UF Rugby Coach Ken Simmons provides a brief summary of the games' highlights.
September 9, 2008 - Sorry, no report.
September 13, 2008 - Final scores: Ft Lauderdale A Team 29 - UF A Team 27.
Ft Lauderdale B Team 30 - UF B Team 5
UF started the scoring early, but lost the lead with Ft Lauderdale up 29-17 with less than 10 minutes to go. UF scored twice in a valiant effort to come back, but did not convert either try. Final score was 29-27 Ft Lauderdale. Try scorers were Ian Foster, Matias Tettamanti, Ben Walker, and Darrel Meckley, Matias Groetaers converted 2 tries and one kicked one penalty kick for a total of 7 points.
The brand new Killer Bees played a veteran B team Ft Lauderdale and lost 30-5 with rookie Orett Davis scoring the lone try.
September 14, 2008 - Final scores: FAU A Team 10 - UF A Team 17.
FAU B Team 5 - UF B Team 25
UF started off the scoring against FAU, but FAU fought to stay in the game with a late try and yet another threat. Final score was 17-10. Try scorers were Ben Walker, Alan Bebchik and Darrel Meckley. Pepper converted one try for 2 points.
The rookie killer bees took on a young FAU side and allowed only try in a 20-5 victory. Try scorers were Joe Regan, Nick Vacari, Tommy Gibble (2 tries).
Injury report: Marcus Reuker dislocated his hip within the first two minutes of the game, he'll be unavailable for a while.
Noah Walker was knocked out late in the game, making him unavailable for 3 weeks.
Ian Foster received a facial cut in the FAU game, he's stitched up and ready to go.
September 20, 2008 - Game cancelled.
October 4, 2008 - For those who could not make it, UF beat Brevard 68-0. The forwards totally dominated while the backs had more moves than Ex-lax.
The Killer Bees lost a hard game to the newly formed Pasco Myrmidons 24-15.
October 11, 2008 - UF Rugby had another great day Saturday.
The Killer Bees beat Embry Riddle 46-24 while the Gators beat Boca Raton 47-10..
Try scorers in the B game were Nick Vicari (2), Martin Elkins, and Cory Morris, Ben Pantzis kicked 2 penalty kicks and converted 5 tries.
Try scorers against Boca were Matias Tettamanti (2), Cory Penca (2), Brett Stubbs and Ben Walker. Most tries were results of support play with numerous passes. It was a great team effort by all.
Florida has qualified for the Plate division of the Florida Cup to be held Nov 1.
October 18, 2008 - The Killer bees lost to Krewe 20-13 in a hard fought match. We took an early lead with 2 penalty kicks by Sparta Ben Pantzis. Krewe retaliated with an unconverted try to make the half time score 8-6. Krewe scored two more tries and one conversion to make the score 20-6 late in the second half. Winger Joe Regan scored a try, converted by Ben to make the score 2013. The final minutes of the game were spent in the red zone, but we were unable to get in one more time.
Final Score Krewe B 20 UF B 13
The A game was another close game with the Krewe team outweighing UF by 15-20 pounds per person. Krewe was finally able to score try late in the first half to make the score 5-0. Early in the second half, Reggie Wilson scooped up the ball on a tackle by Matias Tettamanti to score try in the middle. Matias converted to make the score 7-5. Krewe responded with a converted try to retake the lead. Matias was able to score form 50 meters out and Ben Pantzis converted.
Final score UF 14- Krewe 12
Due to a shortage of players traveling this weekend, we relied on a few players to step up and fill in for the A team. Man of the match Noah Walker played both full games at second row. B side players Erich Usery and Eric Krause filled in to play respectable games against and a very experienced Krewe side. Cory Morris, Zach Garland, Nick Vicarri, Even Layton, Ben Pantzis and Alan Bechick filled in for the A team as needed after playing in the grueling Championship game.
The moral of the story is that UF is truly becoming a well rounded team. In spite of losing players to injuries and family commitments, the Florida Gators continue to play quality rugby and keep on winning.
Excellent teamwork!
October 24, 2008 - Both games cancelled.
November 1, 2008 - The Gators beat Miami 26-19 to take the Plate Championship in the Florida Cup this past weekend.
The depth of UF rugby came into play with 7 of our usual starters unable to play. Miami started the scoring with an unconverted try midway through the first half using their size to overpower UF in a series of rucks. By the end of the first half, UF was spending time in Miami’s half, but could not score. Halftime score was 5-0. Miami scored early in the second half to make the score 12-0. It was Ben Pantzis who drew first blood for UF with a try and a conversion. The flood gates opened and Ty Jones, Ben Walker, and Jason Lentz scored with Ben Pantzis converting two more. Miami came back with a score near the end of the game to keep it interesting, but UF held on to win 26-19.
We then challenged the Pelicans with what was left of our travelers and lost a physically grueling match 37-14. UF opened the scoring with a try by Noah Walker and converted by Ben Pantzis. The Pelicans came back with and unconverted try. Ben Walker scored a converted try to make the score 14-5. Pelicans came back to score one more before the half to bring the score to 14-12 UF. The second half was all Pelicans as the worn out and beat up gators could not control the forward rucking game of the LARGER Pelicans. Final score was 37-14.
It was a valiant effort by all and will better prepare us for the SEC Tourney.
In other news, the FRU Collegiate Team beat Palmetto and Deep South LAU’s to win the lower Tier. Neal Dupree, Dave Meehan. Casey Barnard, Matias Tettamanti, and Reggie Wilson represented well in the competition. Dave, Reggie and Matias were selected to the South Team. Congratulations!
November 8, 2008 - We had another good showing for UF Rugby this weekend. We took third again in the SEC Tournament. We traveled with 37 players and Pip. The bodies are beat up.
November 15, 2008 - UF finished an overall great season with a 52-5 thrashing of USF.
The first Try was scored 8 minutes into the game with an interception by Ty Jones who was in as a blood sub. 7 minutes later Curtis Shepherd scored a try after Reggie Wilson picked up a loose ball and broke free. At 25 minutes Ben Walker scored on an overload. 3 minutes later Jake Phillips attacked the weak side of the scrum to score his first try of the day. With two minutes left in the half, Ty Jones scored again as a blood sub. Half time score was 27-0.
The second half was more of the same with 3 mores tries by Ben and 2 more by Jake. Final Score was 52-5.
The B game was tougher game with some of the Gainesville Hogs filling in for the USF B team. Zach Buffet scored the lone try for UF with a conversion by Alan Bebchik. Final score was 12-7.
Overall season record for UF was 10-2. The Killer Bees finished 2-7 against some very experienced sides.
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