Lumps

Of the 15 taking the pitch against Easley, 13 were 8-10th graders. I think “young team” is a too-often used coach’s cliché. Certainly all the kids are young. But the bromide is befitting here. All the teams we play are going to be bigger. All will be older. We will be outmatched physically and athletically. Faced with these circumstances, the only thing we can do is tackle low, play with as much tenacity as we can muster and get better each week.

And we will get better each week. Last Saturday, we were thrashed by Easley. Our tackling was high. So we worked on that Tuesday. And we’ll do it again Thursday. You learn more about a team in defeat than you do in victory. And how we respond to this loss – and any other looming losses – will be telling. To be sure, the sweet taste of victory will be savored more after sampling the sourness of defeat. Here are some photos of the game.

Greenville 20 Spartans 13

Heading into our contest against Greenville B this past weekend, the Spartans faced several obstacles. Both of our starting centers (seniors) had left the team. So all of our efforts during the past month to develop timing, craft plays and strategies for our backline were for naught…in the trashcan. In football terms, we had to punt.

Also, both practices this week were cancelled due to rain.

Tackling throughout the first half was poor and rucking was average. Predictably, our new backline faced difficulties realigning for defense. But, we used some timely kicking and spurts of good rugby to take a 13 -5 lead. Then the superior size and athleticism of the other squad took over, a refrain that occurred last week. Tackling lapsed and Greenville scored three trys in succession to take the win. Considering our size and youth, now just three seniors on the team, we will continue to face these issues.

We need to buckle down and concentrate during these critical times late in the game. When you are tired, you begin looking for the other guy to make the play. Your tackling becomes lazy. We, too, need to focus on the break down area. Since we are smaller we must be more tenacious at the spot where ball meets the deck.
Again, our effort was good, mostly. We’ll get better this week and continue to grow. Here are some photos of the game.

Spring Valley 17- Greer 5

On Saturdday the Greer Rugby Spartans took to the pitch for the squad's first full game. The Opponent: a very large Spring Valley team, rife with upperclassmen, that consistently competes for the state championship each year.

The Spartans, undersized and out-experienced at every position, made a very good accounting for themselves. Throughout the first half the Greer team used tactical kicking to keep the larger Spring Valley team off-balance. Michael D'onofrio put the team up 5-0 with a try midway through the first half.

During the second half, Spring Valley turned on the heat and put more pressure on the Spartans who were unable to boot the ball deep. As the squad became tired, we began to tackle high and Spring Valley scored three trys to take a 17-5 win.

I spoke with the Spring Vally coach and he offered high praise. Most of their players are returning and all of them were upperclassmen. We have 3-4 seniors,0 junionrs and the rest are 8th and 9th graders. Keep working. Here are some photos of the game.