Press Release: USA Rugby South Panthers Drop First Game To Missouri Select

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By David Conyers

The recently selected emerging south rugby squad traveled to Brighton Tennessee Saturday to play host to the visiting Missouri selects. The south although matching the bears with 4 try’s each failed at the final hurdle to secure a victory, losing 25-32 to a well-organized and experienced Missouri team.

The south got away to a strong start with good field position and plenty of early possession to post the first points through a penalty to lead 3-0

Missouri responded five minutes later, also through a penalty goal to level the score at 3-3. The first try was awarded to the south after some good interchange passing that led to the first five pointer of the game, south up 10-3 following the conversion. A try late in the half narrowed the lead to 10-8 at the break.

The south were starting to feel the effects of an understaffed bench and a two hour preparation session earlier that day began to struggle with possession due to a dominant Missouri scrum and better ball retention in open play. The bears opened up the second stanza with an unconverted try to take the lead for the first time 13-10.

South then turned in an amazing passage of play in the space of five minutes to run in two try’s a conversion and penalty five minutes later to lead 25-13 after 60 minutes of play. That was to be the end of the south assault as the bench dried up and Missouri, who had adjusted well all day to the south style of play ground their way back with two long range scores of their own to square the match up with eight minutes of play remaining.

The south were now out on their feet, were unable to stave off the last Missouri raid that netted a try under the posts and a final score to the bears 32-25.

The south performed well in patches, but were let down by a mounting penalty count against them and a scrum that failed to hold the strong opposing pack. The level of fitness of the players was also of concern to the coaches.

The South pre-selects, and a number of members from the emerging squad will contest the Paddy’s day rugby tournament in coastal Savannah Georgia early next month.

More information on USA Rugby South teams check out: The recently selected emerging south rugby squad traveled to Brighton Tennessee Saturday to play host to the visiting Missouri selects. The south although matching the bears with 4 try’s each failed at the final hurdle to secure a victory, losing 25-32 to a well-organized and experienced Missouri team.

The south got away to a strong start with good field position and plenty of early possession to post the first points through a penalty to lead 3-0

Missouri responded five minutes later, also through a penalty goal to level the score at 3-3. The first try was awarded to the south after some good interchange passing that led to the first five pointer of the game, south up 10-3 following the conversion. A try late in the half narrowed the lead to 10-8 at the break.

The south were starting to feel the effects of an understaffed bench and a two hour preparation session earlier that day began to struggle with possession due to a dominant Missouri scrum and better ball retention in open play. The bears opened up the second stanza with an unconverted try to take the lead for the first time 13-10.

South then turned in an amazing passage of play in the space of five minutes to run in two try’s a conversion and penalty five minutes later to lead 25-13 after 60 minutes of play. That was to be the end of the south assault as the bench dried up and Missouri, who had adjusted well all day to the south style of play ground their way back with two long range scores of their own to square the match up with eight minutes of play remaining.

The south were now out on their feet, were unable to stave off the last Missouri raid that netted a try under the posts and a final score to the bears 32-25.

The south performed well in patches, but were let down by a mounting penalty count against them and a scrum that failed to hold the strong opposing pack. The level of fitness of the players was also of concern to the coaches.

The South pre-selects, and a number of members from the emerging squad will contest the Paddy’s day rugby tournament in coastal Savannah Georgia early next month.

 

More information on the USA Rugby South squad can be found at http://www.usarugbysouthpanthers.com/

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