DARC Upsets OKC: 37 - 34, Cookie Retires
It was a great day for DARC rugby. One of the most challenging matches we've had, but the team was able to come back from an early deficit and win in injury time!
OKC scored very early but bounced the conversion off the post (which happened twice in the game) and then the going got tough for both teams, with DARC finally able to score a try deep into the first half, but OKC came right back with by using their back to exploit a gap in DARC's coverage. Too many players were committed into a ruck on the far side and didn't cover deep as OKC took the ball wide.
OKC again scored right away at the beginning of the half but then DARC fired up and got things work with lots of support and bangers, and good service to our backs let them run against the OKC back line. With that an great drives by the forwards, DARC gained three tries and one conversion.
But the game was by no means over. The Crusader's tall kicking center surprised everyone with a drop goal from about 35 - 40 m out. That motivated them and their backs game on hard with tries from that kicker and "Legs", between the posts - one coming from a simple overload and good passes, the other from speed and DARC's lack of good tackling as their backs ran it in together from midfield.
DARC summoned up the dregs of their reserve energy building on the fitness of the young team and came back with another try (unconverted). [I can't remember if this was Rashaad's run after a pass from Mark, or Kenny's powering in]. Score: DARC 32 - OKC 34 in injury time.
DARC advanced the ball hard, and it came down to hard driving fast rucks and bangers on the near side, which caught OKC offsides repeatedly, eventually with a penalty on the 5 meter line. DARC was excited because they could see victory was in sight, though we weren't there yet. There were screams of "Points! Points!" from off-field and on. But I think several players weren't sure of the exact score, and our kicking had an off day. So DARC took the ball in hand for the penalty....and scored it!
DARC wins: 37 - 34 in what was the single best day of rugby that I've seen the team play in quite a while.
(Having said that: as a team, the tackling was atrocious - it wasn't even tackling in large part - something that must be worked on).
Tries by: Timmy (2), Rashaad, Kenny, Cardell, and Mark (I believe - memory's going).
Cookie, you should give us another write up, especially now that you're "retired".
The Referee's Report.
There is still a mathematically possibility that we might make the playoffs, depending on OKC's game against Denton, so keep your boots clean. Come on, Denton!
DARC was 7-4 in league play this year with 32 league points (5 of which were bonus point). 209 Points For, 227 Points Against. For the year, our record was 17-6, a big increase from last year's .500 ball. It's gotta be the fitness.
Cookie Retires
Veteran DARC player, one of DARC's very first recruits after the merger of Our Gang and the Blues, and long-time Match Secretary Dan "Cookie" Cook, is retiring (potential playoff game excepted). He's played lock, flanker, even fly-half and been a core member of the club, both on the pitch and off. Congratulations to Cook and a great career with DARC.
Of course, Mrs. Cook is very happy.
But we don't think of it as losing a starter, we think of it as gaining an Old Boy! And after the old boys and extras second side game last week against alliance, that Old Boy team is beginning to look very good! They should come around more often.
OKC scored very early but bounced the conversion off the post (which happened twice in the game) and then the going got tough for both teams, with DARC finally able to score a try deep into the first half, but OKC came right back with by using their back to exploit a gap in DARC's coverage. Too many players were committed into a ruck on the far side and didn't cover deep as OKC took the ball wide.
OKC again scored right away at the beginning of the half but then DARC fired up and got things work with lots of support and bangers, and good service to our backs let them run against the OKC back line. With that an great drives by the forwards, DARC gained three tries and one conversion.
But the game was by no means over. The Crusader's tall kicking center surprised everyone with a drop goal from about 35 - 40 m out. That motivated them and their backs game on hard with tries from that kicker and "Legs", between the posts - one coming from a simple overload and good passes, the other from speed and DARC's lack of good tackling as their backs ran it in together from midfield.
DARC summoned up the dregs of their reserve energy building on the fitness of the young team and came back with another try (unconverted). [I can't remember if this was Rashaad's run after a pass from Mark, or Kenny's powering in]. Score: DARC 32 - OKC 34 in injury time.
DARC advanced the ball hard, and it came down to hard driving fast rucks and bangers on the near side, which caught OKC offsides repeatedly, eventually with a penalty on the 5 meter line. DARC was excited because they could see victory was in sight, though we weren't there yet. There were screams of "Points! Points!" from off-field and on. But I think several players weren't sure of the exact score, and our kicking had an off day. So DARC took the ball in hand for the penalty....and scored it!
DARC wins: 37 - 34 in what was the single best day of rugby that I've seen the team play in quite a while.
(Having said that: as a team, the tackling was atrocious - it wasn't even tackling in large part - something that must be worked on).
Tries by: Timmy (2), Rashaad, Kenny, Cardell, and Mark (I believe - memory's going).
Cookie, you should give us another write up, especially now that you're "retired".
The Referee's Report.
There is still a mathematically possibility that we might make the playoffs, depending on OKC's game against Denton, so keep your boots clean. Come on, Denton!
DARC was 7-4 in league play this year with 32 league points (5 of which were bonus point). 209 Points For, 227 Points Against. For the year, our record was 17-6, a big increase from last year's .500 ball. It's gotta be the fitness.
Cookie Retires
Veteran DARC player, one of DARC's very first recruits after the merger of Our Gang and the Blues, and long-time Match Secretary Dan "Cookie" Cook, is retiring (potential playoff game excepted). He's played lock, flanker, even fly-half and been a core member of the club, both on the pitch and off. Congratulations to Cook and a great career with DARC.
Of course, Mrs. Cook is very happy.
But we don't think of it as losing a starter, we think of it as gaining an Old Boy! And after the old boys and extras second side game last week against alliance, that Old Boy team is beginning to look very good! They should come around more often.
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