Rising Wraps with Muddy but Productive Final Day
Rising Wraps with Muddy but Productive Final Day
The MLR Rising week finished off Friday with a game between Red and Black, and a visit to the USA vs Scotland test match where they were introduced at halftime.
But there was some real concern on Thursday night that the game might not be played, or perhaps shortened. The weather forecast on Thursday showed a 90% likelihood of thunderstorms during the game-time window. The coaches and organizers met as a group to figure out what to do in case lightning delayed the game. The conclusion? Play as much rugby as possible. If that mean rushing to the bus to make the Eagles game, so be it. If that meant being late to the Eagles game, so be it.
If that meant playing just a 40-minute game, so be it.
Fortunately, Friday dawned gray and cloudy but not thundery, and the forecast was much changed, with the likelihood of thunder and lightning dropping by the hour. In the end, there was no lightning at all, and while the day was wet and a bit muddy, it was also, mercifully, cooler, and the players embraced it.
Black struck first, chasing a kick down in the corner and forcing a loose ball for the score. Red answered with a nicely-worked attack to equalize in the corner. The scrums remained a battle all day and with changes made back and forth (to ensure safety and for every player to get time, this was an open subs game.
Red continued to have scoring chances but could not convert on them and their side of the scoreboard remained stuck at 5. Black had a few more chances, and did superbly to finish them off, taking the lead and extending it to 26-5.
Red began to come back a bit in the second half, trading tries with Black to make it 31-14. That second red try came off a quick tap from scrumhalf Georgoe O'Brien, however, O'Brien's later attempts to tap quickly were held up twice because Black was getting a yellow card. Up 15 players to 13 Red exploited the overlap to score thanks to a brilliant draw-and-pass from Lleyton Delzell to make it 31-19. With time winding down, Black responded with a converted try to win it 38-19.
Many players showed well and it is difficult to say this player or that player was the difference without including many more. However, the speed and overall athleticism of Black's back row was a difference-maker—specifically Aaron Juma (given the job of breaking the line, which he did repeatedly), Pono Kayoshi (give the job of either setting up or supporting Juma), and captain Calvin Ihrig, who mostly concerned himself with making tackles and winning rucks.
With Black putting boot to ball thanks to Stuart Duncan and Alex Park, it was the loose forwards who chased down and laid in the hits.
Once again, this is not to run down anyone. On the Red team Ray Santiago got go-forward at blindside flank, Matt Carrion led well at No. 8, and Jesse Emerson put in some big carries and big hits at prop. The Red backline had to be shuffled thanks to an injury to inside center Shane Rikley-Krindle sustained in the final session on Thursday. As a result Jaxon Stokely was moved from outside center to inside center, scrumhalf and captain Aidan Ridgway was moved to flyhalf, Cale White was moved from flyhalf to fullback, and fullback Ashawnty Staples was moved to outside center.
It was a shame for Staples, who had requested time at fullback to showcase his kicking and kick-return skills. Staples still had a very strong week. For Stokely, his camp week had him, at times, a bit out of sorts. However, when the whistle went for the game he exploded with several big players, running, tackling, and passing. However, just as important was his communication as his voice was an important one in keeping the Red backline together.
Pono Kayoshi helps the MLR Rising Black team to a 38-19 victory. @Gael_Rugby @usmlr pic.twitter.com/jBMHzEM1Yh
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) July 12, 2024
Black's center pairing of Duncan and Stephin Alberts was elusive and smart and they were able to find some opportunities for their wings. Jamie Amrstrong was a very useful reserve there. We could easily list the entire Black group of forwards.
In the end, it was a hugely positive experience for the players. University of Mary Washington hosted them well in the dorms and fed them well, also. A nice moment on Friday morning was when the lady in charge of the dining hall approached the coaches to say how nice and respectful and pleasant the players were. This is the sort of news rugby needs.
