News

10-4-09-Rucktoberfest

Details: Category: 2009 Fall News; Published Date; Written by DressedGurl; Hits: 191

10/4/09 → CofC Rugby travelled to Boone, NC, this weekend to play in App. States's Rucktoberfest. The day started against a tough DI opponent, USC, with the Cougars taking a tough loss against their long established opponents. The second game was against a strong NC State team. The match started well with the cougars holding the NC team, however, the strength of the NC State team proved too much and they went into the half with a 14-0 lead. The second half opened with a try from the out of retirement David "Stach" Bethel. However, this turnaround was short-lived and State ended up running out 21-5 winners. The final game of the day was against App. State, the hosts. With many players out injured and others tired from the first two matches, the B side went into the game and held them to only 12 points at the half. The second half saw the introduction of some first team players but the damage was done and App. State scored three more to end deserved winners, before going on to win the tournament outright.

Man of the Match: Rupert Munro & Coti Phillips.
Dick of the Day: Rob James, Jeremy Tindal, Ollie Dedominicis, Austin Coon

Palmetto Tournament

Details: Category: 2009 Fall News; Published Date; Written by DressedGurl; Hits: 140

10/11/09 → Cougar Rugby was represented at the Palmetto Tournament this weekend, hosted by Furman University. Charleston started with a disappointing 10-12 loss to the Citadel. The forwards never really turned up to the game and despite some solid tackles in the back line and tries from Mike O'Bannon and Bryan O'Kelley, the Cougars fell to a first game defeat. The second game gave CofC a chance at retribution by playing the Citadel B team. After some early resistance the break came and tries flew in from Lee Altman, scoring a decisive backline play, Rupert "Pip" Munro from a 5m penalty and Austin Coon. Conversions came from Mike O'Bannon and Rupert Munro to seal the 19-0 win. In the headline game of the day Charleston took on Furman in the game which would ultimately determine who progressed to the Championship final. In a nervous game chances were slim for both teams. Tackles were flying in all over the pitch with the Cougars making ground but unable to find the finishing blow. As the Cougars marched towards the Furman touchline for yet another time, a break came with a 5m penalty. After the initial rebuttal, Jeff Seidel saw the loose ball at the back of a ruck and with the scrum half engulfed through the previous play, he struck the scoring chance away to give the Cougars a 5-0 win, sealing the first win for Charleston against Furman, in game length competition, since the inception of the club in 2002 and taking the club through to the Championship game.

The sun rose on Sunday to a huge day for Charleston rugby. The lunchtime kickoff gave the team time to prepare for the onslaught on the Championship. The game started with each team feeling for a weakness in the other. While there was strong forward and back play, neither team could find a gap until Charleston got on the board through a penally kick, scored by Mike Bannon. Strong scrum half play by Rupert Munro, forcing an error at the back of the Carolina scrum led to a chance for the weekend's captain before being cynically brought down as he chipped the ball through to score, ending in a penalty try and yellow card for the Carolina full back. Carolina came back strong with a score of their own before deep into the second half Austin Coon connected to plant down the ball in the Carolina try zone. With minutes left of the clock the Cougars endured a torrent of attacks on their try line, time after time keeping the hungry Gamecocks out, however, with 2 minutes left on the clock the resolve of Carolina proved fruitful and took them to a 17-15 win. Overall it was a positive weekend for the depleted Cougar squad, with obvious disappointment over the final result.
Man of the Match: Jeremy 'Penguin' Tindal & Mike O'Bannon
Dick of the Day: Jeremy 'Penguin' Tindal & Jeff Seidel

Cougars stop D1 Giant App State

Details: Category: 2009 Fall News; Published Date; Written by President; Hits: 154

11/14/09 → A rampant Charleston rugby put 39 points on a somewhat depleted App. State team this weekend. After a scrappy start with DotD Cullen Lea diving 5m back to put the ball down in our own try zone, with a App. try being scored from the resulting scrum, the Cougars quickly upped the ante and put three point on the board from a Ryan Murray Penatly before a 50m run from Austin Coon resulted in Ryan Murray scoring a try. After an attempted quick restart from the mountain men, the Cougars capitalized on some sloppy defending and Rob James ran home an easy try before another run, this time by Mike Bannon, made it 24-5 at the half. With some subs coming on after the break, freshman Johnny Jagger scored off yet another break away before Shaun White scored to finish the try scoring. Ryan Murray stepped up yet again to slot the conversion from the sideline before tucking away a 45m penalty kick to bring the Cougars home with a 39-5 win.
Man of the Match: Johnny Jagger / Zulu Warrior

Dick of the Day: Cullen Lea

Charleston takes on Men's Team Sumter

Details: Category: 2009 Fall News; Published Date; Written by President; Hits: 165

11/07/09 → The day started out with the College of Charleston having a breakfast with Mr. Lea, who during give an inspirational speech. The Cougars hit the field against a much larger and much older Sumpter men's team, who had a few highschoolers to fill in their Ranks. Within the first 10 minutes of the game the college went up 28-0, with Sean White, Matt Ward, and Coti Phillips scoring. Considering we had a mainly B side in the game, this was a huge accomplishment. The Cougars dominated every phase of the game with Sumpter barely having posession during the match. By the end of the match the Cougars had subbed in most of their A-side who continued on where the baby cougars left off. Final score CofC Men's RFC 60 and Sumpter Mens 0.

Man of the Match: Coti Phillips, Matt Ward, and Sean White
Dick of the Day: Ryan Murray for falling down on a break away which would have resulted in a score, and Jazzy Jeff for starting a fight with the opposing team's scrummy who weighed all of 100 pounds and looked like he was 12 years old.

4th Annual Alumni Match

Details: Category: 2009 Fall News; Published Date; Written by Super User; Hits: 178

10/31/09 → Charleston rugby welcomed the Alumni back this weekend for them to try and hold on to the 100% Alumni record. It was an interesting start to the game with both teams feeling each other out to gauge their respective levels. After some poor decisions by the alumni, Cofc gained a penalty on their 22. Seeing that the alumni were in disarray, Rupert Munro tapped the quick penalty and made 50 meters before offloading to Ryan Murray in the tackle who finished off the decisive move. The Alumni came back hard and scored a return try, bringing the score to 7-7, before CofC kicked home a penalty. After more tough plays on both teams part, the poor fitness levels of the Alumni started to show. Scores from Mike O'Bannon, another from Ryan Murray and one from Austin Coon finished off with the first win for the College over the Alumni, with a 29-10 win.