Sunday, September 28, 2008
Guilford Picks up match with UNCC
Guilford RFC will be making up their match with UNC-Charlotte that was canceled earlier in the season. UNCC will come to Guilford on Sat. 10-4 for a late afternoon match.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Quakers Move to 4-0
Last Friday Guilford College RFC beat their rivals Elon 18 to 14.
The Quakers are now 4-0 for the fall season.
This was the first victory Guilford has had over Elon in recent history (at least three years) and Elon was last years NCRU D-III matrix Champions. Match report and pictures are posted below.
The Quakers are now 4-0 for the fall season.
This was the first victory Guilford has had over Elon in recent history (at least three years) and Elon was last years NCRU D-III matrix Champions. Match report and pictures are posted below.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Elon Match Report
Guilford - 18 Elon - 14
Guilford Rugby traveled to Elon University on Friday night to face an always formidable Phoenix rugby club. The game kicked off at 6:30p.m. in drenched conditions. Heavy rain from the night before had continued until just before the match, leaving the ground saturated with standing water in places and making dry ball an impossibility for the rest of the night. Guilford was able to field many of their regular players, unlike the match at Triad, and lacked only starting hooker Kevin Smithey and hard-charging inside center Evan Flanders.
First half's kickoff saw Guilford immediately pressing the Elon tryline. A very tough defense from the Phoenix saw repeated attempts to cross unsuccessful, but eagerness to claim the ball netted Elon only a large number of penalties to Guilford. Prop Abel Montes de Oca finally mustered the resolve to punch through, grabbing an unconverted 5 points.
Elon woke up quickly, however, and exploited holes in the Guilford back line to immediately answer and convert, putting them up 7-5. The rest of the half bore no score, but a hamstring injury and poor adaptation to the wet conditions saw most starting backs replaced with freshmen players before the break. The rain picked back up again in the second half, making the match very sloppily played all around, but with Elon delivering better handled ball more consistently in the back line. A high kick from the hosts was mishandled by the inexperienced visiting back three, resulting in another breakaway try to Elon, which was converted again, leaving the match at 14-5 and looking dire for Guilford.
Leadership from the pack became a driving force in the following moments, as sophomore flanker Andrew Slater and forward captain Abel Montes de Oca saw fit to savagely engage every breakdown. Possession was kept much more and turnover ball was created as the rest of the pack carried the rise in intensity. Guilford again began pressuring the Elon tryline and dominating most of the possession. Sophomore fly-half David McKindley-Ward and Junior fullback Max George each had near tries spoiled by the wet conditions. Guilford began exploiting a flat Elon back-line defense with chip and grubber kicks that threatened throughout the rest of the game. Another rally from the pack put Montes de Oca in for a second try, bringing the score to 14-10 and putting Guilford back in the game.
As the final minutes arrived Guilford looked to outlast the Elon team and showed better overall fitness, especially in the forwards, once again bringing pressure deep within opposition territory. Technical play off a late drive put rookie winger Dave Kloss into the try zone to give the visitors a one point lead. McKindley-Ward struggled to put the ball through the posts in the wet all night, and the third unconverted try put the game at a tense 15-14. Stellar performance from the pack continued in the scrums and line-outs, and the won ball combined with better gas again put Guilford close to the Phoenix tryline. A very aggressive last stand from Elon forced McKindley-Ward to settle for a drop goal, extending the lead to the final 18-14.
While Guilford's backs struggled to maintain form in the sloppy conditions, there were moments to be proud of and great performances by veterans and new talent alike. The pack showed surprising strength, winning almost all of their own ball in set pieces and stealing much of the opposition's, despite being heavily outweighed. Rookies came through and held their own, keeping Elon honest and scoreless in the last thirty minutes. The still very young Guilford squad hopes to be in action again at home on October 4th against UNC-Charlotte.
Match Report by Coach Hunter
Photo Credit: Bailey A.
First half's kickoff saw Guilford immediately pressing the Elon tryline. A very tough defense from the Phoenix saw repeated attempts to cross unsuccessful, but eagerness to claim the ball netted Elon only a large number of penalties to Guilford. Prop Abel Montes de Oca finally mustered the resolve to punch through, grabbing an unconverted 5 points.
Elon woke up quickly, however, and exploited holes in the Guilford back line to immediately answer and convert, putting them up 7-5. The rest of the half bore no score, but a hamstring injury and poor adaptation to the wet conditions saw most starting backs replaced with freshmen players before the break. The rain picked back up again in the second half, making the match very sloppily played all around, but with Elon delivering better handled ball more consistently in the back line. A high kick from the hosts was mishandled by the inexperienced visiting back three, resulting in another breakaway try to Elon, which was converted again, leaving the match at 14-5 and looking dire for Guilford.
Leadership from the pack became a driving force in the following moments, as sophomore flanker Andrew Slater and forward captain Abel Montes de Oca saw fit to savagely engage every breakdown. Possession was kept much more and turnover ball was created as the rest of the pack carried the rise in intensity. Guilford again began pressuring the Elon tryline and dominating most of the possession. Sophomore fly-half David McKindley-Ward and Junior fullback Max George each had near tries spoiled by the wet conditions. Guilford began exploiting a flat Elon back-line defense with chip and grubber kicks that threatened throughout the rest of the game. Another rally from the pack put Montes de Oca in for a second try, bringing the score to 14-10 and putting Guilford back in the game.
As the final minutes arrived Guilford looked to outlast the Elon team and showed better overall fitness, especially in the forwards, once again bringing pressure deep within opposition territory. Technical play off a late drive put rookie winger Dave Kloss into the try zone to give the visitors a one point lead. McKindley-Ward struggled to put the ball through the posts in the wet all night, and the third unconverted try put the game at a tense 15-14. Stellar performance from the pack continued in the scrums and line-outs, and the won ball combined with better gas again put Guilford close to the Phoenix tryline. A very aggressive last stand from Elon forced McKindley-Ward to settle for a drop goal, extending the lead to the final 18-14.
While Guilford's backs struggled to maintain form in the sloppy conditions, there were moments to be proud of and great performances by veterans and new talent alike. The pack showed surprising strength, winning almost all of their own ball in set pieces and stealing much of the opposition's, despite being heavily outweighed. Rookies came through and held their own, keeping Elon honest and scoreless in the last thirty minutes. The still very young Guilford squad hopes to be in action again at home on October 4th against UNC-Charlotte.Match Report by Coach Hunter
Photo Credit: Bailey A.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Guilford At Elon
This Friday Guilford will make the 20 minute trip to face off against rivals Elon University.
To set the mood for Friday here are some picks from last years match of then Senior now coach, Nick Hunter, making a terrific albeit illegal tackle.
To set the mood for Friday here are some picks from last years match of then Senior now coach, Nick Hunter, making a terrific albeit illegal tackle.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Guilford beats Triad Rugby
Guilford College RFC 17 Triad RFC 14
The Guilford Men's Rugby Team left Oka T. Hester Park last Saturday battered but not beaten. Though lacking a number of key forwards the Quakers traveled across Greensboro to face local men's team Triad RFC. Among those absent from the pitch were David "Mini-Fridge" Watters, Andrew "Crazy Eyes" Slater, "Blazin" Crosby Blair, and Kevin "Thespian" Smithy. Though lacking these key players Guilford put on an impressive show squeaking by Triad 17-14.
As expected the game was a hard hitting example of smash mouth rugby. Senior flanker Graham "Machismo" Payne set the pace early with a crushing hit on the kick off. Guilford put points up early when David "All-Star" Mckindley-Ward sent a penalty through the uprights leaving the score 3-0. The next points would be scored by Chris "Stretch Armstrong" Pugliese, when he scooped up a lost ball from Triad and ran 30 meters into the try zone. David converted the try to give Guilford a 10-0 lead. Triad outmatched Guilford in size and experience and used both to their advantage in clearing out rucks and winning lineouts. Triad used their size to punch one through closing the gap to 10-7. Guilford soon returned fire with a try of their own. Pack Captain Abel Montes De Oca had an impressive run through Triad's forwards only to be stopped short of the try. Nick "I'll break yo face" Hunter, managed to put the ball across the try line leaving the score 17-7 Guilford at the half.
For the last 40 minutes Guilford subbed in 5 rookie backs. Triad attempted to exploit this kicking multiple times to the inexperienced backline. The rookies proved their mettle however, making quick decisions, expert tackles and disallowing Triad to score off the kick. Triad would manage to punch through for another try leaving the score at a tight 17-14. The Quakers held on tightly to their lead and refused to concede anymore points leaving the score at 17-14, with Guilford coming out on top.
The Guilford Men's Rugby Team left Oka T. Hester Park last Saturday battered but not beaten. Though lacking a number of key forwards the Quakers traveled across Greensboro to face local men's team Triad RFC. Among those absent from the pitch were David "Mini-Fridge" Watters, Andrew "Crazy Eyes" Slater, "Blazin" Crosby Blair, and Kevin "Thespian" Smithy. Though lacking these key players Guilford put on an impressive show squeaking by Triad 17-14.
As expected the game was a hard hitting example of smash mouth rugby. Senior flanker Graham "Machismo" Payne set the pace early with a crushing hit on the kick off. Guilford put points up early when David "All-Star" Mckindley-Ward sent a penalty through the uprights leaving the score 3-0. The next points would be scored by Chris "Stretch Armstrong" Pugliese, when he scooped up a lost ball from Triad and ran 30 meters into the try zone. David converted the try to give Guilford a 10-0 lead. Triad outmatched Guilford in size and experience and used both to their advantage in clearing out rucks and winning lineouts. Triad used their size to punch one through closing the gap to 10-7. Guilford soon returned fire with a try of their own. Pack Captain Abel Montes De Oca had an impressive run through Triad's forwards only to be stopped short of the try. Nick "I'll break yo face" Hunter, managed to put the ball across the try line leaving the score 17-7 Guilford at the half.
For the last 40 minutes Guilford subbed in 5 rookie backs. Triad attempted to exploit this kicking multiple times to the inexperienced backline. The rookies proved their mettle however, making quick decisions, expert tackles and disallowing Triad to score off the kick. Triad would manage to punch through for another try leaving the score at a tight 17-14. The Quakers held on tightly to their lead and refused to concede anymore points leaving the score at 17-14, with Guilford coming out on top.
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