Match Report

Ramblers Primus vs. KC Blues B
Ramblers Secundus vs. Missour S&T
October 10th, 2009

Ramblers Keep Blues Away with 9 Try Rout

Saturday saw the beginning of the Ramblers Division 2 league season with a home game against the KC Blues B side.  The KC Blues had already played two league games and were sitting top of the table, so this was expected to be a good test for the Ramblers after playing two consecutive college games, each with 10 tries scored. With a few starters injured or away, several rookies got the call up to the Primus side, so there was a little nervousness about the team come game time.  This lasted until the first action of the game that saw the Ramblers quickly and easily advance down the field with a combination of quick rucks and strategically kicking. The result was a penalty conversion after 5minutes for Justin Vogt (3-0).Two minutes later and rookie inside center Ben McDowell received the ball from fly half Justin Vogt and after s superb run returned the ball to Vogt, who “scored in the corner after a stiff arm” (7-0) Three minutes later and Alex Vogt, not to be outshone by his older brother, recovered the ball at the midfield from a KC Blues error and sprinted in fo our second converted try (17-0). A lack of concentration and poor tackling allowed the KC Blues to put together an effective run and some quick rucking to score on the blind side for an unconverted try (17-5) after 15 minutes of play. The Vogts then linked up again for some scoring with strong backline running and good hands, initiated by Justing to spread the ball to Alex on the wing for his second converted try (24-5). The forwards continued their hard work of generating quick ball, often from quick turnovers, gave the backs plenty of time and ball to work with. In fact the forwards created the next try with hooker Doug Reckamp picking the ball, offloading to second row Chris Hrdina, who reluctantly gave Justin Vogt his second try of the half. 29-5.The Ramblers got a little sloppy and allowed KC Blues to score a converted try with five minutes left in the first half, however the Ramblers finished the half on a high, when a scrum deep in the KC Blues 22 allowed rookie scrum half Kai Ruggeri the opportunity to throw the slowest dummy ever to score in the corner.  Ramblers went into the half 36-12, having already secured the bonus point for four tries.

The second half saw the Ramblers start as they finished with the backs showing good running and hands to spread the ball wide to a crashing fullback Kamron Ahmad, who in the words of Justin Vogt “Passed back inside to me about 25 meters out. A side step and dummy pass to Doug Reckamp in support and try score center post.” Two minutes into the half and the Rambler lead was 43-12. Just for good measure and a chance for a breather saw Justin Vogt add a penalty kick after 57 minutes, before replacement scrum half Derek Gnade scored. In his words “Gnade gets in the game with 25 min left on the clock and scores the first time he gets his hands on the ball.... simply amazing” (51-12) Patrick Flavin, at replacement center, cherry picked a floated pass in the KC Blues back line to score from the half way (58-12).

Finally with three minutes left to play second row Pat Keeven finally crashed one over for the forwards first score of the day, Keeven remembers “Don't really remember a whole lot about it besides taking a forward crash off a pass that appeared forward, and drug a few of them with me into the try zone” .final score 63-12. An excellent outing with rookies shining in all their positions, and rookie Ben McDowell was awarded the Man of the Match for his strong running and repeatedly breaking the KC Blues back line.

The Ramblers Secundus then played Rolla and saw some excellent debuts from some first time players, particularly Neal Richardson and Andrew Wells.  Special mention should go to the referee, Captain Colin Heath, who completely failed to keep track of the score, but the Ramblers Secundus had a great showing and were the rightful winners.

Upcoming fixture is Oct 17 Forest Park. 1pm Primus vs Springfield Celts, 3pm Secundus vs Ft Wood
Current League Standings and Upcoming League Fixtures