Vipers first XV downs Tarheels 36-7

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Saturday, February 2nd, 2008

Carolina A 7, Raleigh Vipers 36

Raleigh — UNC fought hard in a 36-7 losing effort to the Men’s Division II defending national champions. The Raleigh Vipers used an enormous pack and a powerful back line to defeat the Tar Heels.

Particularly disheartening for Carolina was the presence in the Raleigh first XV of ex-UNCRFC forward Leon “Tiny” Scroggins, as well as traitorous current coaches Mike “Judas Iscariot” Groenewald and Clif “Benedict Arnold” Ramsdell.

Carolina took the frosty pitch at 9 AM Saturday determined to stand fast against a much larger and more experienced Raleigh side, and from the opening kick-off fought with tenacity but often lacked concentration.

Penalties and a botched line out throw spotted Raleigh territory early, but the Heels held strong in defense and kept Raleigh scoreless until their fly-half spotted a gap and exploited it, putting a winger through for a 7-0 lead. UNC responded with some good phase play, but seemed unable to implement Coach Andy Richards’ expansive game plan and did not do a good job of keeping the ball out of contact. Raleigh won the ball back and Mike Groenewald kicked a penalty to go up 10-0.

The Tar Heels managed to put together a good attack, winning their own scrums and line-outs and being aggressive enough to win a lot of their own ruck ball. Center-turned-fly-half Michael Claunch (replacing an injured Ed Perkins) ran a good offense for the Heels, and made the play of the game for Carolina. After sustained pressure, Claunch stepped in front of a Vipers pass and took it twenty meters for a converted try. Down only 10-7, UNC looked to rally, but were unable to counter Raleigh’s attack. A lost ruck at the goal line saw the Vipers touch down for a 17-7 lead, which they took into halftime.

The first twenty minutes of the second half saw much of the same, as Carolina continued to tackle well and contest for the ball, but give up too many penalties and tie the ball up in contact.

Down 29-7 with twenty minutes remaining, UNC’s fitness began to shine through, and the boys clicked on mentally and started implementing the expansive game they had worked on all week in practice, passing out of the tackle and hitting good angles offensively. Scrum-half Rufaro Sikipa began to quick tap on penalties and give to props Jackson Paterno and Rick Baker, who were able to pass out of the tackle well to other forwards like Eric Martin and Alex Lee. Baker would later boast that he “played the best match of his life, in every area of the game,” and the statement is not without some vague basis in truth.

The Heels almost touched down after a great break by outside center Ade Ayodele, who was just narrowly tackled by the Vipers fullback. Carolina stayed most of the last twenty minutes in the Viper’s twenty-two, but stout defense by the Men’s Club and stupid penalties on the part of the Tar Heels kept them out of the try zone.

An interception by Raleigh accounted for the last points of the match, and a last-ditch effort to close the point spread by Emmanuel Bello and Rick Baker on a burst down the right side-line was ended in a turnover and kick out-of-bounds.

Carolina was disappointed in the loss but encouraged by some positive aspects of the game, and knows squaring off with a team like the Vipers can only prepare them for upcoming matrix trials in Death Valley and Knoxville.

UNC Lineup: Baker, Blanchard, Paterno, Martin, Rogers, Epifanio, Chesson, Lee, Sikipa, Claunch, Giffin, Ayodele, Lee, Yates, Rose. Subs: Krouse, Bello, Gardner

Man of the Match:

Tries: Claunch
Conversions: 1 of 1
Penalties:
Drop Goals:

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Modified Feb 09, 2008. 10:33 pm