Match Report

Ramblers vs. Principia College
September 28th, 2009

Rams Score Ten Tries Against Spirited Principia

Despite a delayed kick off until 5:30 pm due to the Parks Dept, Union or whoever else got blamed on the weekend, the Ramblers final got a friendly game under way against Principia college. The pitch was in poor condition due to it being Forest Park, and the two previous games and the heavy rain, which made for some early mistakes and a sluggish start.  The youth of Principia showed early with some excellent tackling, but their inexperience around the break down led to some early frustrations.  A scrum in the Principia 22 saw Justin Vogt strike a beautiful drop goal that was promptly disallowed due to the drop goal coming from a scrum ( A new rule to most of us!).

After about 10 minutes the Ramblers began to settle and started working up the field with good running, rucking and support play. “Capt. Colin Heath offloaded after a looseforward break in the midfield.  The hooker Reckamp came in support and drove over for the touchdown.” Says hooker Doug Reckamp. 23 minutes in and a solid scrum saw rookie scrum half send fly-half Justin Vogt on a 30-meter elusive run to score, which he then converted (12-0). Five minutes later, some superb support play and great vision by prop Chris Hrdina saw him charge down the blindside for a ruck from the half way. Quick passing and great offloading in the tackle saw the ball handled by Hrdina to Center Adam Schmitt to #8 Eric Livingston and final to second row Colin Heath to score in the corner. Another strong scrum on the Principia 22, five minutes later, saw a loose ball recovered by flanker Brian Haley to score an unconverted try (22-0). Two minutes before the half, fellow back rower Eric Livingston, describes his try from another strong scrum “The try was scored off the back of a scrum. I broke through about 5 guys, faked another then had a diving try.  It was pretty awesome.”

Half Time: 29-0
At the half several changes were made to give our rookies some playing time, but the rhythm of the team was not disrupted and saw a try 5 minutes in from center Adam Schmitt (34-0). A back row play from a scrum on Principia 22, saw #8 Colin heath and flanker Brian Haley passing back and forth for a converted try by Colin Heath. Five minutes later, a scrum in the middle of the field on the Principia 10 meter line saw good use of the blindside, with #8 passing to scrum half Kai Ruggeri to send winger Alex Vogt over in the corner (46-0) Strong rucking and open running saw the Ramblers score two more tires through full back Kamron Ahmad, who in his own words says  “Our captain, C. Heath was rambling his way down the pitch ready to score the first hat trick of the season, when, unexpectedly, while attempting to traverse the water hazard on the north end of the opposing 22m line, he decided that he had better let the backs score a try or two.  With three opposing forwards swinging from his neck, he more or less took a knee and let the ruck form.  The ball came out to the fly half J. Vogt,  who proceeded to tiptoe through a couple of fake switches with the centers, drawing in at least twelve of the opposition’s players (and three of their spectators as well) thereby opening a hole in the defense wide enough to drive a Mack truck through.  Fullback K. Ahmad, running at pace, took a short pass from the fly half and was off, centering the ball behind the uprights for an easily converted try.” and second row Pat Keeven to finish with a 60-0 win.

Principia played tough throughout the day and never once looked like laying down, in fact their tackling must be commended as it was always hard and low and broke up numerous Rambler plays. The Ramblers saw strong contributions from old and new players and the team was able to build on their more open style of play.

Man of the Match went to Prop Chris Hrdina, even though he was demoted to second row for the second half.