David "Buck" Buckingham, Wake Rugby Class of 2007, scored three tries in his first league match with Division II men's club New Orleans RFC. The New Orleans match summary is copied below:
On a cold, clear, sunny Arkansas afternoon, New Orleans and Little Rock opened their league seasons this Saturday in the South's Division 2 West. New Orleans traveled strong, making the 9-hour trip with 26 players for their first visit to an exquisite Little Rock rugby complex, nestled into a beautiful and mercifully wind-blocking pine forest.
New Orleans took the lead in the first minute with an inside switch from flyhalf Todd Fitzgerald to winger Rob Hoffman. A Pat Schubert penalty soon made the score 8-0. Little Rock then began to settle down, playing hard defense and putting together some impressive phase play, eventually resulting in a breakdown in the New Orleans defense that allowed the strong-running Little Rock loosehead to dot down near the posts. A back-and-forth affair ensued and, even though New Orleans never relinquished the lead, Little Rock continually struck back just when it seemed that the visitors were about to put the match away.
Little Rock played a sound game behind a big, very strong pack and an extremely creative flyhalf who caused havoc in the New Orleans defensive midfield all afternoon, but New Orleans ended up with the opening day win, 34-19. The New Orleans backs enjoyed go-forward ball for most of the day behind hard work and precision from the forwards at breakdowns and set pieces. Seth Magden and Matt Oerterling were constant annoyances in the Little Rock lineout, while New Orleans' front row controlled the scrums superbly. In addition to Rob Hoffman's opening salvo, fullback Trip McCormick added a try and wing Dave "Buck" Buckingham notched a hat trick. Schubert added three conversions from five attempts, tallying 9 points off the tee for the day. New Orleans hosts Jackson next weekend while Little Rock entertains Memphis.
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