March 28, 2016
Scioto Valley Lose Close Spring Home Opener to KC Blues
Doug Coil
Columbus Rugby Football Club has reverted back to Scioto Valley RFC for rugby 15s. They are a Division 1 club team in the Midwest Rugby Union.
This past weekend was their first home rugby match of the Spring. It featured the Kansas City Blues traveling to Scioto Valley and resulted in a narrow 26-34 loss for the home team. This match was a repeat of the prior week’s away trip to Kansas City.
After ten matches, Scioto Valley has a record of 4-6, but have played some very competitive matches with League leaders Chicago Lions and Metropolis, losing by 1 and 5points respectively. Scioto Valley is in fifth place in the League with four matches remaining in the regular season.
Two other League matches were played last weekend. Sixth place Cincinnati Wolfhounds lost 48-0 to the first place Chicago Lions. Fourth place Chicago Griffins won 59-13 over the seventh place Milwaukee Barbarians.
On April 2nd all teams will be in action
- Chicago Lions v Scioto Valley
- KC Blues v Palmer College Dragons
- Metropolis v Milwaukee Barbaraians
- Chicago Griffins Cincinnati Wolfhounds
Scioto Valley Recap versus Kansas City Blues: Press Release by Head Coach Phillip Payne, March 28, 2016
1st Home Game of the Season versus KC Blues
“A beautiful Spring day, without a cloud in the sky was the setting for Valley’s first home game of the season. It was an odd one in that opponent was the previous weekend’s opponent, the KC Blues.
There was an excellent sideline crowd, the Columbus Castaways came to give support to rugby in Columbus, and Old Boy extraordinaire Woody Hudson had a Low Country Boil going for fans and the teams. Thank you Woody!
The story of the day was that Scioto Valley RFC wanted to show their new look – there were moments of champagne rugby and there were moments of growing pains as they learn to play together.
Receiving the kick-off, Valley came out roaring and moved the ball with precision, chewing up yards till the sequence was ended with the “Holding onto the ball” call. KC kicked to touch within 10 meters of the try line. KC was able to punch it over. Conversion missed.
That seemed to set the tone for the day. KC fed off of Valley penalties.
Valley struck back by stealing the kick-off and with flashes of what Valley will try to become in open play were able to move the ball to the KC 5 meter line were Tight-Head Prop Nick Towns would not be denied and barreled through the defense for a try. Conversion missed.
KC’s ball handling was spot on during the game, their game plan was run it from everywhere, putting stress on our defense. After the restart to Nick’s try, Valley pressured KC resulting in an intercept by Derek Patrick, who sprinted 40 meters and off-loaded to a trailing Ryan Cochran for the try. Conversion good.
The 1st half finished up with two KC trys and 2 conversions.
Halftime SV 12 KC Blues 19
It was a back and forth affair during the 1st 20 minutes of the second half, Neither team able to punch one in, then Luke Hickey at Scrumhalf sniped KC off of a scrum, dummying the center and dotting down for the try. Conversion made. Tied up and the sidelines are into the game!
Scioto was rolling, several strong sequences gave the feeling that control of the game was shifting and Valley would start to clamp down. Not the case today.
A bad penalty on Valley due to an isolated runner holding onto the ball started a sequence of play that finished with KC scoring a try. Conversion missed.
Several back and forth affairs, stalemating in either poached ball, knock-ons or lineouts, had the two teams each knocking on the other try lines but to no avail.
Valley’s defensive structure started to fade in the 60th minute leading to a mental mistake that gave KC an easy try. Conversion missed.
But once again, Valley stormed back – could we pull it out in the waning moments???
With 10 minutes left the Lepers controlled the ball, moving deliberately, but gaining little ground. The KC defense was throwing everything they could at Valley, and under pressure, Valley kept taking the ball up into the defensive wall. However, Ryan Cochran made a two KC defenders miss and had a breakaway down the sideline that set up a sequence that ended with a scrum to Valley at the KC 5 meter line. Once again Luke Hickey scored off a grubber to himself as he sliced the KC defense. Conversion good.
5 minutes to go and the Lepers are down 3 points.
The comeback that we were hoping for didn’t materialize, a sequence of penalties allowed KC to camp within our 22 and eventually punch in one last try. Conversion missed.
Final score: SV 26 KC Blues 34
The team would like to thank all of the fans for coming out and cheering the team on. It was an exciting game and it was a beautiful day for rugby.
Next game – this coming weekend Scioto Valley is away at the Chicago Lions.”
