Monday, 23 July 2012
Denver 7s Western Qualifier
Ramblers,
Our 2012 summer 7′s program took a sharp turn to better our recognition as the St. Louis Ramblers in the west. In the beginning of the season we have asked all the players that attended the meeting with the agreement that we were going to play at the highest level not only to challenge the program but to challenge the players. Our objective is to gain more recognition with the west that we are a team in contention with the USA pool and to anticipate the 2015 / 2016 Olympic tryouts for Rio de Janeiro. This type of exposure will give Ramblers and the players the opportunity to play at the highest level of rugby.
This past weekend, we traveled to Denver, CO with 9 players as part of the qualifying round to give us a chance to continue to the nationals. Our first match was against the Denver Barbarians who were ranked #1 in our pool. We played a very competitive game, but fell short giving us our first loss of the day with the score of 0 to 33. Our second match was against the Woodland Exiles where we have played them in Kansas City. Although we played a tough game, but our mistakes were capitalized which gave us our second loss of the day with the score of 0 to 31. Our third game was different with our game in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park stadium and the game was online for all to watch, we stepped it up with a higher intense mentality. We played Gentlemen of Aspen where we were up in the first half with the score of 7 to 5. However, the mistakes prevailed which allowed Aspen to score 21 unanswered points making the final score to be 7 to 26. The final score of the 3 matches does not reflect the way we played. We did not give up, and we played with heart. With this, our resilience gave us a win for 7th place over the Kansas City Rogues with the final score of 31 to 7.
Overall, our day was an eye opener for our players to continue to elevate their game to become better rugby players. I am hoping at this level of rugby, we have created a set of discipline(s) to become better and if not forward looking to set goals to become the Best of West. This season was for us to plant the seed as our future for this program will be become stronger and better in 2013.
Thank you for all those that supported the Ramblers’ Summer 7s program, especially to our sponsors. The sponsors are Felix’s in Dogtown (thank you Drew Blaylock for setting it up for us as part of our fundraising effort), Gary Mantei from CRH Transport, Geoff Barnes and Rebecca Schloegl (married an old boy and accommodated our lodging on Friday).
In summary of the scores in Denver are the following:
vs. Denver Barbarians (0 – 33) LOSS
vs. Woodland Exiles (0 – 31) LOSS
vs. Gentlemen of Aspen (7 – 26) LOSS
vs. Kansas City Rogues (31 – 7) WIN – 7th Place
Our season is not over as we have our MO 7s to win. Currently, we are undefeated. We will play the championship game on Thursday, August 2. We will continue to have practice on Tuesday, July 24, 7pm at Franz Park. Please come out to support us when we win the championship for MO 7s.
Cheers,
Coach
Monday, 9 July 2012
KC Blues 7s Western Qualifier
Ramblers,
This past weekend we traveled with 2 teams playing in the open side
division and the western qualifier round. The day began at 8am for our
b-side playing Topeka as our first match in our pool. B-side dominated
from the start of the whistle to the end of the game with the final
score of 24 to 17. The hat trick goes to Jake Kreitler, SLU player,
with 3 tries to give us our first win of the day. After a bye in our
pool, we were challenged against the Kansas City Blues’ b-side. We
gave them a good fight, but we could not score giving us our first
loss of the day with the final score of 0 to 19. However, the good
news is that we made it to the plate semi playing against TCU.
Although we dominated in the first half, we were unable to hold on
only to lose to them by the score of 21 to 33.
The day went on with the blistering sun of 107 degrees, and playing on
turf added the unbearable heat to the challenge of the western
qualifying round for all. The a-side had a 2:40pm kick off time
against Gentlemen of Aspen where we played our most astounding match
of the day, if not, all season. We were extremely sharp on defense
with them playing on our end knocking on the door several times, but
we were resilient enough to deny them from scoring. Our tackling was
persistent in every phase of their attacks. As a result of our first
half performance, we were up by the score of 7 to 5. The second half,
however, was not as fortunate as they capitalize on our mistakes. Our
two critical mistakes converted into tries, which ended the game by
the score of 7 to 17. The exhaustion and the heat continued as our
a-side face the Woodland Exiles who were ranked second in the west.
This match showed a lot of heart from the players as they executed our
game play hoping to pull off a win for the team. However, we continued
to make mistakes where they capitalize and converted into tries. The
final score was a loss of 7 to 36. The two losses determined who will
be playing in the final round to continue on in the tournament. This
was, also, a must win for us to gain better ranking in the west. Our
opponent in this round was against the KC Rogues. We continued to make
mistakes where they scored 3 quick tries on us in the first half. The
second half, however, showed a glimpse of hope as we scored 2 tries,
but we did not have enough time to continue this momentum. The loss of
12 to 15 was our last game of the day.
In summary, the Ramblers were challenged throughout the day for both
a-side and b-side. Although the end results were losses and one win,
but the performance by all players were promising as we continue to
the western qualifying rounds into Denver, CO on July 21. We can only
get better and stronger through the challenges and experience that we
gain as a team. Thank you to all players that traveled with the team
for this weekend, which includes players that were called on the last
minute (Colin Heath, Dan Wishmeyer and Jeff O’Donnell). The following
are the overall results of the day:
B-side:
vs. Topeka (24 – 17) WIN
vs. Blues B (0 – 19) LOSS
vs. TCU (21 – 33) Plate Semi – LOSS
A-side:
vs. Gentlemen of Aspen (7 – 17) LOSS
vs. Woodland Exiles (7 – 36) LOSS
vs. KC Rogues (12 -15) LOSS
Cheers,
Coach.
Friday, 6 July 2012
Missouri 7s League: Week 3
Missouri 7s – July 5, 2012
Team 1
v. Bombers 1 (19 – 5) – WIN
v. Bombers 2 (54 – 0) – WIN
Team 2
v. Bombers 2 (12 – 12) WIN on drop kicks.
v. Bombers 1 (0 – 52) LOSS
Overall – 3 wins and 1 loss for the day.with 27 players available to play.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Lakefront 7s
After winning the Bellvegas 7s tournament, we bought a team to Milwaukee, WI for the Lakefront 7s Tournament in the men’s competitive bracket. It was a perfect day with temperature at 90 degrees, where we had our first match promptly at 8am against UWM. The outcome of this match was not what we expected with players slow to start where we were behind 5 – 7 at the end of the first half. The start of the second half continue to be a slow start for us facing defeat with UWM scoring their second try with the score of 5 – 12. With only 1 minute left in the game, the team was determine to win this game. We scored our second try of the day putting us at 10 – 12 with a conversion that we had to make to tie the game. Joe Krispin, our fly half, took the conversion knowing that this will make or break the rest the day for us. The conversion kick was good to give the Ramblers a tie and a point in our pool. Ultimately, this game change the momentum for us to defeat Peoria (35 – 5) and MRFC Old Boys (21 – 14).
We have won our pool to make it to the Semi-finals seating the Ramblers 3rd. We were faced with the toughest opponent of the day, Savage Nations, with 2 USA Eagles player and the team that had the most points within our bracket. It was another rough start for us with Savage Nations where they scored 3 surprising tries from the kick off. However, we settled in and played our game with the first half, which resulted to be a score of 5 – 26. The end of the first half gave us continued momentum with us dominating the entire second half. Even though we dominating the second half we could only score 7 points with the final score to be 12 – 33. We came in 3rd place overall. The two teams that were in the finals were Savage Nations v. Youngbloodz B. The final score was 45 – 0.
In summary, this is an excellent start for the Ramblers’ Sevens Program. I am happy to see so many players committed and with this commitment we will continue success. Our next tournament will be in Kansas City, MO for the Kansas City 7′s Western Qualifier Tournament on July 7th. We planned to bring 2 teams entering in the Western Qualifying round and the open men’s side. Thank you for all the players that traveled to Milwaukee. Let’s continue this momentum as it is our year to advance to the Nationals.
Cheers,
Coach
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Omaha Match Report
Match Report Ramblers v Omaha
March 24, 2012
As our Primus team travel to Omaha for our second league match of the spring season, (more…)
Monday, 17 October 2011
Primus vs Tulsa
For the second year running Primus suffered another heartbreaking loss to the Western DII Champions Tulsa. Early penalties and some missed tackles saw the Ramblers lose 28-20. Tulsa got the lead back with 3 minutes to spare and scored a second in the 82nd minute to ake away the Rambler bones point.
2′: Penalty against Ramblers: 3-0
10′: Penalty against Ramblers: 6-0
22′: Scrum on our 10m, chip kick through for Matt Arackal to recover and pass to Kyle Wort to Justin Vogt to score. 6-5
30′: Strong forward work from the half way to link with backs to allow wing Chris Walton to score. 6-10
33′: Turnover at the kick off for Tulsa to score. 13-10
57′: Penalty against Ramblers: 16-10
62′: Try: Shortened linout play for Logan Springer to score. 16-17
67′: Penalty for Rmablers: 16-20
77′: Break away try from the half way for Tulsa: 23-20
82′: Break away try from offside play. 28-20
Monday, 10 October 2011
October 8th
The Ramblers had an excellent weekend recording a huge win over the St Louis Royals and beating the Lindenwood JV side. The biggest win of the weekend was that the Ramblers fielded 35 players of their own and helped some SLU rookies out with some game time!
Primus vs St Louis Royals
The Ramblers went into Saturday’s league game with real purpose, having suffered losses to the Royals in several preseason tournaments. The game was a complete performance by all 15 starters as they controlled the game throughout and showed how their full Primus side can truly play.
12th min: Rambler scrum on Royals 22 meter. #8 Eric Livingston picks from the back and runs in untouched . 7-0
25th min: Ramblers turn over the ball on own 10m line and quick hands and strong running allowed wing Chris Walton to run in from the half way. 14-0
30th min: Some fast forward work at the breakdown allowed the pack to move the ball from Royal 22 to allow second row Logan Springer a score. 19-0
42nd min: An assumed inspirational speech at the half saw the Royals coming up strong and turned over the restart and worked the ball in a rolling maul to score. 19-7
47th min: Following the try and the Royals celebration of silver bell ringing, eating and selling out. The Ramblers had a lineout deep in the Royals have and the forwards linked up with #10 Justin Vogt, who ran through 6-7 tackles for a try. 26-7
60th min: The Royals capitalized on a well rehearsed play of a cross field kick for their winger to score. 26-12
62nd min: Ramblers turned over the restart kick off and fast hands saw fullback Sam Faszholz score. 33-12
67th min: Sustained Rambler pressure allowed Justin Vogt to hit a drop goal. 36-12
70th min: 5m scrum on Royal try-line saw the forwards dominate and #7 Patrick Conaty score. 43-12
79th min: Another 5m scrum, but this time the forwards shared and #15 Sam Faszholz scored his second and was converted by Justin Vogt, who went 6/7 and 1 DG, to bring up the 50. Final 50-12
Man of the Match: Justin Vogt
Secundus vs Lindenwood JV
Following their 38-0 defeat to the same side a week before the Ramblers came out hard and fast and strong forward word allowed a try under the posts.
Excellent defense slowed the Lindenwood attacking backs and the Ramblers capitalized on more forward work to go into the half 14-14.
In the second half the side held their own, despite having almost a whole new side subed in to allow SLU rookies some game time. Sticking with their game plan the Rambler/SLU side kept Lindenwood under pressure, but did concede a try.
The Rambler sscored early in the second half and converted allowing them to walk away winners at 21-19.
Man of the Match: Carleton Brown
Sunday, 18 September 2011
vs Memphis
The Ramblers had a strong win against Memphis this weekend, scoring 5 tries. The game was a very physical confrontation that sometimes resulted in a lack of discipline. This resulted in Memphis getting on the board first with a penalty, resulting from a try saving high tackle by rookie Joe Freemen. The Ramblers, down to 14 men, quickly countered through full back Sam Fazholz, who cleared from his 22, gathered his own kick and raced away for a converted try. The Ramblers had some great phases of play, but simple errors repeatedly saw Memphis recover and gain their lost ground. A strong attack by Memphis was intercepted by rookie Kyle Wort to race the length of the field for a second converted try.
Memphis came back strong and Joe Freemen was again asked to make a try saving tackle, and again went high. So Ramblers had an 11 point lead and only 14 men. Memphis capitalized on the extra space in the back field to score on the stroke of half time. 14-10 at the half.
Memphis again took advantage of the extra space on the field to open the scoring at the start of the second half taking a 1 point lead 14-15. A quick tap from a free kick 3 minutes later saw their lead extend to 14-20.
This appeared to wake the Ramblers up and they started playing as a team. A back row play from a scrum on our 22 meter line was followed by several forward plays that linked with the backs to send Kyle Wort in for his second of the day. 21-20
Ten minutes later the forwards worked together to advance the ball from deep in our own half and a deft pass released the backs, whose quick hands saw rookie, and U.City High School alumni, Carleton score in the corner for his first try. 28-20.
The Ramblers finished off the game with another team effort that allowed Kyle Wort to complete his hat trick.
As time ticked down Memphis increased their pressure on the Ramblers and the last play of the game saw a Rambler scrum in the Rambler 22. Matt Arackal scuffed the clearing kick into the back of his own players for a penalty to Memphis. Ramblers defended valiantly for a solid 5 minutes before regaining position and Pat Conaty attempted to end the game by vigorously and aggressively charging to the side line and hurling the ball out of bounds. Penalty Memphis!! Luckily the fiascon ended when memphis knocked on. Final score 33-20
Players of note Ryan Lane, Dan Wischmeye Kyle Wort and Man of the Logan Springer
Friday, 5 August 2011
Missouri 7s League: Final
Ramblers finished second in this years Missouri 7s league. They beat Bombers B in the semi-final 28-0, but fell behind early in the final against Bombers A. Final 21-12.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Blackout 7s
Ramblers 1 win Blackout 7s
Team 1: v. Condors (7 – 26); v. Peoria (50 – 0); v. SIU A (31 – 0);
Semifinals: v. Univ. of Illinois (7 – 0); Finals: v. Condors (12 – 10).
Team 2: v. Eureka (21 – 17); v. SIU A (17 – 12); v. Eureka (7 – 24); v. SIU
A (12 -14).
