Every year, Nashville hosts the "Nash Bash" -- two days of non-stop rugby
for various clubs around the country. This year, they held a "Nash Bash"
for high school clubs, a couple of weeks earlier than their regular
event.
The Maryville squad sent three teams -- the "A" side (where Jeff, TJ,
Sparky and Joseph play), the "B" side, and the girls team. To their
credit, the A side was matched with the best non-Tennessee teams (the same
teams that Brentwood, last year's state champion, played).
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Game #1 was at 9AM against "Parkhill" high school's A team.
Parkhill is from Missouri (Kansas City, I think), and has had a
rubgy squad for 12 years. Parkhill won, 12-7, in a very closely
contested battle. Although no one likes losing, it speaks well
for the Maryville squad, who is still in their first year of
existence. Jay et al have done an amazing job of crafting the
boys into a Rugby squad. Here is a line out, won by Curtis, of
Maryville. Parkhill had some fantastic line-out plays -- we
assume that as the Maryville team matures, it will learn to defend
those better, and come up with good plays of their own.
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T.J. had to come out early, due to some bloody nose issues. He
returned once he got it under control.
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It appears that Jeff is down, and Adam is pulling the ball
out.
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Coach Jay watches as Joseph engages some Parkhill players. Curtis is
joining in with his "skull cap."
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Jeff appears clost to scoring here. He didn't, nor did Maryville.
Maryville had the late lead, 7-5, but some tank from Parkhill plowed
almost the entire way down the field, and Parkhill scored the decisive
try (touchdown).
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This appears to be the play after Jeff was brought down. This is where
Maryville needs experience. Rather than pulling the ball out, one or
more of Maryville's players should "ruck over", by diving over Jeff,
and providing a barrier so that Parkhill cannot legally get the ball.
Then Charlie (#2) or Joseph (#6) can pull the ball out at greater
leisure, and the rest can start an offensive play.
Not easy to do, but very effective.
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It's after halftime -- Suzy and I are roaming the far sideline, as Jeff
plays wing and will be mostly on this sideline. I must say I enjoyed
talking with the Parkhill coaches and parents that were on the far side --
very nice people.
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Random playing -- there's Jeff (near), Danny (tackling), Tim, Kelly and
Alex (watching intently), and to the left, Charlie, coming to join the fray.
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Tony (Baker) kicks the ball. Tony scored on an exceptionally heads-up play --
while most of the Parkhill players were complaining to the ref about some
call or non-call, Tony, with advantage, took off. 7 points (with this kick)
for Maryville.
I don't think I will offend anyone if I say that Tony has by far the best
Rugby brain on the team -- good fakes, and smart decisions. And he has a
good leg for kicking.
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More line-out action. I think this was ours, and Charlie threw it long to
Kelly (in the back there).
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T.J. had the skin over his right eye ripped open, and is calling his mother
to inform her that he will be scarred on his return. Thor looks on happily.
As it turned out, the trainer on site put some good adhesive stuff over his
eye, and he played later in the day with the aid of a "skull cap."
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And gets tackled. You'll note, that is not a good offensive position
because Jeff is too far ahead of his help.
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The game is over -- they prepare for the B side game.
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A line out in the B side. Jeff played the first half (trading off wing
with Sparky, who played the second half, and got hurt).
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We went to lunch (San Antonio Taco, which was, unfortunately,
disappointing -- I remember them as being better), and returned
to find the team waiting to play. It was informative, as we all
watched the Nashville men's team destroy a team from Greenville,
SC. Man, were they good -- every time they went down, it became
an offensive play. Impressive...
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Time to play. This opponent was Penn High School, Indiana. These
kids were amazing. First, they were huge. They had at least 6 coaches
roaming every side and base line with walkie talkies. We later found
out that they were in the semi-finals for the nationals. And that they
have a $40,000 budget. Man -- these guys are serious. Unlike Parkhill,
their coaches were not very pleasant -- all business.
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Some stall in the action -- they killed us -- 35-0 or somethine like that.
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Jeff has passed the ball to Alex, and has been chucked aside. These guys
are big, no?
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Tony passes to Ryan. It does not look as though Ryan has
anywhere to go with it.
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More action. That was the last of the Penn game. We were happy
no one got hurt.
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The next morning was game #3, against Carmel High School's A side.
This is another school from Indiana, who evidently even has a middle
school Rugby program. They were of normal size though, and Maryville
had control of most of the game. Here, Carmel wins a scrum.
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It was raining. The team walks back after Sparky (#9) scored Maryville's
first try. 7-0, Maryville.
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Tony kicks it way out to Jeff, who fields in cleanly and scores!! Unfortunately,
it was called back as it was a forward pass.....
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Carmel kicks it out of their zone (to either Jeff or Alex).
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More action -- I'm not sure who is down, but that's a nice set. T.J. appears
to be about to "ruck over" and Jeff will likely pull the ball out.
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It started to rain more heavily, so covered the camera. B.J. score in the
second half, and then Jeff. Here is Jeff, following his score.
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Team Photo #1, spruced up. Let me know (plank@cs.utk.edu) if you
want a copy -- It'll be $.35 for a 4x6, $.99 for a 5x7, $3.99 for
an 8x10, $7.99 for an 11x14. If someone helps me, I can work on
putting names on the bottom.
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