An over cast warm day greeted HURT’s arrival in San Antonio to play Alamo City. A hard dusty pitch had a fast game of rugby written all over it. So with those conditions to deal with and a brand new set of jerseys to christen HURT got set to receive the opening kickoff.
The opening stanza was hard fought in the middle of the field with neither side giving much ground until the 16th minute when Chip Price found himself the extra man on an overlap and ran in the first try of the match. The conversion from Scott Thompson was wide [HURT 5 – ALAMO CITY 0].
The wind in their sails from Price’s try HURT put the pressure straight back on after the restart with new convert Matthew Echezabal making a break before standing up the fullback and scoring HURT’s second try under the posts. Thompson added the extras [HURT 12 – ALAMO CITY 0].
With the game slipping away from them Alamo City spurred themselves into action and taking advantage of some sloppy defense scored their first try in the 26th minute. A penalty kick for goal straight after the restart and the score had closed in [HURT 12 – ALAMO CITY 8]. HURT would spend the next ten minutes one man down with a player given a yellow card for shoulder charging. Alamo City capitalized on the ensuing confusion with another try in the 36th minute[HURT 12 – ALAMO CITY 13]. With home support urging them on Alamo City got another break with a length of the field try just before the halftime whistle. It was converted to give the locals an eight point lead at the half [HURT 12 – ALAMO CITY 20].
HURT regrouped during the break and refocused on the task at hand and that was rewarded nine minutes after halftime when Marshall Brown crashed through the Alamo City line to score. Thompson converted to bring the lead back to a point [HURT 19 – ALAMI CITY 20]. Five minutes later Brown crossed for his second try taking advantage of sustained pressure on the Alamo City line by the HURT forward pack’s relentless pick and go. With the defense compressed quick hands got the job done. Another conversion from Thompson and the lead had changed hands [HURT 26 – AC 20].
With “blood in the water” and fresh legs coming on from the sideline HURT picked up steam as the surface of the field turned into a dust bowl. Sixty five minutes in Thompson took a short ball near the Alamo City line and barged over to score HURT’s fifth try of the day [HURT 31 – ALAMO CITY 20]. HURT’s forwards were rolling now and through great handling and rucking the line opened again for Brown’s third try of the day! Rafael Casas slotted the extras and HURT could see the finish line [HURT 38 – ALAMO CITY 20]. The last ten minutes was a brutal slog in the dust with Alamo City scoring a consolation try in the final minutes. The referee blew the final whistle and HURT had recovered from the eight point half time deficit to finish victors [HURT 38 – ALAMO CITY 25].
Overall a great guts effort from all involved, we still have lots to work on but there were plenty of positives to draw on! Next game against Oklahoma City in two weeks should be awesome!
– Coach Dan Green
TRIES: Marshall Brown (3), Echezbal, Chip Price, Scott Thomposon
CONVERSIONS: Scott Thompson (3), Rafael Casas
HURT #23 vs Alamo City
[Linnett, Schnacke, Price, Oliver, Lopez, Henderson, Echezabal, Lavergne, Jurney, Thompson, Elahmad, C.Brown, Hermann, Blocker, Gibson, Casas, M.Brown, Rodriquez, Acosta, Nada, Percival, Stiers, Galbraith]