ARC NEWS 1-7 Jul 2008

MY APOLOGIES

I have been remiss on the “ARC This Week” for the last week and a half and my only excuse is I have been swamped. That said, let's get caught up!

ARC FEST

21 June, KYA Fields, and all was well. The club had a great day of rugby recruitment and the results are already showing in new faces around the club. Over the last week and a half we have 3 new high school players coming out to practice and 4 new U-13 players. And the best part is the majority of the summer season is still before us so the new players will get an opportunity to play some great rugby over the summer. KEEP RECRUITING!

21 JUNE MEN'S MATCH

On the same day we had ARC Fest, the ARC men's 7's side traveled to Austin to play in the annual Austin Blood Fest (blood drive, no reflection on injuries!). Though I don't have the individual game scores I do have the final results, and that is Alliance took #2 in the tournament, right behind the tournament hosts, the Austin Elite Black. And the entire tournament's “Man-o-the-Match” was none other than the ARC's own Zach Mizell! Way to go Zach!

As a result, the ARC men's side is #5 in the Texas/Oklahoma/Louisiana summer 7's league competition (TOLA) and just a few points behind the league leaders, you guessed it, the Austin Elites. Keep in mind, that is without attending 2 of the 4 tournaments conducted so far. But read on patient reader, to get even better news re. the ARC's arch nemesis, the dreaded Austin Elites.

LAST WEEK'S GAMES

Saturday 28

Men's Side

The ARC men's 7's side saddled up and rode off to the Western regional playoffs at the Lake Highlands Park rugby pitches in Dallas. As a new and incredibly young side, the boys had their work cut out for them but there was much expectation from both the side and their opponents since the ARC men's 7's had been making a name for them selves all month and were the talk of the circuit.

Well, to say the boys had a good start would be an understatement. How about an ARC-33, Dallas-0, old time blowout. The score pretty much says it all. Scoring for the ARC: Skylar Albritton-10, Eric Irwin-4, Zach Mizell-2, James Ritenour-7, Joey Talley-10.

The ARC's next opponent was perennial powerhouse, the Denver Barbarians, and the Barbos weren't out to take any prisoners. It was a wakeup call for the Black Knights. Final score: Denver-31, ARC-7. Scoring for the ARC: Skylar Albritton-5, Eric Irwin-2.

I have to make a short editorial comment at this point. A person's true strength of character is never determined when things are easy but rather when they are difficult and times look bleak. Let there be no mistake, a 31-7 whoopin is bleak. And it was time to see what the boys were made of-do they roll over or do they fight back. They came roaring back. The next match was against the Austin Elite Blacks, Texas favorites and 2 time defeater of the 2008 ARC men's 7's side. It would have been easy for the ARC players to just approach the match as a rematch of a certain defeat but they came out after the Elites. When the dust finally settled, the ARC had left their mark right on the forehead of Austin. Final score: ARC-26, Austin-21. Scoring for the ARC: Skylar Albritton-10, Curtis Chaffin-5, Eric Irwin-2, Zach Mizell-4, Joey Talley-5. Without a doubt, the high point for the ARC in this tournament.

The next match was going to be every bit as tough as the Denver match with the ARC facing Glendale, who had been favored to win the tournament at one point. The game was a tough one but the boys came up on the short end of it: Glendale-22, ARC-12. Scoring for the ARC: Skylar Albritton-5, Zach Mizell-7.

Final match of the tournament was for 3^rd place and pitted the Black Knights against the Dallas Harlequins, a tough match at any time but particularly tough at the end of a long, hot, and hard fought day. It was a solid run against the Quins but we came up a little short. Final score: Harlequins-14, the ARC-12. Scoring for the ARC: Eric Irwin-7, Joey Talley-5.

The ARC men's side took away a lot from this tournament, not least of all the experience of playing at a national level. There is, of course, much work to do, but the boys are young and have unlimited potential in front of them. I did hear it rumored a bit more work on tackling might be in order as it was perhaps the difference in a couple of matches (hint, hint). Anyway, fantastic job boys, keep up the good work, and the entire ARC is behind you and cheering!

Varsity Side

We had 8 of the boys travel down to Katy, TX for the Katy Midnight Tournament (which actually was over by about 10 PM). We were a little light in numbers (7 total) and so borrowed a couple of players here and there as we played. The first game was classic ARC varsity rugby against the Westside. The game started out with a bang and just never quit. At 2', Paul Poyser ran it in for the try and Tim Rood put in the conversion: ARC-7, Westside-0. 2 minutes later, Zach Schweitzer punched it through for the try with Tim Rood again with the conversion. Right at the end of the half, Paul Poyser sprints another try in. Score at the half: ARC-19, Westside-0. The second half was nearly a repeat of the first half. At the 5' point, a penalty try was awarded to Alliance and Tim Rood made the conversion. And again at the end of the half/game, Paul Poyser drove it in for the try and Tim Rood made the conversion. Final score: ARC-33, Westside-0.

But that was going to be the end of the ARC rolling over opponents in that tournament. The second match was against a very talented Rockwall side (you may remember them for giving us a run for our money right down to the last second of the championship game in Dallas a few weeks ago at the Lone Star Tournament) and unfortunately, we came up on the short end of the score: Rockwall-12, ARC-10. Scoring for the ARC: Jake Mizell-5, Tyler von Woodlands-5.

Our final match was against host (and state championship 15's opponent) Katy and they proceeded to put it on us. Not much to say except the final score: Katy-29, ARC-0. We just seemed to run out of steam. “Man-o-the-Match” for Alliance was Jake Mizell who relentlessly pounded on the opposition, a “Jake forte”. Great job Jake!

But that wasn't the end of the trip. After spending the night at TYRA president Rick Marshall's house, players, coaches, and parents headed off for the Guadalupe river for a great time floating down the river. I think we have established an annual ritual for the ARC youth sides.

Youth Side

3 of our stalwart U-13's, Ryan Parker, Brandon Poyser, and Chop Wayman, traveled with the varsity side down to the Katy tournament. Since we didn't have enough for a full side, the boys joined up with Katy players to play 3 tremendous matches of rugby.

In the first match, the ARC's Brandon Poyser scored 5' into the second half. Because of numbers, our boys were split on 2 separate teams and at one point, Ryan and Chop were facing off against each other in the scrum. In the second match, Brandon Poyser again scored 3' into the first half. And finally, in the 3^rd match, Brandon once again scored 5' into the first half.

The tournament organizer's awarded a “Man-of-the-Match” trophy to the top U-13 player, from all sides, at the end of the tournament and it went to none other than the ARC's very own Brandon Poyser! Way to go Brandon. But Brandon wasn't done yet. He jumped in to play on the Katy U-15 side where he once again played some tremendous rugby. An indication of the impression Brandon made was the offer by the Katy coach to move Brandon down to Katy to play for them. :) Needless to say, he's staying home with the ARC.

And the ARC awarded our own “Man-o-the-Match” to Ryan Parker! Ryan had a couple of great runs and was always at the center of things, defensively and offensively. Great job Ryan and great job all 3 of you boys. And after a night “camping out” at TYRA president Rick Marshall's house, the boys went tubing with the varsity on our way home.

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

None. Everyone have a great 4^th of July weekend!

WELCOME NEW PLAYERS!

Want to welcome 2 new players to the varsity side, Steven Davidson and Aaron Hayes, both from Northwest High School. The guys have been out to a couple of practices and doing great. If you haven't already met them be sure to stick your paw out and welcome them to the ARC.

ODDS & ENDS

None.

WEEKLY MOTIVATION

“There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of
you.”
Woody Hayes / Ohio State