks moved the ball back into the Fort Sill half of the field with a few timely runs after which the hard running and mauling enabled Tate to break a few tackles and carry a Gunner or two over from 15 meters out with 6 minutes left closing the lead to 6 with Thunder looking to cut it to 4 with a very makeable conversion which didn't manage to split the posts but the match was still there to be won. The Mavericks kept up the pressure in the Fort Sill 22 but the Gunners weren't ready to fold and pushed the Mavericks back outside the 22. A Gunner infraction gave the Mavericks the ball about 30 meters out but we were at full time so we would have to run the ball rather than kick to touch. The Gunners were stacking up for a run by the forwards so the ball was spun out to the backs but the ball was held up in the wind (oh yeah forgot to mention but it was a pretty windy day) and Shay knocked it on with Fort Sill gaining possession and ran a few phases as we tried to steal ball when one of the Gunners realizing we were at full time yelled kick the ball. That would be the right thing to do unless you are a forward particularly in the tight five. Well their prop, Gonzo who made the long drive up from Fort Hood to play attempted the kick which he pooched right down the middle of the field where we got possession just inside the 10 meter line. The counter attack and multi phases got he ball back near the 22 and was spun out to the left where Tate fed Thunder who outraced one Gunner and while getting tackled by another was able to dot it down a meter or two from the 5 meter line. Now being down by one it was up to the Thunder to make the conversion to cap an improbable and greatest comeback in Maverick Rugby history. Thunder thought about having Pee Wee kick since he was trying to regroup himself after the run and chalk on his face after getting it driven onto the goal line as he scored but decided against it as the referee said he had a minute to kick. The wind was still blowing as he lined it up and the kick was a not so pretty line drive that perfectly split the posts for the win and becoming part of Maverick Lore.
Final Score: Mavericks - 34 Fort Sill - 33
John K. - 3/17/08MAVERICKS - 26 DENTON - 0
Prairie Park, Grand Prairie - February 23, 2008
The Mavericks hosted Denton in the last home cup match of the season of the season Prairie Park in Grand
Prairie. The Mavericks were looking for their first season sweep against Denton since the 2002-2003 season
as well as not letting them get their first cup match victory of the season.
The Mavericks started off receiving against the wind but that did not deter them from plan at hand which was
to use the pack to pound the ball before giving to the back who better not piss it off. With the coaching
staff suited up in the backline the ball was taken care of which resulted in minimal bitching from the
forwards. Watching Shay "Bum Knee" Flowers and Michael "Iron Hips" Twaddell pass, dip, and loop it made it look like we were running touch out at River Legacy. After some nifty ball handling Chance was fed the ball from about 25 meters out and went untouched for the first points of the match at the 13 minute mark. The game plan never changed as the pack did a good job of retaining possession and keeping the pressure on Denton deep in their own end. The Mavericks were poised to score but an unlucky knock by Will "Hit That Shit" in goal squashed that opportunity. But after the 22 drop the pack found themselves back inside their 22 where Shay was able to score off a penalty to the right of the posts that Thunder somehow managed to miss when trying to convert. With about 10 minutes left in the half some more good pack play led to Tate crashing over which Thunder did convert this time. Take away a few handling errors and a few more tries could have been scored.
Half Time Score: Mavericks - 19 Denton - 0
Needing a bonus point to help in their hunt for a play-off spot the Mavericks were looking to put at least
one more try on the board which appeared to happen early in the half as Chance dove over from the back of
the ruck only to have the referee blow it up just prior to that since he lost site of the ball. Denton had
trouble getting the ball out of their 22 and a Maverick counter attack found the pack doing it's thing again
and this time were able to feed the backs where Shay found Thunder crashing from fullback for a try that he
converted himself. There were other opportunities to put points on the board but the Mavericks were never
able to capitalize on them like they did in the first half.
Final Score: Mavericks - 26 Denton - 0
John K. - 3/12/08FORT WORTH - 12 MAVERICKS - 6
Prairie Park, Grand Prairie - February 9, 2008
The Mavericks hosted Fort Worth for a cup match at Prairie Park in Grand Prairie. This match once again
again would have play-off implications as every match now to the end of the season will especially since we
are behind the eight ball due to our close and tough 12-7 loss to them in December.
The first half saw quite a few knocks and handling errors by both clubs with a lot of the possession for both sides being in between the 22's. After a Fort Worth player was yellow carded for punching Greg Puklicz, imagine that Thunder was able to convert the penalty from 25 meters out. Another Fort Worth infraction led to another Thunder kick which amounted to the only scoring of the first half.
Half Time Score: Mavericks - 6 Fort Worth - 0
Two penalty kicks weren't going to be enough and the Mavericks came out in the second half looking to add to the lead. Some early pressure inside the Fort Worth 22 could not be capitalized on as ball was either knocked on or lost in the ruck. Fort Worth countered when their 8 man rolled off the back of a maul with a little obstructed help and dove over for a converted try giving them a 1 point lead. Fort Worth kept the pressure up and one of their locks broke over after a short run but decided to head to the posts to ground the ball where he encountered Thunder who made the tackle and forcing him to knock on. With about 10 minutes left the were able to score an unconverted try in pretty much the same manner as the blown try to extend the lead. The Mavericks tried to work the ball downfield in the closing minutes but could only manage to get to their 22 before full time.
Final Score: Fort Worth - 12 Mavericks - 6
John K. - 3/12/08MAVERICKS - 31 MIDLAND - 5
Burr Field Austin, TX - February 2, 2008
The Mavericks traveled down to Austin for a cup match against Midland as part of the DIII Ruggerfest where all 12 clubs converged on Burr Field which this year had free parking. The weather was great but Midland's numbers weren't as they only had 10 able to make the trip but were able to borrow some players from Denton who had played earlier so game could be had by all. We would have lent them a few but we only traveled with 1 or 2 extra.
In the past when told the match would be a played forfeit the focus and effort would not always be there which would be reflected in our level of play but that wouldn't be the case this time around. The pack started strong and didn't waste any time as Tate was able to crash over for an early lead. The Maverick forwards kept the pressure on with a combination of mauls and pick and goes which kept Midland on . That pressure resulted in Ryan McGough breaking through for a 20 meter score. Later in the half the referee stopped play and administered a warning to Ryan for get this, "Running Too Hard". This has to be a first but the point he was trying to make was stop using your damn head to lead the way. Scoring was closed out when Tate was able to bang over once again.
Half Time Score: Mavericks - 19 Midland - 0
Second half was a lot like the first with the pack playing well which resulted in yet another Tate try. At about midpoint of the second half Patrick Ungu who was stuck playing wing got the ball on the outside from about 30 meters out and started his "One Handed Plaxico Burress" impersonation as he headed toward the corner with the goal line in reach but for some reason cut inside and got tackled. He did manage to provide ball quickly and Ryan who was following the play scooped up the ball and dove over from a few meters out. With a big deficit Midland never gave up and looked like they had a score when their scrum half took off from the back of the ruck inside his own 10 and went 60 meters before being chased down by Stephen Marino just shy off the goal line to stop that scoring opportunity. With a few minutes left a few missed tackles led to a Midland try from about 20 meters out to close out the scoring.
Final Score: Mavericks - 31 Midland - 5
John K. - 3/12/08
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