The Greer Spartans took another step last Friday with a 27-5 win over Lugoff-Elgin. Ian Gilliand, a winger, scored his first try of the season to get the team rolling. The squad held a 15 point advantage at halftime. The trys were evenly distributed among forwards and backs.
Again, the Spartans were able to use some crafty kicking and hard-charging forward play to keep LE off balance. I was particularly pleased that we achieved this victory despite being down five players. We were missing our starting prop, wing and fullback. And our hard-charging center, Jacob Cook, had to leave at the 20 minute mark, which left us with no substitutes.
We have won a few close contests, so Friday’s game marked the first time the team was able to spread the field and open up the game. They are learning – recycle the ball quickly – and you will find an opening. They are also beginning to believe in themselves.
With the exception of Phillip Rogers, our speediest player, we should be full strength this Friday as the Spartans take on Wando at Lugoff Elgin High School. Kick off is 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Spartans 7 Brookland-Cayce 0
Our boys captured the Spartans first-every victory Friday with a 7-0 win over an athletic B-C squad. Giandre Acosta scored a try off a 5 meter scrum midway through the first half. Peter Nelson connected on the conversion.
The Greer team nearly scored a few times in the second half but were a pass or knock-on away from putting the game away. For their part, B-C played the Spartans even in the line-outs and scrum downs. But they were relatively easy defend and our opponents seldom spun the ball wide or kicked.
It was scrappy, but the team gutted out a win. I am pround of the boys and am especially pleased for the guys who returned to the team this year after perservering a really hard innaugural 0-8 season.
We are getting there. Next up: Lugoff Elgin
The Greer team nearly scored a few times in the second half but were a pass or knock-on away from putting the game away. For their part, B-C played the Spartans even in the line-outs and scrum downs. But they were relatively easy defend and our opponents seldom spun the ball wide or kicked.
It was scrappy, but the team gutted out a win. I am pround of the boys and am especially pleased for the guys who returned to the team this year after perservering a really hard innaugural 0-8 season.
We are getting there. Next up: Lugoff Elgin
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Greer vs Greenville Act II
In a short practice-scrimmage, the Greer Spartans piled on a lot of points against the Greenville B team (some 40-0) then fell short against Red Raider A team 12-0.
I thought we made great strides this week, even though our attendance at practice was poor. Our rucking was greatly improved and we moved the ball in a much more fluid manner. For the most part out set pieces looked solid, despite being down a prop and lock. It was a good day.
Greenville picked up their first try on a quick tap, catching our boys off guard. On the second, they were the beneficiary of a questionable forward pass and knock on. No matter. Last year, Greenville pushed us around. They took our line outs, rolled over our scrums and ran through us. This year it’s different. We held our own and stood up to them. They failed to mount much offensive rhythm, too.
To be sure, they are more established. They have 50-something players and a state championship to their history. And they remain better than us. But we are closing the gap. How far we close between now and season finale against them will directly be directly related to our level of work and commitment.
Possession on Tuesday.
I thought we made great strides this week, even though our attendance at practice was poor. Our rucking was greatly improved and we moved the ball in a much more fluid manner. For the most part out set pieces looked solid, despite being down a prop and lock. It was a good day.
Greenville picked up their first try on a quick tap, catching our boys off guard. On the second, they were the beneficiary of a questionable forward pass and knock on. No matter. Last year, Greenville pushed us around. They took our line outs, rolled over our scrums and ran through us. This year it’s different. We held our own and stood up to them. They failed to mount much offensive rhythm, too.
To be sure, they are more established. They have 50-something players and a state championship to their history. And they remain better than us. But we are closing the gap. How far we close between now and season finale against them will directly be directly related to our level of work and commitment.
Possession on Tuesday.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Good news...sort of
The game Friday night has been postponed.
The weather should be torrid tomorrow. I know that we have a number of boys who are sick with the flu. And we have a few folks with some injuries. This, too, will give us more time to get better. Our learning curve -- if we work hard and get everyone to practice -- will be shorter than every other team. If it is not, then we are not doing our jobs as coaches.
That said, I do not want us to be idle this week. It is suppossed to be fantastic Sunday, so I am working with Coach Reid (Greenville) to get a game with them on Sunday afternoon at Furman..will try to work it around the super bowl. It will not "count". As we say in Rugby it will be a friendly. More info on that as it becomes available.
And since we don't have a game Friday, we can run a robust, physical practice this afternoon. Gentlemen, bring your mouthgaurds!! And get your dues in!!!
The weather should be torrid tomorrow. I know that we have a number of boys who are sick with the flu. And we have a few folks with some injuries. This, too, will give us more time to get better. Our learning curve -- if we work hard and get everyone to practice -- will be shorter than every other team. If it is not, then we are not doing our jobs as coaches.
That said, I do not want us to be idle this week. It is suppossed to be fantastic Sunday, so I am working with Coach Reid (Greenville) to get a game with them on Sunday afternoon at Furman..will try to work it around the super bowl. It will not "count". As we say in Rugby it will be a friendly. More info on that as it becomes available.
And since we don't have a game Friday, we can run a robust, physical practice this afternoon. Gentlemen, bring your mouthgaurds!! And get your dues in!!!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Spartans 7 Chapin 7
Of course, half of our team taking the field against Chapin was playing their first game. And our backline was minus two very good athletes.
I concede our inexperience and lack of depth. But that’s still no excuse for sloppy play. Our forwards tossed balls into the air at the breakdown. Our backline defense played as individuals, at times, seeking the big hit or interception instead of moving up together in a cavalry line. And we had folks freelancing. Our 10 gets binned for pushing, a retaliation aginst a Chapin kid who shoved one of our boys.
We started off well. A well timed kick to space, the ball bounces inside the five meter line. A short time later, our 9 slips through the defenders and scores a try. Conversion is good.
After that we sputtered and failed to muster any cohesive office.
In short, we need to calm down. Set the ball. Ruck over the opposing team. And have good balance at the tackle point.
Despite our errors, we had a chance to win at the end of the game. But what happened in those waning seconds was illustrative of our failures. With the ball on Chapin’s five meter-line and our team pressing, we had a game plan..slow, prodding, rucking…it is indefensible if you run it correctly. We preach patience. We teach teamwork. But one of our guys picks up the ball up and tries to be the hero by doing the impossible.
He got stuffed. And our team got stuffed. The long whistle. And we lost..well a tie, really.
To be sure, this player had an overall solid game. And there were many other glaring errors. I don't mean to pick on him. But this moment really capsulates our problems. These can all be repaired with time. And it will start this week at practice…Possession drill. Bring your mouth guards and prepare for fun!
I concede our inexperience and lack of depth. But that’s still no excuse for sloppy play. Our forwards tossed balls into the air at the breakdown. Our backline defense played as individuals, at times, seeking the big hit or interception instead of moving up together in a cavalry line. And we had folks freelancing. Our 10 gets binned for pushing, a retaliation aginst a Chapin kid who shoved one of our boys.
We started off well. A well timed kick to space, the ball bounces inside the five meter line. A short time later, our 9 slips through the defenders and scores a try. Conversion is good.
After that we sputtered and failed to muster any cohesive office.
In short, we need to calm down. Set the ball. Ruck over the opposing team. And have good balance at the tackle point.
Despite our errors, we had a chance to win at the end of the game. But what happened in those waning seconds was illustrative of our failures. With the ball on Chapin’s five meter-line and our team pressing, we had a game plan..slow, prodding, rucking…it is indefensible if you run it correctly. We preach patience. We teach teamwork. But one of our guys picks up the ball up and tries to be the hero by doing the impossible.
He got stuffed. And our team got stuffed. The long whistle. And we lost..well a tie, really.
To be sure, this player had an overall solid game. And there were many other glaring errors. I don't mean to pick on him. But this moment really capsulates our problems. These can all be repaired with time. And it will start this week at practice…Possession drill. Bring your mouth guards and prepare for fun!
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