This article was edited from information supplied by West Houston Rugby Club Men’s Team Manager, Grant A. Cole.

With the linkage between the West Houston Rugby Club and the Houston SaberCats, the team played two friendlies matches Saturday with the D1 team sending 21 players to Austin, Texas and the D4 team having 18 players for the match in Katy. Nine players also played on the Houston Olde Boys in the HOBOs Masters Tourney.

What a difference a year makes with 49 players on three different teams competing in three different comps in one day! Last year, West Houston played 42 individual club members in 16 cup matches.

The D1 Men’s Friendly match between West Houston Lions and the Austin Huns was played at the Huns in Austin. Flyhalf Enrique Montano scored the first points of the match for the Lions 3 minutes into the match after a Huns on their own 22-meter line in front of the posts. Four minutes later, Flanker Alex Elkins scooped up an errant pass and scored a try.

The momentum then swung to the Huns for the next ten minutes. During this period, the Huns flyhalf missed one penalty kick, then notched one a minute later. Following the restart, the Huns attacked into Lions territory, before their explosive fullback Gio Bonilla cut an inside angle and sped through the Lions’ line for the Huns first try. This gave the Huns a 10-8, which would be their only lead of the day.

Two minutes later, Lions Center Irving Carcamo broke through five Huns defenders for a try, which was converted by Montano. Just before halftime, Montano used quick ball after a penalty and Wing Darell Williams found a gap in the 12-13 channel. Williams then offloaded to Center Matoko Noudehou who advanced the ball to the 22-meter line before offloading to Fullback JC Emanelli for the try. After Montano’s easy conversion, the Lions were up 22-10 with only a couple of minutes left before the break.

That was enough time for the Huns as they caught Lions being inattentive after the restart. The Welborn twin locks then connected for a try, which was then converted cutting the Lions lead to 22-17.

Alex Elkins opened the second half with a try and Montano converted, pushing the lead to 29-17. For the next 20 minutes, it was back-and-forth by both teams. Montano then notched a penalty kick bringing the score to 32-17 with 17 minutes left in the match.

The Huns Center Pita Naruma answered with a try from a 5-meter penalty, which was converted. They continued to keep the Lions on the back foot until the 79th minute when the Huns winger stepped inside to sprint untouched for their final try and conversion, to cut the lead to 32-31.

The Lions gathered the restart and hooker Gabe Romero (who earned Man of the Match honors) broke the gainline inside the Huns 22-meters and neared the try line before being tackled short of in-goal. He popped a pass to Prop Codi Jones in support for the try. Montano converted the Lions won 39-31.

The D4 Men’s match between West Houston Lions and Galveston Rugby kicked off at Katy City Park.

The Lions opened the scoring with a try by front row player Robert Ware, who recently returned from injury. Fullback Geoffrey Calvert added a try 14 minutes later, with flyhalf Neil Best converting. Galveston then answered with a try from short range leaving West Houston up 12-7 at the break. Galveston needed two Blood Substitutions during the first half.

The West Houston Lions controlled the second half with Center David Heffernan gaining a hattrick, Center Dom Dobbins a brace, and Wing Gilberto Yssacis & Best a try each. Lions sponsor extraordinaire, Matt McManus even notched a try and Coach Dan O’Donnell brought his kit to the match to sub in for Calvert with 14 minutes left. The final score was a West Houston 68-7 win.

The West Houston D4 squad leads the D4 Men’s South competition. It also sees Neil Best on top of the points chart for this division with a try and nine conversions. David Heffernan now has the most tries scored in this division.

The 8th Annual Lone Survivor Rugby Tournament is this Saturday, 3 November 2018, at Walter Hall Park in League City, TX. The first Game is at 9 am and the tournament ends around 9 pm. We’re asking all Lions (including Mufasa) to complete this form so that we can understand who can and cannot attend and when. Please complete this to the best of your knowledge. West Houston would like to enter two teams.

Please remember to bring your favorite folding chair(s) and pop-up tents if you can so we can have one bound-together tent city. Weather is forecast to be 63-73 degrees and sunny.