The Oberlin Review
<< Front page News October 1, 2004

Rugby downs Kent, dominates Miami scrum

Drive!: Veteren hooker Leila Macbeth hooks back the ball as the Oberlin scrum drives against Kent.
 

The Oberlin College Rugby Club hosted a double-header last Saturday, playing exciting running rugby to beat Kent State University 27-10 before going down 15-12 in a nail-biter against Miami University of Ohio.Keen to continue where they left off last week, a focused and determined Oberlin squad came out firing on all cylinders against Kent State. The first half was dominated by a well-organized attack by the backline. Quick hands down the line put the ball in rookie winger Christina “Bullet” Lavrentz’s hands with room to run. She zigged inside and zagged outside to beat two defenders, speeding over the try-line where she dotted the ball down to open the score just four minutes into the game.

The next score of the game began with a kick ahead by senior flyhalf Magdalen Dale. The kick was fielded by Kent’s weakside winger, who was immediately pounced on by junior inside center Jennifer “Buster” Sargrad, enabling Dale to recover the ball and dive it into the try to take the score to 10-0.

Another kicking combination by Sargrad and Dale boosted the score. Once again, Dale kicked the ball into an open space in the try, where Sargrad was able to sprint clear of the Kent defenders and dive on the loose ball to add five more to the score. Tired of the taunts from friendly Kent rivals, Dale slotted her first conversion of the day to take the score to 17-0.

Eager to get in on the action, the Rhino scrum went on a commanding drive and, phase after phase, retained the ball as they marched upfield. Popping out from behind a ruck, sophomore eigthman Morgan Evans showed an elusive pace with an impressive cut inside to get past the try-line, completing a first half Rhino haul of 22 unanswered points.

With the tougher Miami game to follow, Oberlin used the second half of the Kent game to rest key players and to experiment putting other players in new positions. Kent took full advantage of the weakened Rhino lineup and forced the Rhinos onto defense for most of the second half. Despite an impressive display of tackling and last gasp defending by the Rhinos backline, Kent pushed into the Oberlin try-zone for the next two tries of the game, missing their conversions but bringing the score to 22-10.

Thanks to senior captain and scrumhalf April Gentile-Miserandino, the Rhinos fittingly had the last word. With a beautiful cut through a hole between Kent’s flyhalf and scrumhalf, Gentile-Miserandino used her blinding pace to round the defending weakside winger for a last minute try for the Rhinos, taking the final tally to 27-10.

Again, sophomore lock Gina Farinaccio showed awesome driving strength and an ever-present involvement in the loose rucks to claim the title of “Hustler of the Game.” The HOG (Hit of the Game) title went to Evans for a determined chase and pounce on a breakaway Kentster who was moving in for a try. After a mere 15-minute break for water and reorganization, Oberlin retook the field to take on a tough Miami squad, who were starting their rugby day on fresh legs.

From the start of the game, Miami repeatedly fed their offensive weapon — a towering, hard-running giant called Petey. The Rhinos were unimpressed as they repeatedly brought down Miami’s Jonah Lomu-like attacker with fearless, low tackles. However, a moment’s lapse in the Rhino defense saw Miami open the scoring early in the game with a soft breakaway try and an easy Miami conversion, putting the Rhinos down 7-0. Storming back from behind the posts, Oberlin was determined not to roll over as they dug deep for every ounce of energy and tenacity they could muster. Again and again, the Oberlin scrum controlled the ball and retained possession, but the Rhinos were unable to capitalize on their blatant advantage in possession and ended the half hungry to score. After a focused halftime talk, the Rhinos took the field in the second half and took quick advantage of a miss hit restart attempt by Miami. With the ball bobbling around the mystified Miami players, Dale wasted no time and stormed through with a soccer-style kick ahead. Chasing her kick, Dale got another foot on the ball, but she was overtaken by the scrambling Miami defense just 10 yards before the tryline as she slowed to field the ball, missing her chance for the try.

Again, the Rhinos were unable to capitalize on their territorial advantage after Miami’s former USA U/19 flanker busted through a hole in the defense and, after two missed tackles, ran almost the length of the pitch before being chased down determinedly by Dale. The tackle earned Dale the HOG title for the game, but with no Oberlin support, the play was easily turned into a Miami try and a score of 12-0.

Pumping up her scrummies and team, veteran hooker Leila Macbeth was well-heard from the sideline as she screamed, “We are not getting shut out today, OC!” Heeding the call, sophomore prop Phoebe Hasley executed a perfect “Pop Tart” attack to get the ball to Farinaccio, who had a strong 20-yard drive up the field. Two plays later, rookie prop Julia Daher made an impressive run, shoving off of hapless tackles and pushing through for an awesome scrummie-combined try effort, bringing the score back to 5-12 and keeping the Rhinos’ chances alive.

But it was not to be, as time mercilessly ran out for the Rhinos and they left the pitch eager to play Miami again on a day when they would face them on equal footing, without fatigue.

“Hustler of the Game” against Miami was credited to the entire Oberlin scrum for their hard driving in scrum downs that won about 90 percent of the set scrums, regardless of which team had the put-in. “Last fall, we had a training camp with Miami in which our scrummies were constantly getting tips from the more experienced Miami scrummies. I have to say it feels pretty good to come and not only show them how far we have come, but actually dominate them in the scrum downs,” said junior assistant scrum coach Rachel “First Pick” Lindy. With a 2-2 record that seems unimpressive compared to their score count of 70 points for and only 28 against, the Rhinos will be more than determined to give it their all this upcoming weekend when they play away versus local and respected rivals Kenyon College in the pursuit of a winning record.Laurie Meiring is the coach of the Oberlin College Rugby Club.
 
 

   

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