Old White A, 30 -- Renegades A, 18
Old White B, 13 -- Renegades B, 17
Atlanta -- Saturday, February 16th, 2008, Bo Marr
It was a day when everything was on the line. Playoff spots, final placement in the league standings, the Atlanta Cup, pride, and bragging rights. The two sides needed no other motivation to win as the rivalry could not be higher between these two teams. However, there was much more motivation: in the A-side match, if the Renegades were to win, they would rise to 2nd place in the league standings, host a home match for the South Crossover weekend, have the inside track to a home match for the Midwest Crossover Playoffs, and would send Old White to last place in the league standings. If Old White were to win, the Renegades would instead be sent reeling into last place, while Old White gained valuable momentum to make a grand playoff run. The B-sides were fighting for their playoff lives as well, not to mention all the new recruits that had just chosen one club or the other that were hoping their choice would be justified.
The A-side match started off with a flurry. Early in the match, after Bambinelli had sent a booming kick to touch, the Renegades threw in to the back of the tunnel where a hungry Hunter Clark was waiting. He timed his jump perfectly, stole the ball cleanly, tossed it to the scrumhalf Kombo who sent a laser pass out to the backline. The Renegades were caught off-guard by such a quick counterattack, and Luke Waikamakama was able to break through the line after a thread-the-needle pass by Richie Kanda. Luke broke for a 20 meter sprint deep inside Renegades territory and then, at the last minute, sent the ball back inside to the chasing Richie who, with no defenders left, set the ball down next to the posts for a converted try. Old White takes the lead early, 7 - 0.
After several back and forth possessions, solid defense, and a penalty laden 20 minutes, Old White ran the ball from inside their own territory. An unadvised Old White pass was intercepted by 13 of the Renegades just before the half who could not be caught for an unconverted try. Old White still up 7 - 5 at half.
The second half started out with Renegades holding almost all of the possesion due to good offense by the 'Gades and a few penalties and turnovers by Old White. The Renegades continued to try and make the game a forward's match and ran pick-and-goes all over the field. After extending the Old White defense far to one side of the field, they quickly sent the ball to the opposite side, where they found a 5 on 2 overlap. Old White's defense was worn thin by all the rucks, didn't slide fast enough, and the Renegades exploited the overlap to score the converted try and go up 12 - 7.
As had been done all season resulting in the best scoring differential of the division except Life, the Old White defense held strong most of the match not allowing another try to be scored. After a counterattack, Old White was awarded a penalty and Dave Winiarczyk sent the ball through the posts. Renegades up 12 - 10.
The Old White offense was in rare form on this day, after the forward pack of Bambi, Johnny 2k, Nikolai, Jim McNally, Wally, Hunter, Bo, Francesco, and Charlie gained possession of the ball later in the second half, the pack ran a successful hit-up or two, and sent the ball out wide, where the backline completed by Chad, Kevin Ndongi, Ron, and Marnus was again able to break the Renegades line, go the length of the field and set the ball in for the score. Old White up 15 - 12.
After the Renegades gained back possession, they ran a series of quick pops within the forward pack rolling down the field. They would maul at times, or try and break though with the backline. But the Old White defense held strong, and after a penalty, the Renegades acquiesced and went for 3 points. Tie game 15 - 15.
Old White then went on an offensive flurry. A kicking game started, where Old White twice brought back long runs, one Luke cut through a disarrayed renegades defense with the help of his backline, and once Chad brought back along run after the Renegades failed to puruse the kick. The pack helped out with long runs off of the scrum, several by the rookie 8-man, Charlie, and the best mauls of the season from lineouts. Another unconverted try and another penalty kick resulted in another 8 points, Old White up 23 - 15. After a mishandled kick, the Renegades were again on the attack, inside the Old White 5m line, but because of the successful penalty, they knew they needed 2 scores, and when faced with the stifling Old White defense, they chose to kick. Old White up 23 - 18.
Old white closed out the game with a beautiful series of phases from the pack. Luke, to Bo to Charlie to Jim McNally who finally dumped it off to a charging Johnny 2k who scored his first try with Old White, and closed the game out. Victory! Old White wins 30 - 18 to bring the Atlanta Cup back to Old White and pass the Renegades in the final division standings!
The Old White B-side played their hearts out and did the rest of the club proud in the earlier match. The match had a great start with several smooth phases resulting in a penalty kick for Old White B to go up 3 - 0. Again Old White made it down the field with great play by the pack of Ross, Keith, Don, Erick Reynolds, Brandon, Joey Shonka, Geoff, Stetson, Chris, Todd, Drew, David Ngamau, and captain Kevin Warde. Missed Penalty kick. The Renegades would go on to score two tries, one converted, not due to lack of defense on the part of the Old White side, with the back line playing brilliantly of Travis, Ekypop, Eric Degree, Danny, Kevin, Joe Shorter, Kamakaze Steve, Desmond, and the others, but because of great play by the Renegades and several penalties. Renegades up 12 - 3. Joe Shorter brought the match back into contention, where off of a restart kick, he single-handedly returned the ball all the way for a converted try. Renegades up 12 - 10 at the half. The Old White defense played their hearts out, only letting up one more try the rest of the match, but were only able to score a single penalty kick more. A close, but honorable defeat, 17 - 13.
The Old White defense was exceptional, holding the Renegades to only 17 points. With a little work on the phase play and the rest of the offense, the Old White Division II side is sure to be a top contender.
A well played match for everyone involved. The Renegades deserve much respect for a great afternoon of rugby. It was a great club effort in the win, it takes all 45 players to get a win like the one this saturday. Next is Chattanooga for the B-side for a must-win to make the playoffs. In two weeks is the start of the D-I playoffs with the South Crossover at Naples.
