The University of North Carolina defeated Wake Forest 20-17 today in the semifinals of the premiere division of the North Carolina Rugby Union Tournament. Wake's forwards dominated play for most of the match, scoring two tries while controlling the breakdown, but a late game charge sparked by the defense of UNC's All-American flanker Alex Lee allowed the talented Tar Heels to score two tries in the waning minutes and advance to tomorrow's championship game. UNC will face off against rivals North Carolina State, who easily defeated defending champions East Carolina 33-3 in the other semifinal. Wake will play ECU for 3rd place tomorrow at 12:30pm. The Pirates have won 6 straight against Wake and both teams will be looking to avoid being moved down to the second division for next year's tournament.
Wake Lineup vs UNC
1. Nick Conte, So. (Devin Henry, Jr. @ 8)
2. Jeff Millar, So.
3. Kenton Forte, Sr.
4. Christian Jewett, Sr.
5. Ross Hilton, Sr.
6. Justen Robinett, So. (Kip Lewis, So. @60, Billy Caster, Fr. @ 68)
7. Mike Duffy, Sr.
8. Trent Justice, Sr.
9. Will Hank, So.
10. Brendan Shea, So.
11. Tyler Vanston, So.
12. David Sage, Sr.
13. Perry Salvagne, Sr.
14. Brandon Turner, So.
15. Johnny McMurray, Fr.
Tries: Christian Jewett, Kenton Forte
Pen: Johnny McMurray
Conv: McMurray (2)
The Wake Forest reserves took on the UNC-Greensboro reserves in a friendly scrimmage later in the day. First year players Barret Corrigan and James Jeffrey scored 5 tries from their positions on the wing as Wake ran out 59-5 winners.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wake Continues Preseason with Win over Georgia Tech
Sophomore wing Brandon Turner scored the first of his three tries with less than a minute elapsed in the match on a 70 meter run down the sideline, sparking the Demon Deacons to a 52-25 victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta earlier today. The scoreline was highly flattering to Wake, which showed flashes of good play intermixed with some appalling rugby throughout the day. Georgia Tech was hampered by the absence of their first choice flyhalf and inside center, but played Wake relatively evenly throughout the match and was unlucky not to have posted more points against an easily penetrable Wake defense. Meanwhile, Wake capitalized on many of its opportunities. Captain and 8 man Trent Justice notched a brace of tries, while senior flanker Mike Duffy, senior lock Ross Hilton, and sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea also tallied 5 pointers to go along with Turner's hat trick. Freshman fullback Johnny McMurray was 6 for 8 on conversions for the day.
Match day captain Justice summed up the Wake performance after the match, saying "we missed alot of tackles that we typically don't miss, we rarely played to our pattern, and we saw far too many passes go to ground. But when we played well, we played really well and the result was a solid victory over a solid opponent on their home turf." Assistant Head Coach Alex Lucas echoed similar sentiments. "It was certainly frustrating to see us put together a few really positive phases of play, only to see it all go to waste with an ill-advised decision or mental breakdown. But clearly we have the talent on this team, and the coaching staff now must find a way to keep the guys playing at a high level for a full 80 minutes and not just in short spurts. We know we have work to do leading into next weekend, and the players are aware that this will not be an easy week of practice."
Wake Forest will take on the University of North Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 31 in Danville Virginia in the semi-final of the premiere division of the North Carolina Rugby Union Tournament. The winner of that match will play on Sunday against the winner of East Carolina and North Carolina State, while the losing sides will play on Sunday to try to avoid relegation to the lower division for next year's tournament. Game times for the weekend have yet to be released.
Wake Lineup vs. Georgia Tech
1. Kenton Forte, Sr.
2. Jeff Millar, So.
3. Nick Conte, So. (Devin Henry, Jr. @ 50)
4. Christian Jewett, Sr.
5. Ross Hilton, Sr.
6. Kip Lewis, So. (Justen Robinett, So. @ 50)
7. Mike Duffy, Sr. (Chris Ryan, So. @ 78)
8. Trent Juctice, Sr.
9. Will Hank, So.
10. Brendan Shea, So.
11. Tyler Vanston, So. (James Jeffrey, Fr. @ 75)
12. David Sage, Sr.
13. Perry Salvagne, Sr.
14. Brandon Turner, So.
15. Johnny McMurray, Fr.
16. Justen Robinett, So.
17. Billy Caster, Fr.
18. Devin Henry, Jr.
19. Chris Ryan, So.
20. Matt Layden, So.
21. Barret Corrigan, Fr.
22. John Coates, Fr.
23. Clay Robinson, Jr.
24. James Jeffrey, Fr.
Tries: Turner (3); Justice (2); Shea; Hilton; Duffy
Conversions: McMurray (6)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wake to take on Yellow Jackets, Two More Out With Injury
Wake Forest travels to Atlanta, GA this weekend to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Tech is fresh off winning the Georgia Rugby Union Collegiate Championship two weeks ago, defeating University of Georgia in the final. The Yellow Jackets should provide Wake with their toughest test to date in the 2009-2010 preseason.
Wake will be facing Georgia Tech without the services of senior inside center Mike Wills and freshman scrumhalf Drew Mehrmann, both of whom are set to undergo season-ending surgery. Wills became the third Demon Deacon to be felled by an ACL tear this season, while Mehrmann will go under the knife to repair a dislocated shoulder. Said Head Coach Patrick Kane of the injuries, "Obviously we are feeling a bit unlucky this year in the injury department, but in a sport like rugby injuries are to be expected. Losing four high caliber players for the season is clearly a blow, but this just opens the door for some of our younger players to step up and show what they can do. I'm confident that we will be in good shape as a team once conference play begins in January."
Kickoff for the game this Saturday is at 12pm at Walker Park located at 200 Memorial Terrace.
Wake will be facing Georgia Tech without the services of senior inside center Mike Wills and freshman scrumhalf Drew Mehrmann, both of whom are set to undergo season-ending surgery. Wills became the third Demon Deacon to be felled by an ACL tear this season, while Mehrmann will go under the knife to repair a dislocated shoulder. Said Head Coach Patrick Kane of the injuries, "Obviously we are feeling a bit unlucky this year in the injury department, but in a sport like rugby injuries are to be expected. Losing four high caliber players for the season is clearly a blow, but this just opens the door for some of our younger players to step up and show what they can do. I'm confident that we will be in good shape as a team once conference play begins in January."
Kickoff for the game this Saturday is at 12pm at Walker Park located at 200 Memorial Terrace.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Homecoming Matches Feature Offensive Fireworks
The Wake Forest Rugby Alumni defeated Wake Forest 41-32 and the Charlotte Barbarians held off Wake Forest 52-36 in a thrilling day of rugby on Homecoming weekend in Winston-Salem today. The first match of the day kicked off at noon and featured the Wake Alumni against Wake's first side. The Alumni were riding a two game winning streak during which they had not allowed a point.
The Alumni's shutout streak ended shortly after the opening kickoff, when sophomore wing Brandon Turner touched down in the corner to give Wake a 5-0 lead. Turner's try was the first of many to be scored on the day by both squads, as the Alumni and Wake sides traded impressive scores all afternoon. The Alumni scored seven tries on the day with fullback David Buckingham '07 (New Orleans RFC) and #8 Timo Kawira '09 (Unaffiliated) each notching a brace and flanker Matt Gottbrecht '09 (Middlesex RFC), flyhalf Tyler Eure '08 (Potomac Athletic Club) and prop Hien Nguyen '07 (Unaffiliated) all touching down as well. Eure was 3 for 7 on conversions.
The Wake side was paced by two tries from Turner, and singles from sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea, senior hooker Mike Duffy and senior lock Christian Jewett. Freshman fullback Johnny McMurry added 7 points with the boot with two conversions and a penalty goal.
The Alumni's shutout streak ended shortly after the opening kickoff, when sophomore wing Brandon Turner touched down in the corner to give Wake a 5-0 lead. Turner's try was the first of many to be scored on the day by both squads, as the Alumni and Wake sides traded impressive scores all afternoon. The Alumni scored seven tries on the day with fullback David Buckingham '07 (New Orleans RFC) and #8 Timo Kawira '09 (Unaffiliated) each notching a brace and flanker Matt Gottbrecht '09 (Middlesex RFC), flyhalf Tyler Eure '08 (Potomac Athletic Club) and prop Hien Nguyen '07 (Unaffiliated) all touching down as well. Eure was 3 for 7 on conversions.
The Wake side was paced by two tries from Turner, and singles from sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea, senior hooker Mike Duffy and senior lock Christian Jewett. Freshman fullback Johnny McMurry added 7 points with the boot with two conversions and a penalty goal.
The outcome of the game was in the balance leading into the final 20 minutes, when Scott Adams '97 (Charlotte Barbarians) made his first appearance on the field at center and helped put the match away for the Alumni with a number of impressive runs and good support work with former teammate Bryan Beach '99 (Atlanta Renegades) leading to tries from Nguyen and Gottbrecht.
The match featured exciting, expansive attacking rugby from both sides and the Alumni were somewhat lucky to come away with their third straight victory.
The match featured exciting, expansive attacking rugby from both sides and the Alumni were somewhat lucky to come away with their third straight victory.
Wake Rugby Alumni
1. Hien Nguyen '07 (Unaffliliated)
2. Barry Horewitch '09 (Wake Forest Men's Rugby Coach)
3. David Poplaski '09 (Unaffiliated)
4. Rusty Hedrick '07 (Triad RFC)
5. Adam Blincoe '07 (Unaffiliated)
6. Greg Wagner '07 (Duke Grads RFC)
7. Matt Gottbrecht '09 (Middlesex RFC)
8. Timo Kawira '09 (Unaffiliated)
9. Achilleas Patounas '06 (Princeton Athletic Club)
10. Tyler Eure '08 (Potomac Athletic Club)
11. Nelson Brunsting '06 (Wake Forest Women's Rugby Coach)
12. Patrick Kane '07 (Wake Forest Men's Rugby Coach)
13. Eric Jewett '06 (PCOM RFC)
14. Bryan Beach '99 (Atlanta Renegades)
15. David Buckingham '07 (New Orleans RFC; Archbishop Rummel HS Coach)
16. Andrew Gentles '05 (Unaffiliated)
17. Justin Edwards '06 (Middlesex U-19 Coach)
18. Brad Yates '07 (Unaffiliated)
19. Scott Adams '97 (Charlotte Barbarians)
After the first match concluded, the Wake first and second sides combined to take on the Charlotte Barbarians. Inexperienced and clearly fatigued from the previous match, Wake looked listless as it let the Barbarians jump out to a 40-0 halftime lead. Some key second half substitutions produced much better rugby from the Wake side and with 18 minutes gone in the second half Wake had narrowed the lead to 40-26. Another try from Wake brought the Demon Deacons within 9 at 40-31. They looked to close the gap even more with ten minutes remaining when a nice backline movement looked sure to produce another try. Instead, however, a mishandle by the Wake winger allowed the Barbarians the score a 90 meter try against the run of play and extend the lead to 47-31. Wake responded with another try with 5 minutes remaining to bring the score to 47-36, but it was too little, too late, and the Barbarians closed out the scoring with an unconverted try at the death to make the final 52-36.
Wake has next weekend off due to fall break, but will be back in action on Oct. 24 in Atlanta where they will take on Georgia Tech. The last time these two teams met was in the 2008 South Final Four, in an epic match that went to three overtimes and was eventually won by Wake on a try in sudden death. Georgia Tech's program has continued to improve since that time and the game will provide an excellent benchmark for where Wake stands as the spring season approaches.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Three Carolinas Rugby League Teams Nationally Ranked
The University of North Carolina is ranked #21 in Rugby Magazine's latest Division I rankings, while Appalachian State (#5) and East Carolina (#22) both appear in Rugby Magazine's Division II rankings.
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/rankings--standings/di-mens-college/men-di-college-top-25-oct-7-2009.aspx
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/rankings--standings/men-dii-college/men-dii-college-top-25-oct-6-2009.aspx
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/rankings--standings/di-mens-college/men-di-college-top-25-oct-7-2009.aspx
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/rankings--standings/men-dii-college/men-dii-college-top-25-oct-6-2009.aspx
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Wake Outlasts Myrtle Beach in Scrimmage
Wake Forest bested the Myrtle Beach men's club 38-36 in a scrimmage today in Conway, SC. Myrtle Beach, fielding many players from the defending Division 3 Collegiate National Champions Coastal Carolina University, jumped all over Wake in the opening minutes. Myrtle Beach dominated the point of contact and looked to be the physically superior team as they ran out to a 19-0 lead with only 13 minutes gone in the match. Wake looked to be in for a long day, and things looked even bleaker when senior captain Mike Wills was forced to leave the field with an injury. But the Wake forwards began to match the physicality of the Myrtle Beach side and improved rucking set a good platform for the Demon Deacon backline. The result was three tries by freshman fullback Johnny McMurray in the second quarter of the match and when the halftime whistle blew, Wake was back in the game trailing 19-17.
Wake opened the second half where it left off the first, with the forwards rucking hard and allowing the backline clean ball with which to attack. Senior center David Sage went over under the posts, followed by a 50 meter scamper for a try by sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea. With less than 15 minutes remaining in the contest, Wake held a commanding 31-19 lead. Myrtle Beach was not done, however, and as the Wake forwards tired from going toe to toe with the powerful opposing pack, Myrtle Beach ran on some fresh legs and big bodies and bullied over another try to bring the score to 31-24. Wake answered back with a fantastic backline movement around midfield which led to a try from sophomore wing Brandon Turner. The conversion by McMurray put the score at 38-24. Again however, Myrtle Beach exploited gaps left by a fatigued Wake defense and two late tries brought the score to 38-36. Myrtle Beach pressured again, but came up just short and the final whistle blew with Wake clinging to a two point advantage.
Wake opened the second half where it left off the first, with the forwards rucking hard and allowing the backline clean ball with which to attack. Senior center David Sage went over under the posts, followed by a 50 meter scamper for a try by sophomore flyhalf Brendan Shea. With less than 15 minutes remaining in the contest, Wake held a commanding 31-19 lead. Myrtle Beach was not done, however, and as the Wake forwards tired from going toe to toe with the powerful opposing pack, Myrtle Beach ran on some fresh legs and big bodies and bullied over another try to bring the score to 31-24. Wake answered back with a fantastic backline movement around midfield which led to a try from sophomore wing Brandon Turner. The conversion by McMurray put the score at 38-24. Again however, Myrtle Beach exploited gaps left by a fatigued Wake defense and two late tries brought the score to 38-36. Myrtle Beach pressured again, but came up just short and the final whistle blew with Wake clinging to a two point advantage.
The scrimmage was another positive step for Wake in its 2009-2010 preseason, as it eventually fronted up against a very physical side and looked very strong in the set pieces and rucks. Senior flanker Trent Justice stood out on the day with his tireless work around the field at the breakdowns. Meanwhile, the Wake backline weathered the loss of its leader Mike Wills early on and made linebreak after linebreak for long-range tries. Wake will continue to work on its overall game plan and pattern of play as it prepares for a fun Homecoming weekend which will feature matches against the Wake Forest Rugby Alumni and the Charlotte Barbarians men's club. Kickoff for the Alumni Match will be at 12pm on Saturday at Poteat Field, followed immediately by the match with the Barbarians.Wake Lineup vs Myrtle Beach
1. Nick Conte (So.)
2. Chris Ryan (So.)
3. Ken Forte (Sr.)
4. Christian Jewett (Sr.)
5. Ross Hilton (Sr.)
6. Justen Robinett (So.)
7. Trent Justice (Sr.)
8. Jeff Millar (So.)
9. Will Hank (So.)
10. Brendan Shea (So.)
11. Tyler Vanston (So.)
12. Mike Wills (Sr.)
13. David Sage (Sr.)
14. Brandon Turner (So.)
15. Johnny McMurray (Fr.)
16. Perry Salvagne (Sr.) (on @ 15 for Wills)
17. Devin Henry (Jr.) (on @ 60 for Conte)
18. Barrett Corrigan (Fr.) (on @ 70 for Ryan)
19. Jon Coates (Fr.)
20. James Jeffrey (Fr.)
Unavailable
Mike Duffy (Sr.)
Hunter Lostan (Jr.)
Matt Storck (Jr.)
Clay Robinson (Jr.)
Ben Cohen (So.)
Charlie Crockett (So.)
Drew Mehrmann (Fr.)
Tommy Hopkins (Fr.)
Michael Guju (Fr.)
Ty Pierce (Fr.)
Billy Caster (Fr.)
Tries: McMurray (3); Sage; Shea; Turner
Conversions: McMurray (4)
Friday, October 2, 2009
Homecoming Alumni Game Set for 12pm
The third annual Homecoming Alumni Match, pitting Wake Rugby Past vs. Wake Rugby Present has been set for 12pm on Saturday, October 10. The Alumni Match will be followed by Wake Forest squaring off against the Charlotte Barbarians Men's Club. The Wake Forest Rugby Alumni (also known as the Wake Rugby Legends) are riding a two game winning streak and have not surrendered a single point to the current side in those two games.
Wake Rugby Alumni confirmed for the game are:
Scott Adams '97
Bryan Beach '99
Andrew Gentles '05
Justin Edwards '06
Achilleas Patounas '06
Nelson Brunsting '06
Greg Wagner '07
Adam Blincoe '07
David Buckingham '07
Hien Ngyuen '07
Patrick Kane '07
Rusty Hedrick '07
Brad Yates '07
Tyler Eure '08
Matt Gottbrecht '09
Dave Poplaski '09
Barry Horewitch '09
Timo Kawira '09
Any other alums planning to be back for Homecoming and looking to lace up the boots, please contact Patrick Kane at pmkane78@aol.com.
Wake Rugby Alumni confirmed for the game are:
Scott Adams '97
Bryan Beach '99
Andrew Gentles '05
Justin Edwards '06
Achilleas Patounas '06
Nelson Brunsting '06
Greg Wagner '07
Adam Blincoe '07
David Buckingham '07
Hien Ngyuen '07
Patrick Kane '07
Rusty Hedrick '07
Brad Yates '07
Tyler Eure '08
Matt Gottbrecht '09
Dave Poplaski '09
Barry Horewitch '09
Timo Kawira '09
Any other alums planning to be back for Homecoming and looking to lace up the boots, please contact Patrick Kane at pmkane78@aol.com.
Wake Adds Preseason Game With Lander
Wake Forest will play Lander University (SC) in the final game of the 2009-2010 preseason in Winston-Salem on November 14. Lander is a developing D3 team and Wake intends to use this game to get its newer players some much needed experience heading into the inaugural Carolinas Rugby League season.
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