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UNC blanks Georgia 52-0
South D1 League
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
Chapel Hill — UNC blanked Georgia 52-0 in the first home match of the season. Perfect weather conditions and a jubilant crowd saw the Tar Heels roll up eight tries and shut down UGA’s offense.
The game opened up slowly for Carolina, who took time to find offensive rhythm against a hard-hitting Bulldog defense. UNC initially struggled to put phases together until Alex Lee sprung the home team with an 8-man pick he took 50 meters for a try. Fly-half Ed Perkins kicked the ball constantly, and UNC did a good job of chasing and pressuring the Georgia back three. Carolina again found the try zone minutes later after a maul from a lineout at the five meter line was spun out to Perkins, who fed fullback Evan Rose for the try under the posts.
Lock Eric Martin fielded kickoffs skillfully, and the Tar Heel pack did a good job of hitting the rucks and giving scrum-half Rufaro Sikipa ball. The forwards also sucked in Georgia defenders by picking the ball at the back of the ruck, giving the backs space to operate. Lee and Rose again broke the Georgia line and touched down in the corner, and Ed Perkins got a try of his own off a nifty cut back to make the halftime score 31-0.
The Bulldogs came out aggressively in the second half, and were able to keep the Tar Heel offense under wraps for fifteen minutes but unable to find an attack of their own. Carolina received a jolt of energy when flanker Mike Krouse delivered a crushing blow on the Georgia fly-half to gain possession for UNC. Some great handling in the loose got Carolina to the threshold of another try, and forwards ball kept the Tar Heels inching toward the line. With advantage called, Zach Chesson (playing prop for an injured Jackson Paterno) kept fighting for the line and dragged multiple Georgia defenders in with him to take a 38-0 lead.
After Rufaro Sikipa received a yellow card for an acrobatic dive over a ruck to tackle his opposite number, Ade Ayodele, back on the pitch after a hiatus due to illness, moved from winger to scrumhalf. It did not take long for Ayodele to break into the loose, evading tackles until he was bottled up ten meters from the goal. However, he managed to pass out of the tackle to hooker Shaun Blanchard, who beat the fullback for the score.
UNC then began substitutions, and some fresh bodies, several playing their first game on A-side, kept up admirably. Alex Lee closed out the scoring with another great run to set the final margin at 52-0.
Center Mike Claunch separated his shoulder late in the game in the only blot on an otherwise fantastic day of rugby for UNC.
Many thanks and best wishes to Georgia and their head coach, who voiced support for UNC during the fall season.
Carolina travels next week to take on the Arkansas State Tribe, who have been thrashing the D1 South lately. A win for Carolina would put them in prime position to make the Sweet Sixteen.
UNC Lineup: Baker, Blanchard, Chesson, Rogers, Martin, Epifianio, Krouse, Lee, Sikipa, Perkins, Yates, Claunch, Giffin, Bello, Rose. Subs: Ayodele, Webber, Van Niekerk, Hartle, Russo, Gardner, Lande
Man of the Match:
Tries: Lee 3, Rose 2, Perkins, Blanchard, Chesson
Conversions: Perkins (6-8)
Penalties:
Drop Goals:
Reported by Shaun Blanchard
Modified Mar 02, 2008. 04:09 pm