QUEEN CITY VS HARLEQUINS MATCH REPORT - 10/29/16

Another beautiful day in the Rockies. It was hard to believe that it was Halloween weekend and the temperatures were still in the 70s. The match was at Cook Park. The field was a natural grass pitch with patches of bare from the Lacrosse teams playing there. It was turning out to be a full day of rugby. The Queen City Old Boys were out in force to dust off the boots and have a run around the paddock. The OB match was the first on the day. Unfortunately, the D4 match was cancelled and forfeited by the Harlequins due to a lack of numbers. The matches were the last of the fall season and the men in Orange and Black were fired and ready to finish the season on a high note. There were plenty of supporters on the sidelines cheering on City. There were more Queen Citizens than there were of the home team Harlequins.

As was stated previously, the Old Boys match was the first to kick off. The men in White established their dominance right from the start. The Old Boys led by Anthony Rodgers came away with a 31 – 19 victory putting up five tries with three conversions by Prop Nick Opp. The “old fellas” showed that they still had some game playing smart basic rugby. Three Cheers!!!

City received the opening kick-off and immediately went on the attack. Working the game plan to perfection put the men in Blue and Red under tremendous pressure. Jittery hands and literally a bad ball kept the men in Orange and Black at bay. City enjoyed territorial and possession superiority throughout the first several minutes; but, just could not put in the finishing touch. A knock-on resulted in a scrum with the Quins with the feed. The Quins put in a clearing kick that did not find touch. City counterattack with Fullback Mark McPhee leading the charge. Referee John Kenney deemed the Quins to have side-joined in a ruck. A quick tap was taken; but, the hands abandon City and resulting in a knock-on. To make matters worse, Flyhalf Scott Trench was injured in the process. Once again from a Quins scrum, a clearing kick was hoisted. A good counterattack and after the third attacking phase saw Referee Kenney whistle the men in Blue and Red for not releasing the tackled player. The penalty kick was place into touch. A Crusader was the call. The ball was placed in the hands of Flanker Hayden Kinnear who proceeded to take the pill to the house as he powered his way over the line for the last couple of meters. The conversion sailed wide but, City had the lead for which it would not relinquished at 5 – 0 at the 9 and half minute mark of the match.

The next several minutes saw the Quins on the front foot for the very few times that the ventured into City’s territory. Solid defense kept the men in Blue and Red behind the gain line and underfoot. The Quins never sniffed the try line throughout the match.

City was called for a high tackle by Referee Kenney. The ball was placed into touch; however, Lock Forward Adam Kuhl demonstrated his dominance in the lineouts and stole the throw. City was trundled into touch as they attempted to mount an attack. The ensuing lineout was won by the Quins but was afforded dirty ball by Mr. Kuhl. The ensuing ruck saw the Orange and Black surge forward with a good counter ruck and poach. The ball was cleared down field; but, City was deemed to side join the ruck and cleared. Once again, the Quins saw dirty ball at the hands of Adam resulting in a knock-on and a scrum. The scrum was well heeled and the ball was kick well down the field. Mr. Kenney penalized the men in Blue and Red for holding on in the tackle. The pill was placed into touch and a Crusader was once again called. The play was ran and placed into the hands of a hard charging flanker Gabe Buzinski. The ball was recycled and swung back weak to the anxiously waiting forwards who attacked the tram line. The forwards working well together offloaded to each other several times before being tackled. The ball was then once again swung to the open side to a waiting No. 8 Bryan Gustafson who made a strong break. As the last defender was about to tackle Mr. Gustafson, an alert Outside Center Steve “Frosty” Morrison ran off the hip of Bryan to burst through the last line of defense to dot down for the 5-pointer. Fullback McPhee split the uprights for the extras and City extending their lead to 12 – 0 at the 33rd minute mark of the first half.

The ensuing kick-off saw Captain and Hooker Dan Herr go on a rumble. Taking the ball behind his own 40-meter line Dan trundled his way to the opposition 40-meter line bumping off would be tacklers. Offloading to a quick Flyhalf Ryan Clemons who raced the final 40-meters to score under the post. Mr. McPhee was once again true on his conversion kick to bring the score line to 19 – 0 at the 35th minute mark.

City was not done for the half. The ensuing kick-off was slightly mishandled; but recovered well by Lock Kuhl. Mr. Kuhl fought his way up the paddock for 20-meters. After three phases of recycled ball, the ball was placed into touch by Flyhalf Clemons. The throw was deemed not straight by Referee Kenney and another lineout was called upon by Captain Herr. Another Crusader was called upon as well. The ball was well recycled by the Orange and Black forwards into the hands of Flyhalf Clemons. A perfectly timed chip-over took an advantageous bounce for Mr. Clemons who out-raced the opposition to dot down for his second try in under three minutes. The conversion sailed wide as City closed out the scoring for the first half at 24 – 0.

The second half started much as the first half did. The men in Orange and Black dominating in territory and possession. Putting undue pressure both offensively and defensively kept the Quins burying deep in their own territory. Referee Kenney whistled City for a ruck infraction. The ball was cleared to touch relieving some of the pressure. The lineout was won by the Quins and kicked down the field but not into touch. The retrieving kick found space and bounced into touch. The Quins tried a quick throw; but alertly City stole the lineout. After two good phases, a “Mayday” was attempted; but, the kick was mishandled into touch by the Quins. A different lineout play was attempted; seeing Replacement Scrumhalf Ryan Orlowski trying to power his way over the line through the middle of the lineout; but, to no avail. The City forwards then went into their “power” game. Four phases saw Prop Joe Kuka held up in-goal even though from our advantage point it appeared that he truly properly grounded the ball. From the ensuing scrum, Gorilla was the call. The ball was well heeled and Mr. Orlowski was not going to be denied in this sortie to the line. Flyhalf Clemons added the 2-point conversion and City up their lead to 31 – 0 at the 49th minute mark of the match.

Keeping constant pressure on the men in Blue and Red, the men in Orange and Black sent wave after wave at the Quins. From a scrum, “Julian” was called. The attack towards the line was stopped short and City was whistled for holding on in the tackle. Continuous dirty ball in the lineouts from Mr. Kuhl kept the Quins pinned deep and saw another lineout deep in the attacking zone. A “Cadillac” was signaled; but, an attempted sack saw dirty ball for the City forwards. Cleaning up nicely the ball was spun wide; but, into touch. The lineout was once again not clean for the Quins and the clearing kick did not find touch. Winger Ayub Kouri counterattack to Flyhalf Clemons who then found his forwards. Two phases later the ball came back out to Mr. Clemons who spotted Hooker Dan Herr lurking on the wing. Making two defenders miss, Captain Herr found pay dirt. Flyhalf Clemons split the uprights to tick the scoreboard over to 38 – 0 at the 58th minute mark.

The kick-off was handled well and a deep clearing kick was well placed; but, did not find touch. The Quins counterattacked; but, was whistled for a ruck infraction by Referee Kenney. The ball was placed into touch and the ensuing lineout saw a mishandled ball; but, recovered by Flanker Buzinski. Quins were able to “jackal” the ensuing ruck; but, was whistled for accidental obstruction by Referee Kenney. Gorilla was called upon by Captain Herr in the following scrum. A well-heeled ball was picked up by No. 8 Bryan Gustafson and passed on to Scrumhalf Orlowski who went in untouched for his second 5-pointer. Flyhalf Clemons added the extras and the lead was extended to 45 – 0 at the 63rd minute mark of the match.

The ensuing kick-off was handled well and the rucking forwards handed the ball to a hard charging Hooker Dan Herr who recycled the ball to Flyhalf Clemons who continued to place the clearing kick deep into Quins territory. Once again Mr. Kuhl spoiled the lineout and the ball was handled well by the City backs who won the ensuing ruck on the wing. The ball was spun back to the other side of the field. The pill ended in the hands of Hooker Dan Herr who drew the last defender and pass the ball to replacement Winger Derek Ruel. Mr. Ruel not to be denied crossed the line to put the final points on the board as the conversion sailed wide. The score line was now at 50 – 0 in the waning minutes of the match.

The men in Orange and Black were hungry for more and continued the attack at the Quins line. A couple of silly penalties at the end kept City at bay until Referee Kenney ended the onslaught early at the 76th minute mark of the match. The final 50 – 0 to complete the shut out for the final league match for the fall session of the 2016 – 2017 season

Great day over all. Two good wins in the D3 and OB matches and a third win if you include the forfeit in the D4 match. A great team win for the D3 squad. The forwards had a great day in open play and lineouts especially the tight five. Thanks to all the City OB/supporters who cheered on the Orange and Black in the D3 match. Derek Ruel received the Back Player of the Match, Joe Kuka carried away the Forward Player of the Match, and Captain Dan Herr earned the overall Man of the Match. A great way to end the fall session. Keep fit, stay in the gym, and be ready to come out in the spring to win out. Have a great off-season and see you in the spring.

Coach