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Columbus, GA -- Saturday July 18, 2009. by Michael Aaron.
OW1
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Little Rock 12-0 W
LIFE 19-0 W
Semi-Daytona 22-12 W
Final-LIFE 31-7 W
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OW2
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Daytona 0-40 L
New Orleans 0-29 L
Bowl-LR 0-17 L
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Atlanta Old White Rugby (AOWRFC) wins the 2009 USA Rugby 7s South Championship on Saturday, July 18 and earns a 5th seed in the Nationals. AOWRFC sent two sides to compete in the South Championship against Little Rock (LR), New Orleans (NO), Daytona, and Life creating a six team tournament:
Pool A -- OW1, LR, Life
Pool B -- OW2, NO, Daytona
Despite a rough start in pool play against Little Rock where OW1 turned the ball over 11 times with only 4 for LR, and where Prop Charlie McFeaters received a yellow card and sin bin at minute 8, OW1 still won their first match 12-0. Tries (1) Doyle, (1) Kanda; Conv (1) Luke W.
OW1 faced Life in their second match and this time they were fired up after their poor showing in their first match. They handily defeated Life 19-0 with solid defense and an even turnover ratio. Tries (2) Mango aka. King of Kenya, (1) Kanda, Conv (2) Luke W.
With two wins in Pool A OW1 would face Daytona in the first Semifinal match. In Pool B OW2 had a rougher day and despite having only a handful of players who had played together in 7s this summer, they put up a strong effort vs Daytona (2008 7s South Champs) and New Orleans (Runner up to Old White in the 2009 Birmingham Vulcan 7s). OW2 at 0-2 after pool play would go on to the bowl consolation match vs. Little Rock who also went 0-2 in their pool. In their final match OW2 put together a valiant effort in the first half driving the ball 90 meters for about 3 minutes of play using rucks and mauls all the way down the field 15s style to be stopped 2 meters from a try by a not releasing penalty. “We were not really 7s players, so we decided to use our strengths and run the ball, clear out our rucks, off load out of the tackle, and punish Little Rock with our size,” said OW2 captain Eric Degree after the match. OW2 played hard all day but came up short in game three falling 0-17. Playing his first official rugby for Old White Tio Tongamoa, received Man of Match for OW2, for his superior skills at Prop and punishing every would be first tackler and planting the opponent on the ground.
With the stage set for the Semi-Finals OW1 vs Daytona and Life vs NO the rest of the afternoon in Columbus was beginning to heat up. In the first minute of the match vs Daytona, Charlie McFeaters dove and missed a try-saving tackle putting Daytona up 7 nothing. Upset and Furious, McFeaters walked off the pitch, “Take me to the Hospital. Take me to the Hospital now!” He had dislocated his finger and the bone (completely intact) was sticky out of his hand. Charlie had brought tenacity to the pitch and would be out for the rest of the day, subbing in for him would be reserve Prop Salesi Tongamoa. Before the close of the half Dave Wagura would find the try to put Old White at 5-7. With the championship on the line, the players stepped it up. Daytona had committed no penalties or had any turnovers in the first half. In the second half Old White was on mission to put the pressure on Daytona, creating 3 turnovers in the second half all resulting in tries! Dave Wagura had a hat trick for the match securing OW1 in the finals as they beat Daytona 22-12. Tries (3) Wagura, (1) Mango, Conv (1) Luke W.
Life defeated NO handily 28-0 so regardless of the outcome of the Finals, Life and Old White would be sending their teams to represent the South in the USA Rugby Men’s Club 7s National Championship. For Nationals it was a question of which seed would each team take, the winner would be 5th seed in the Nation and runner up 16th seed. However for a players it was a question of who had more in the tank at 4PM after 3 rugby matches, who was the best 7s rugby team in the South, who wanted to win a Champion, and who wanted to play stronger, faster, smarter, more intense rugby. In the huddle before kickoff, Chris Kombo spoke, “This is what we want, we want to go to Nationals, we want that 5th seed, we want to make a statement, we don’t just want to win, we want to show the South we mean business, and we don’t stop this game. Let’s win this, Ahoo on 3, Old White on 3…2,3, AHOO, 2, 3, OLD WHITE!”
Old White meant business and from the opening kickoff they clean up Life, forcing 4 turnovers and scoring 3 tries back to back in the first half up 17-0. “I don’t care what the score is lets beat these guys again this half,” blasted Kombo at half time. Captain Luke Waikamakama commanded, “We play good defense, make our subs at right time, score trys, we win this. We are going to Nationals okay. Good!” As they took the field in the second half, they played some tough, physical, smart rugby; they played like old white and won their South Championship! Tries (2) Kanda, (1) Kombo, (1) Omondi (1) Luke W. Conv. (1) Kanda, (2) Luke W.
On a special note, Ronn Omondi receives the IRON MAN award for the only member from the Old White Club (OW1 and OW2) to play every single minute of every match in the South Championship. Kanda led OW1 with 22 points on the day followed by Luke Waikamakama with 17. Man of the Match for OW1 goes to Dave Wagura for exceptional team play at Center, his tenacity on defense, and for 15 points on the day all coming in the Semi-Final Match vs Daytona as 3 tries and a hat-trick to propel OW1 to the finals.
Atlanta Old White Rugby Club won a South Championship. Even though we had two sides competing we traveled as one club, played as one club, and all share the victory as one club. “I was more tired scrimmaging our second side during practice this week then playing any team in this tournament,” said Salesi Tongamoa after the tournament. Even though on paper, OW1 finished 1st out of 6 and OW2 6th out of 6 teams, it does not lead credit to the high caliber 7s players on the second side. The least that can be said is that having a second side for Old White, elevated training in the weeks leading up to the South Championship and helped Atlanta Old White RFC win the 2009 7s South Championship.
Old White Advances to Nationals on Saturday Aug 15-16. For more details on AOWRFC travel, accommodations and match schedule click the link here.
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