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The Mauling Continues- Old Boys 32, UTRFC 22
April 26, 2003 - Using a great physical advantage and tremendous possession skills, the Old Boys hammered out another well earned victory by the score of 32-22. The UTRFC B couldn't make it three wins in a row as the Old Boys B side came prepared sporting their brand new jerseys, drilling the young bucks 36-0. B side- UTRFC B side featured mostly first year players with some as little as three weeks experience in rugby. This year's format featured four 20-minute periods that saw UTRFC place 25 players on the field to take on the more experienced and "expansive" old boys. The old boys experience immediately began to show as they methodically worked the ball down field using strong inside runs and rolling mauls. After a low scoring first two periods the old boys poured it on in the final two winning in a land slide 36-0. Old Boys scoring tries included Phil Hopson, Scott Sandman, Andy Wiske. Todd Van Dyke capped the scoring with an improbable drop goal as time expired. Univ of Tennessee B 0 A-Side- The Young Bucks hope this would be the year with many Old Boys unavailable due to an increasingly busy spring schedule with senior club playoffs, super league matches, and high school coaching duties. However, the Old Boys were prepared, putting 13 forwards and 2 backs on the field for what turned out to be the hardest hitting contest ever played at Fulton Bottoms. Neither side backed down and the battle was on. The Young Bucks opened the scoring with Mike Scoutten slotting a well struck penalty kick just minutes into the contest. The Old Boys answered with one of their own as Chris Mott, one of the two backs participating for the Old Boys, evened the score at 3-3. The Old Boys then used their massive size and mauling ability to crash over the line for a try as Kevin Trussell gets the touch down. Mott converts and the Old boys lead 10-3. The Young Bucks answered with a controversial try of their own when Jesse Troxler broke free up the center of the Old Boy defense and sprinted 20 meters for a try under the post. The Old boys seemed content to complain about a mythical knock on as opposed to making tackles allowing Troxler to breach the defense. Once in the open field, none of the well girthed Old Boys could track him down. Scoutten converted and the score was knotted again at 10-10. Just before half, the Young Bucks finally got a combination of good possession and field position and exploited the outside of the Old Boy defense as Sam Cullis touched down the try and the Young Bucks held a slim 15-10 advantage at the break. For the second year in a row, pucker factor was high at the half for the Old Boys. The Old Boys began the second stanza much the way the started the first, with hard charging forward play and backs intent on giving it back to the bigger guys on the inside. The UT defense finally relented as Old Boy Scott Adcox crashed across for the try and the Old Boys pulled even 15-15. The physical play began to take its toll on the young bucks and the relentless Old Boy attack continued to pound it down the field three yards at a time. Mott slotted another penalty goal and then, much to the amazement of the 100s in attendance, wing Adam Ingle got loose on the outside and showed some nice pace outrunning everyone to the try zone for the touch down. Mott converts and the Old Boys are up 25-15. A late charge by the Young Bucks produced a fierce final 15 minutes as the stubborn Old Boy defense time and again turned the Young Bucks away. Finally, UT was rewarded after Mike Scoutten's high ball was misplayed by a stunned Old Boy perimeter defense. Jason Gruner gathered the loose ball and dove across the line for the 5 pointer. Scoutten converted and Old Boys lead shrank to 25-22. The Old Boys stretched the lead after Rob Halcomb slipped through a tired UT defense for the try. Mott converted and the Old Boy controlled the match at 32-22. Univ of Tennessee A 22
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