Los Angeles Rugby Club (LARC)

LARC at Back Bay

Sunday, March 25th under overcast and windy conditions LARC travelled to Newport Beach for the match against Back Bay (BB). Just prior to the match the rain began, thus weather would be a factor in the match. LARC kicked to BB to start the match and you could see the wind change the direction of the ball while in mid-flight. The weather conditions made the ball handling difficult and neither side could sustain the attack. BB was able to easily clear the ball with a kick as the wind was at their back. The referee was quick to whistle LARC for not releasing the man after the tackle. At 10:30 BB scored a penalty kick to take the lead 0-3. The teams exchanged attacks, at 19:20 BB missed a penalty kick and the score remained 0-3. BB turned the ball over and Jay Strachan made a break through the line with Omar Gonzales in support. Jay made a great pass at the last minute and Omar scored the first try of the match. Omar converted the kick and LARC lead 7-6 at 26:00.

Play resumed and after a few exchanges BB had a 5-meter scrum and was able to push the ball over for a try and converted thus at 35:00 BB lead 7-13. LARC battled hard after play resumed and with no time remaining in the first half Billy Coffey scored a try and the conversion missed so the halftime score was 12-13.

The second half started with LARC receiving and the wind at their back. LARC put BB under pressure immediately and BB attempted to clear the ball by kicking but failed to realize they were kicking into the wind and the ball sailed out of bounds immediately. LARC won the line out and drove the ball in for a try and missed the conversion, the score was 17-13 at 46:00. BB responded and scored a try on an overlap and converted so the score was now 17-20. Under the directions of Chris Judd the forwards responded with aggressive running and ruckin, Judd scored the try and the conversion missed thus LARC is now leading 22-20. The forwards continued their strong play and Billy made BB pay as he scored his second try of the match and converted giving LARC a 29-20 lead at 67:00. BB attempted to respond but the aggressive defense of the forwards and backs kept BB bottled up. Sensing blood in the water the team continued aggressive play and Josh Murphy scored and converted so LARC leads 36-20 at 76:00. BB secured the ball after a failed box kick attempt by stand out prop/kicker Hugo Gentilli, and a BB try was scored as time expired. LARC is 2-1 the second half of the season and travels to San Diego to play OMBAC on Saturday.

LARC vs. Las Vegas

LARC began the second half of the season at home on a hot sunny day against Las Vegas. LA kicked off to begin the match and the first set of tackles indicated it was going to be a hard hitting match. Las Vegas made the deadly mistake of kicking the ball to standout fullback Omar Gonzales who began the counter attack and off loaded to Kevin "MacGruber" Garbis for a try 2:00 minutes into the match. Omar converted to put LA up 7-0. Shortly after with Las Vegas on the attack and a few missed tackles by LA, a try is scored by Las Vegas who misses the conversion so LA holds on to the lead at 7-5.

MacGruber goes out with a groin injury early in the first half and is replaced by long time veteran Marcus Pigrom.

Las Vegas scores their second try and converts to take a 7-12 lead 10:00 minutes into the match. After some open play Las Vegas scores another try and does not convert to now go up 17-7 at 27:30 into the match. As play resumes a knock on by Vegas results in a scrum to LARC. LARC wins the scrum and a quick pass to Lawrence Tuihalamaka who breaks it up the middle for a try and Omar converts leaving the score at 14-17 32:00 minutes in.

The second half starts and the physical play resumes and Vegas scores another try and converts so the score is now 14-24 at 43:30. Marcus on a strong run after a couple phases scores a try and Omar converts and the score is 21-24 at 46:00. Play resumes and after a couple of phases Vegas creates an overlap resulting in a try and converts so the score is 21-31 at 48:30. After a couple of hard phases inside the attacking 22 meter line, Vegas is called for a penalty and Omar hits the penalty kick so the score is 24-31 at 54:00. Vegas scores but fails to convert so the score is now 24-36. LARC continues to play aggressively and works their way down to the try line with the help of a few penalties, the forwards recycle the ball for a few phases at the try line when Billy Coffey is able to sneak the ball in the corner of the try with a failed conversion which puts the score at 29-36 at 64:00. Play resumes and after a few exchanges LARC puts together some phases and scores another try without the conversion thus the score is now 34-37 at 70:00.

LARC forwards take control and start moving the ball down the pitch. Vegas is called for another penalty with LA wisely electing to go for points and Omar converts so the score is now 37-36 at 78:00. Play resumes and Vegas moves the ball towards the try line, a knock on gives LA a scrum at the 5 meter line with no time, to ball comes out of a scrappy scrum to be kicked out just as several Vegas attackers are ready to pounce on the ball and LARC takes the win.

Next Saturday is a buy week and the next match is Saturday, March 17th at Belmont Shore's pitch at Cal State Long Beach.

LARC vs. OMBAC

Los Angeles Rugby Club took to their home pitch looking for the young team to secure their first victory this season against their old nemesis Old Mission Bay Athletic Club (OMBAC). LARC kicked off to OMBAC to start the match. OMBAC quickly moved the ball through 5 phases and scored a try off a missed tackle 51 seconds into the match. LARC kicked off to restart the match and was able to stop OMBAC and take the offensive. LARC had the ball inside the 22 and was on the move when called for a knock on. OMBAC won the scrum and proceeded to attack. The ball changed hands multiple times and with OMBAC driving within the 22-meter line, the ref called LARC for off-sides. OMBAC elected for the penalty kick and lead 0-10. After the kick-of the teams battled back and fourth and the OMBAC forwards working with their backs created an overlap on the right side to score another try and lead 0-17.

LARC kicked off and after a few exchanges of the ball OMBAC scored another try to lead 0-24. LARC advanced the ball within 2 meters of the try before turning the ball over to OMBAC. OMBAC's aggressive forward play created another overlap and combined with a missed tackle that lead to another OMBAC try and the score now 0-31. OMBAC would score two more tries and have a 0-45 half time lead. OMBAC scored two tries in the second half and made one conversion for a final score of 0-57. LARC looks forward to the start of the second half of the season against Las Vegas at their home pitch Saturday, March 3rd.

LARC at Santa Monica

LARC kicked off to start the A-side match against Santa Monica. A handling error by Santa Monica and LARC had a scrum down within the 22 meter. Strong defense by Santa Monica turned away the attack and the two teams battled evenly. 12:30 into the first, flyhalf Jay Strachan used a quick tap to restart the match after a Santa Monica penalty and raced 30 meters to score a try. Winger, Omar Gonzales mad the conversion. LARC was winning a majority of the lineouts, and most of the penalties were in their favor. The pack was playing better and winning better than 50% of the scrums. At 25 minutes in, one of the Santa Monica props received a yellow card. 30 minutes in Omar converted a penalty kick and LARC lead 10-0. LARC mishandled the ensuing kick-off and the ball went straight to Santa Monica who scored a try an converted to put the score at 10-7 for halftime.

LARC received the 2nd half kick off and stared on the attack. Both defenses were strong and created turn overs. LARC back were playing tight and stoped the run so Santa Monica did a quick kick over the backs and the ball travelled into the try zone and it appeared Omar grounded the ball, but the referee said "no" and awarded a try to Santa Monica. LARC kicked off and after a few quick exchanges Santa Monica broke through for another try and conversion for a score of 10-21. LARC kicked off and quickly had the ball 5 meters from a try when there was a knock on and playing advantage Santa Monica broke a long run which looked to be a try but Marcus Pirgom ran him down and the backs were able to hold Santa Monica and force the turn over. Lawrence Tuihalamaka scored a try at the 57th minute to make the score 15-21. During the next 13 minutes Santa Monica scored two tries and conversions to extend their lead to 15-33. Jay scored his 2nd try of the day at the 75 minute mark to make the score 20-33 which ended up as the final result.

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Back Bay vs. LARC

In a preseason clash of Division I rivals, the Los Angeles Rugby Club hosted Newport Back Bay on Saturday 12/17/2011 in front of a large crowd on a balmy overcast afternoon. The match (two 30 minute halves) started with both clubs showing a lot of intensity in the opening minutes. Back Bay applied early pressure with strong forward play, resulting in penalties which pushed the LARC defense deep into their own territory. Despite a commendable defensive effort, LARC conceded the first try (converted) but quickly returned the favor on the reset; the defense was on Andy Dilsaver, scrumhalf all day, he was hit trying to get the ball out to the backs, prop, Lumpy was there to scoop the ball up and pass the ball wide into the hands of Lawrence Tuihulamaka, who shook off several defenders and found his way into the try (unconverted). This was as close as LA would be all day, though, and Newport Back Bay, who travelled with a solid squad, took advantage of a shorthanded LARC team and worked their gameplan. With a youthful and inexperienced forward pack, LA continued to apply pressure and had several opportunities late in the first half to punch one in. However, the Back Bay defense was steadfast and created turnovers to prevent an LA try. Halftime score 19-5 in favor of Back Bay. The second half was similar to the first, with LA and Back Bay battling for field position and both defenses stepping up to the challenge. Only in the final 10 minutes was there scoring, and credit to Back Bay who gave full effort the entire match to take a way a preseason victory 31-5. Both clubs showed promise as the season nears, and this tilt left plenty for the LA squad to work on in preparation of their final preseason match against St. Mary's on January 7th, 2012.

LARC at Back Bay

LARC vs. Las Vegas

LARC vs. OMBAC

LARC at Santa Monica

Back Bay vs. LARC

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