Saturday October 25, 2003

Game summary by: Coach Mark Williams

Nashville 23
Atlanta Renegades 16

Referee: David Haines, At Metro-Center

As promised it was a different game from last week's runaway victory. The Renegades had traveled much stronger and were looking to avenge Nashville's victorious road win in Atlanta this last spring. Nashville came out flat and lacked last weeks zeal throughout the ranks. There were several players missing which shuffled the line-up, but last weeks intensity level is what was missing most of all. Part of the problem may have been confusion with the start time as the 1:30 kick-off was moved up llimiting the pre-game preparation time?

Nashville opened the game with that typical Metro-center wind to our backs, but it was the Renegades that should have scored first as several suspect tackles allowed for three easy line breaks during the first twenty minutes. . Nashville continued to sputter offensively from problems at scrum time, handling errors or poor decisions which resulted in lost possession. Credit must be given to the Renegades who played good defensively and applied heavy pressure offensively with phases of play. At the 33rd minute Hodgen Mainda touched down the game's first try from a loose kick made from open play. Van Vuuren missed the conversion, but added another penalty kick before half-time making the score Nashville 11 - Renegades 0.

After re-grouping at halftime Nashville came out and played their best rugby on the day for the first fifteen minutes. Tackles were better and everyone hustled on both sides of the ball. We actually ran a few patterns and put together some phases. Pressure was rewarded as Marc Sullivan blocked a kick that Nashville gathered and resulted in a try by Evan Bone. The Renegades got on the board with a penalty kick a few minutes later. Nashville seized momentum and was on the attack until an ill-advised pass was picked off and the Renegades scored a converted try under the posts. It was new game now and this score looked to be the pivotal turning point in the game. Nashville tried to re-group but just could not find the team's usual rhythm so everything became hard work. With 12 minutes remaining The Gades added and penalty kick and with 10 minutes remaining they leveled the score at 16 with another penalty kick. Nashville kept their poise and three minutes later answered with a long range try that involved several players and found Evan Bone touching down his second on the day. Pieter made the conversion kick. The last seven minutes both teams battled hard and at one time it looked as though order was lost by the referee. Finally the whistle blew and Nashville was rewarded with a hard-fought victory.

1. Jay Harper / Josh Harris @ 70 minutes
2. Tom Forbes
3. Larry Roland
4. Graham McRedmond / Dwayne Brown @ half
5. Andy Johnson
6. Neal Fetterman / Josh Harris @ half / Killion Lawrence @ 70 minutes
7. Lyle "Sassy" Jones / Evan Bone @ half 2T
8. Dace Shuck ©
9. Don Mitchell
10. Marc Sullivan
11. Hodgen Mainda 1T / Chris Gower
12. Cayo Nicolau
13. Mark Miranda
14. Dave Osler
15. Pieter Van Vuuren 2PK, 1CK

Trainer: None Available

Nashville II 34
Renegade & MTSU 10

Referee: Tony Neely

The Renegades scored the first try, but the spirited Nashville team soon answered as rookie Greg touched down his first try ever and Chris Gower slotted the conversion. The Renegades added another unconverted try. Nashville answered as Lyle "Sassy" Jones broke through the line and set up Igor Ramoneda for his first try. Gower added the conversion giving Nashville a 14 - 10 halftime lead.

It was Nashville's sevens play which made the difference. Neal Fetterman set-up Igor for the next try. Old Boy Keith Burnett was justly rewarded with a try. The hard-working Neal Fetterman also scored a try after Franklin High School's Chris Forbes split a gap to help start the movement. Greg scored his second try and the games last try to seal the victory and cap off the Fall campaign.

1. Lyle "Sassy" Jones
2. Dave Osler
3. Joe Gerome
4. Dwayne Brown
5. Greg 2T
6. Neal Fetterman 1T
7. Keith Burnett 1T
8. Chris Gower 2 CK
9. Igor Ramoneda 2T
10. Chris Forbes
11. Charlie Martin

Saturday, October 18, 2003

Nashville 68
Atlanta Old White 0

Referee: Jerry McLemore, At Vanderbilt

It was a beautiful day for rugby on Saturday as Nashville played host to Atlanta Old White. Nashville dominated possession of the ball from the opening kick-off. Unofficial estimates are 75% in favor of Nashville for possession and time in opponents half. After a missed penalty shot early on
Nashville remained patient and persistent in attack applying heavy pressure on the visitors. From a lineout a well-worked forward movement was capped off with a backline attack that saw Hodgen Mainda touching down a try at the 10 minute mark. Chris Gower took-over kicking duties and proceeded to go 8 for 8 on conversion attempts until finally giving up the duties late in the game. Seven minutes later Lawrence Killion made a powerful run then offloaded to Adam Kibler who scored his first try of the day. Five minutes later Kibler scored another try after almost every player on the team touched the ball. Three minutes later Kibler made a line break which set-up a try by Chris Gower. Back Captain Mark Miranda was rewarded for some strong running with a try at the 32nd minute. Just before halftime two converted tries were added as Hodgen claimed his second try and Kibler tallied a hat trick with his third. Halftime score Nashville - 49 / Old White 0.

The pace slowed only slightly in the second half. Mark Miranda scored his second try and Chris Gower made his eighth conversion. Captain Dace Shuck's hard work paid off when he finished off a nice forward movement for a try. Hodgen added this conversion. Kibler scored the last try of the day as the game was called early in an agreement made at halftime so the reserves would all get a match.

1. Jay Harper
2. Tom Forbes
3. Paul Mamarelli / Josh Harris @ half
4. Graham McRedmond / Dwayne Brown @ half
5. Andy Johnson
6. Dace Shuck © 1T
7. Lyle "Sassy" Jones / Evan Bone @ half
8. Adam Kibler 4T
9. Don Mitchell
10. Marc Sullivan
11. Chris Gower 1T, 8CK
12. Cayo Nicolau
13. Mark Miranda 2T / Mike Gower @ 55 minutes
14. Lawrence Killion / Igor Ramoneda @ 55 minutes
15. Hodgen Mainda 2T, 1CK

Nashville II 33
Old White II 14

Referee: Jerry McLemore

The second game consisted of one 30 minute half. Nashville continued to dominate in the scoring department with three unanswered tries. Dwayne
Brown scored the first one after some solid forward work. Evan Bone score the second one and Dave Osler scored the third. Chris Gower converted all three kicks. Old White scored next after one of their backs made a nice run through some suspect tackles to score their first converted try on the day. The visitors played inspired rugby and added another converted try. Momentum had swung until Franklin High School Rugby standout Chris Forbes scored a try. Gower added the conversion making his daily total of 12 conversion kicks. Bad Man Josh Harris was finally rewarded for his share of big tackles and hard running when he scored the day's last try.

1. Brian / Mike Haverstick @ 22 minutes
2. Joe Gerome
3. Paul Mamarelli
4. Emilio Torres
5. Andy Johnson
6. Dwayne Brown 1T
7. Josh Harris
8. Evan Bone 1T
9. Dave Osler 1T
10. Pieter Van Vuuren
11. Greg
12. Chris Gower 1T, 4 CK
13. Mark Miranda / Marc Sullivan
14. Igor Ramoneda
15. Chris Forbes

Oct. 4th and 5th
Just wanted to thank all the players and supporters who traveled down to Huntsville for the Heart of Dixie Rugby Challenge. Turns out the challenge was trying to get any teams to play us. What was originally scheduled for a 3 game test for us turned into a sound drubbing of one motley side (63-3), countless scheduling issues with the tourney coordinators and a decent whipping of a handle of Beam, 4 pizzas and a few brewskies.

Disappointed with the failing tournament, the men in Gold settled in for an evening of relationship building, a fire-log rolling competition and an episode of Chris Gower Dance Party sponsored by Beam and Coke in a Can (see your local spirits provider).

Some highlights:
1. Joe Gerome, the most prepared camper in history (hand sanitizer, anyone?)
2. Getting reacquainted with Derek Wolfe's hot mama from 2002. (really, she's a momma).
3. The Nashville Women's team being accosted by the Clemson Crayons at the dance tent. Thanks for the support Jay.
4. Pinhead's struggle to fight off the naysayers when discussing how much fuel a fire actually needs. It's a long night. Let it burn.
5. That lame band and the Chattanooga RFC that kept interrupting the dance music to sing rugby songs and do zulus every 3 minutes just to stay naked. Oh, and they really like fireworks.
6. Our first loss of the season. Captain Shuck's "world's easiest tent" proved too powerful and outdueled our collective intellect and refused to be raised, forcing Pinhead and Dace to seek bedding in the front seats of the Buick. However, revenge was had with a nice lobbing in the morning fire. Ahh, I love the smell of burning canvas in the morning.
7. "Sassy" Jones and countless references to "The Crow", causing a brief "Fire It Up, Fire It Up" naked circling of the fire. Kind of Lord of the Flies-ish.
8. Ted the Dog falling for the Hooters Girl from Augusta, literally. She put him on his arse in the log roll competition, then sent him home to Gizmo with wet shorts and nary a kiss on the cheek before spending the rest of the night discussing philosophy with our Kiwi friend. Lost again. It's a sad, sad story.
9. Killion and the barking dog. Ask him to show you some time. Anyone got any fruit?
10. Igor's discovery that a French accent will only get you so far in Huntsville, AL. Hopefully Big O brought out the spoon in the tent.

Apologies to those who drove home and returned Sunday only to have to turn around and go home because all other teams were too drunk and scared to play us. I appreciate your dedication and commitment to rugby. It'll pay dividends in the spring as we make our run.

NRFC vs. Knoxville, Sept 20th - Away

We travelled with 22 up to Knoxville to play the possums. Despite some sloppy play and a bit of fatique in the unsuspected heat, we won 28-10. Big props to Jay and Brown for outstanding play as well as solid contributions by many others. Tries by Kibler, Miranda, Jay and Igor. Good contributions by NRFC newcomers Emilio Torres and Bret Parsons. Full match report from Stick to come.

We then played a 30 minute B side game, winning 12-5. Tries by Sully and Chris Forbes, a senior with Franklin High School RFC, who had solid play in the gold jersey. Special marks to Joe Germone for solid tackling and hooking in the scrums. DHaines said I was feeding but I don't believe it!