January 26, 2016
Battle of Austin: Huns Fall To Blacks
Photo: Norma Salinas Photography
Austin Huns RFC Press Release: Match Report V Austin Blacks
Austin, TX (January 19, 2016). The Austin Huns suffered a tough loss to crosstown rival Austin Blacks on a bright sunny day at Burr Field. The match started well for the Huns, with wing Justin Hale streaking down right sideline for the opening score to put the underdog visitors up 5-0 after only 8 minutes. The Blacks worked their way into Huns territory after the kickoff, and their sustained pressure was rewarded with a penalty under the posts a few minutes later to close the gap to 5-3. Still, the Huns looked the stronger team and 10 minutes later were threatening with a ruck mere feet from the Blacks’ goal line. Unfortunately a short pass to isolated prop Matt Zappa resulted in a turnover, and in just a few phases the home team advanced 95 meters to score under the posts and take the lead 5-10.
Having finished second in the USA last year, the Blacks are experienced in turning momentum into points. They scored twice more in the next 8 minutes, with flyhalf Stephen Jones converting. The Huns regathered their composure and defended well for 10 minutes to close out the half, but the damage was done. Huns 5, Blacks 24 at half time.
In the second half the Huns again struggled with their discipline at the breakdown. A penalty just 5 minutes in led to a lineout deep inside the Huns 22. Throwing to the back, the men in black set up the maul and scored again. Undaunted, the Huns kept fighting. In the 49th minutes, flyhalf Thierry Daupin intercepted a Jones pass at midfield and raced 40 meters before offloading to #6 Kyle Breytenbach in support for try. With the score now at 10-31 and still 30 minutes to play, Huns’ supporters wondered if their boys could mount a comeback. The question was answered by the defending Red River Conference champions in short order, scoring twice more in the next 10 minutes to put the game out of reach, 10-43. Both clubs emptied their benches, with the Blacks scoring one last try at the death to retain the Whitehead Cup by a score of 10-48.
The Huns are off next weekend, before traveling to Houston on February 6th to take on HARC.
Huns 10 Blacks 48 (5-24 at half)
Huns
Tries: Hale, Breytenbach
Conversions: none
Penalties: none
Blacks
Tries: 7
Conversions: 5
Penalties: 1
About HUNS Rugby Football Club
The Huns Rugby Football Club was founded in 1972 and is one of the first rugby clubs of its kind in Central Texas. Over more than 40 years, the club has developed an organization and a culture that have produced winning teams, first class coaches and players. The Huns’ training and competition fields are unmatched by any other in the region. For many years now The Huns Rugby football club remains one the largest men’s clubs in the United States, competing in all 3 National USA Rugby 15s divisions and the National 7s division.
