Dallas Athletic Rugby Club
This Saturday, DARC will travel to Cowtown to face Division leader, Ft. Worth Rugby Club. With an abbreviated Div 3 playoff field of only 4 teams this year, this is a must-win for both rivals. Come support your Knights!
Saturday, 06 February
2pm kickoff at Gateway Park, Ft. Worth
http://www.fortworthrugby.com/maps.asp
DARC wins! 14-10
The new jerseys have been ordered, draining the bank account. That means we need your outstanding dues to pay for stuff like field rentals. If you have paid or are on a payment plan, thank you. If not, stop being a free-loader and cough up the cash.
And training is back at Holford Park in Garland tonight, 7 pm. Last training before Ft. Worth.
Saturday, January 30th, University of Dallas Campus in Irving, 2pm.
Respond to this post if you are going to make it. If you want to ride the bus, bring gas money.
Map: http://resource.udallas.edu/132/map.pdf
Take the snow chains off your tires, this weekend’s game in Lawton is being rescheduled. More details to follow.
Thanks to Dallas canceling games at the park again, the Diablos couldn’t host us at Lake Highlands. But the Griffins generously made their field available for us all at Noon on this drizzly Saturday. Cheers Griffins!
Things started off well for DARC and continued that way, although the Diablos were much improved from previous seasons.
My recollections aren’t very sharp for many of the scores. 10 tries and 6 conversions for DARC.
Angelo scored an early try towards the far side, no conversion.
DARC attacked up the near side, close to the line. The Diablos had a line-out near the 5 m line and won it, but Drew charged down their attempt to kick and recovered to dot the ball down for 5. Russell made the kick.
Scampering Mark W. scored another 5 not too long after.
The tight-five got on the board with T-bone scoring one (converted).
Diablos were able to put some pressure on a few times. Around the 30 minute mark, they had DARC inside their own 22. After some near side loose phases, the ball came out towards mid-field to Mike H. who surprised all with a blistering scorch up the middle of the field for about 50 m. Eyes wide open he found support with him. The ball ended with Drew (if I remember right) at pace finishing the attack and scoring (converted).
Drew had another converted try near half-time for a hat trick.
(I do need new glasses, and the angles weren’t always good – so if I incorrectly credited Drew with your try – that’s what you get for skipping the drinkup after!)
Second half began and the pace slowed a bit. Some of that encouraged by sideline-worrier Nick and this reporter, preferring controlled rugby to hot-potato-panic.
DARC started to make good use of the maul. The Diablos did a good job of limiting those initially, but DARC was able to recycle forwards well, and when they started putting shoulders on hips and driving with short choppy steps guided by scrumhalves, good things happen. Philip was a great stabilizing force and in these, and his veteran insight allowed him to essentially slingshot Drew out of a maul once the Diablos had stalled it.
As I recall it, this drive by Drew was well supported by the other forwards and Jay the Kicking Prop was able to score on the near side (no conversion).
Angelo got a try (converted) that I couldn’t see. Near center posts I think.
Kevin H. added another try (converted) midway through the half on the far side after several good phases of attacking rucks. (I think – fuzzy on this one).
DARC’s final try came from Calves K. who had a nice little straight stiff-arming run. Russell let Gareth take the kick – apparently some additional practice may be of benefit there.
Final: DARC 62 – Diablos 0 (10, 6, 0, 0)
The after party was fun and social. We learned some different verses to songs we thought we knew. Diablos won the boat race. Applesauce took our punishment bravely and without any complaints.
But you guys have got to learn “I used to work in Chigago” correctly – you’re missing an entire line every time, so you all should be shooting the boot.
” . . . It was X she wanted and Y shot got
And I don’t work there anymore!
oh . . .”
Overall notes on play
Scrum butts too high, not reacting to the wheeling motion inherent in the scrum (right shoulder, boys!). Not a lot of drive.
Outstanding day for winger Sam for his defensive pressure, key tackles and support on the attack.
Taking the ball at pace was the key to DARC’s attacks here. Though the backs had good runs, with the wet ball, having a strong forward run at pace to take the ball from ruck or lineout opened the holes. Would that he had two friends running with him at the same pace.
Tackles, generally ok-ish. A good 8-10 actually good tackles. About the same arm-grabby craptacular ones (STOP GOING FOR THE BALL – take the man to deck and trust your teammates to do the rest). Two, shall we say, eagerly ‘elevated’ tackles. Shoulders in guts, bums, and hips boys, Wrap the legs and ride ‘em down.
Having a scrum-half trained flanker and an actual scrumhalf appears to pay big dividends.
Fitness clearly needed, though the average level is improving thanks, I’m told, to Torquemada-fan Nick. But it only takes one hole to score a try, one guy not matching their backs up, etc. Basically, we need some field awareness on all fronts, especially when fatigued.
From October, but I hadn’t seen it before. Most of us probably haven’t.
My theory is that Savage was his inspiration for learning how to chip and run.
Time to swill some nog and exchange some gifts. Both naughty and nice team members and significant others are invited to the annual DARC Christmas part. Food and drink will be provided but guest are expected to bring adult beverages and a white elephant gift, not to exceed $15 in value. The party is to take place this Saturday evening at 8 pm. Email or call a team officer or elder for exact location.
Friday, December 11th, 7:35 pm.
Northpark AMC
Be there!
on a cold windy day Darc managed to defeat Arlington: 15 to 5! Arlington drew first blood with a chased down kick. Darc soon answered with a try of its own from Mark Wunsch. The wind prevented either team’s kicking from performing well. Philip E.left the game midway into the half. second half Russel made a penalty to out Darc 3 up. The Darc pack drove over the try line in a great maul but the ref did not see the ball touch. So they tried again driving close then spinning it out to kevin who scored betweenthe posts. Russel converted. DARC WINS!
Hey mates,
A few of us are going to grab a beer at the rugby house pub tonight around 8 o’clock. Give me a call if you are interested.
Richie
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