The Wolfpack hosted the #10 ranked Tarheels at the Method Road Field yesterday in the fourth match of the ACRL. The Pack also hosted the first Parents Day and honored our out going Seniors Phillip “Yoshi” Burcal, Will “Witchcraft” Teague and Jon “Prop Magic” Rogers. The NCSURFC would like to thank these Seniors for their many contributions to the Club on and off of the field. The Wolfpack also recognized the contributions that have been made by a group of Gentlemen from Wilson N.C.{Mr Dale Bone, Mr. Marvin Coghill, Mr.Rick Smith, Mr. Henry Davis & Mr. Kurt Kimbrough} that are friends of Mr.George Hunt the father of Dave Hunt class of 2010. These businessmen have given a substantial sum to the club over the past 4 years that has made life much easier for our student athletes when traveling especially during the play off run last year.
The match kicked off at 1:00pm with the Pack letting the league leading Tarheels know although we may be down a little this year with injuries that this would be no easy match for them. The two teams spent the first 10 mins settling into the match and feeling each other out . The Wolfpack then began to utilize the pick and go with solid effect. We were able to control the ball and gain yardage all the while denying the very dangerous Tarheel backline the ball. We forced a kickable penalty at 13 mins. but were unable to convert. The Pack continued to control play with their forwards and forced another convertible penalty at 21 mins. and this time freshman Aaron Williams found the mark and the Pack led 3-0. The Wolfpack continued to control play with strong forward play and solid defense and scored an unconverted try in the corner by #14 Aaron Williams on a long run to open a 8-0 lead after 32 mins. The half ended with the Tarheels scoring an unconverted try at 40 mins to close the score to 8-5 in favor of the Wolfpack. The coaching staff felt that this was the best rugby that we have played this season.
The second half started with the Tarheels playing with more purpose. They began to defend the pick and go by getting underneath the Wolfpack runners and tying up the ball or forcing turn overs at the point of contact.As the Pack tired this became more effective as we were running too high. The Tarheels were able to exploit this flaw and at 55 mins scored a converted try to lead 12-8. The Pack continued to play hard but just turned the ball over too much in this half. Carolina scored again at 67 mins. on a nice center break and again at 70 mins. to open a 24-8 lead that would be the final margin.
Man of the Match was Aaron Williams a very promising freshman that we have high hopes for. Aaron was playing in his 2-3rd A side match and performed very well. craig Maxwell played very well at #6 stopping several Carolina breaks with solid tackling. Although with all of the injuries it would be easy to give up on this season I will not and I know that my players will not. We still have two very winnable matches to play in this league. We will work hard during the next two weeks to prepare for Wake Forest and Virginia Tech.
The Wolfpacks seconds continued their undefeated season in the ACRL with a solid victory over the Tarheels seconds 38-26. Tries were scored by Brandon Ramos(2) Jonathon Murphy,Matt Werner and Brian Winslow all freshmen. Bryan maxwell also scored a try and converted four. Man of the match was Jonathon Murphy.
The Wolfpack hosted the University of Maryland on Sat. Mar. 19th on Lee Field as the Miller Fields were again unavailable for Rugby. The Pack needed to win this game to have any chance of advancing to the play-offs.
The match kicked off with the Terp’s controlling the ball and rapidly scoring a converted try to open a 7-0 lead just 2 mins. into the game. The Pack then settled into playing well, controlling the ball and the pace of the game. The Pack used their forwards mainly to accomplish this but would lose the ball in contact or become isolated where the Twerps would poach the ball and counterattack. Their #10 punished mistakes with long kicks back into the Packs half where we would have to start over. The Pack surrendered a second converted try through poor tackling at the 15 min. mark to go down 14-0. Maryland scored again at 24 mins again through the Wolfpacks poor tackling to make the score 21-0. The Pack first got on the board when Dominic Goldston took the ball at the Pack’s 22m and made several Maryland players miss on his way to scoring undre the posts. The try was converted by Greg Hesler and at the half the Wolfpack had closed to 21-7.
The second half started much like the first with Maryland just coming out of the gate with more purpose. The Terp’s scored a converted try at 43 mins. and another at 47 mins. to open a 33-7 lead. The Pack scored a try by Will Durway at 55mins. to bring the score to 33-12. The Terps scored two more trys at 63 & 71 mins. to put the game out of reach. The Pack did not give up and scored a try at 74 mins to make the final 47-17.
The Wolfpacks second side continued their undefeated ACRL season by winning 29-12 in a well played match by both sides. The Packs first try was scored by the ghost of Will Teague. Nice to see you back in town. Other scores were by Bryan Maxwell,Charlie Brooks,Brandon Ramos and Matt Pace. Aaron Williams made two conversions.
The Wolfpacks next game is at 1:00 pm. Sat. Mar. 26th on the Miller Fields v/s the University of North Carolina. The Wolfpack wil be hosting to my knowledge the first ever Parents Day on Sat. Seniors will be honored before the game and given their game jerseys. The NCSURFC would like to invite all Old Boys and Alumni to come out and support the Wolfpack on this very important day.