GRR: University of Kentucky
The SCRC playoffs begin with Saturday’s semifinals as Tennessee takes on Florida and Alabama hosts Kentucky.
For Tennessee it’s been a tough run, but they emerged 24-22 winners over Kentucky, and 13-10 winners over South Carolina. Slightly less good goalkicking and one mistake here and there and they might be where South Carolina is now, 3-2 and staying home.
The University of Tennessee won the big clash of top SCRC teams Saturday, getting a last-second penalty goal from wing Ben Schwartz to put the Vols up 24-22.
Kentucky put together a very smart and well-organized game plan, but Tennessee’s backline defense pressured the Wildcats well enough to control much of the first half.
The University of Kentucky made something of a statement in SCRC action as the Wildcats downed the Gamecocks of South Carolina 32-15 Saturday.
The win put Kentucky at 3-0 in the SCRC East and drops USC to 2-1.
Tennessee and Kentucky won two important crossover games in the SCRC, as the East Division Vols and Wildcats defeated West Division rivals Florida and Alabama.
Those losses were the first of the conference season for the Gators and Tide rugby teams. Kentucky put in some outstanding defensive pressure on a very good Alabama team.
Kentucky flanker Caleb Canter was a huge part of UK’s excellent defensive effort in their SCRC opener this past weekend.
Canter scored two tries, but, more important, set the tone on defense and made a series of early tackles behind the gain line that put Georgia on their heels. He ended up with five poaches in the rucks, and an amazing 20 tackles in a 41-0 shutout of the Bulldogs.