Aggies Saw Off Longhorns And Take Back Cup.
Press Release
February 18, 2006
Written By Josh Back
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It was only just after the kickoff that Texas were penalized and captain Greg Kwedar had an opportunity for an early score. Unfortunately he pulled the kick left of the upright. With some huge tackles and dogged rucking, both teams looked to get the opening score. The Longhorns ventured into the A&M half and were presented with a penalty opportunity of their own. Their full back converted and Texas took the early lead 3 – 0
To the satisfaction of the home crowd, A&M replied with a try almost directly off the ensuing kick-off. Texas caught the ball, created a ruck, and set up for a clearance kick from their fly half. The whiffed clearance attempt was charged down and swift hands saw open side flanker Aaron Fortin power over in the left corner to the jubilation of the Texas A&M faithful. Kwedar converted from the touchline to put the Aggies up 7 – 3.
The game seemed to follow a pattern with the Longhorns choosing to incorporate many kicks and chases whenever the backline got possession, of which the back three of Noah Smithwick, Jake Lockett, and Scott Johnson dealt with well all afternoon. To the dismay of the A&M pack, the referee failed to take control of the scrums. It became “a safety issue” according to Aggie forwards coach Johnny Smith. With persistent and very blatant wheeling of the scrum, improper binding between props, and a problematic scrum half, the Longhorns kept the Aggies within reach. Unfortunately, this would come to play an ugly part in the second half.
With play going back and forth, Kwedar took another penalty and pulled it left again. From the Texas drop-out on the 22m, ever present 2nd row Matt Welsh charged down the kick. The Aggies pushed forward looking for a final score to end the first half on a high. With the seconds ticking away, Kwedar opted for another penalty attempt, this one from distance near the right touchline. The referee told the players that this would be the last play of the first half, and Kwedar promptly slotted the ball between the sticks for an A&M lead of 10 – 3 at the half.
The second half was played in much of the manner as the first. The first attacking move was created by a lovely piece of running from Kwedar. Receiving the ball inside his own 22m, the fly half saw space and made an incision through the Longhorn backline. Evading tackles, he sped towards the Texas try line, creating a two on one situation with the Texas full back and Aggie inside centre Brian Vogt in support. Kwedar offloaded to Vogt just before the full back’s tackle, and fleet of foot saw the Aggie win the footrace to slide over under the posts. Sensing a real momentum shift to the Aggies, the crowd got into the game. The devoted and very cold spectators came to rapturous applause as Kwedar converted to cap a great move and make the score 17 – 3.
A magnificent goal line stand from the Aggies saw Texas get frustrated with the inability to score. The referee, again playing a factor, decided to yellow card one of the Aggie players for the team being offside. Unable to produce a number for the offense, A&M were ordered to pick a player to be binned. Unfortunately, that player was 2nd row Kyle Knox. With the pack minus one, the Longhorns strived to get a good push in the scrum and, in a moment of absurdity, the Texas scrum half scored. From video review to back up the A&M coaches protest, it is clear that several penalties were not called from this one scrum alone. With the Longhorn pack unbinding before the ball was out, and a textbook obstruction, the referee allowed play to continue. The Texas No. 8 American football style blocked the A&M flanker from making the tackle as the scrum half burst through the gap to score. The Longhorns failed to convert the try, 17 – 8.
Not too long after that score the Longhorns crossed over again from a scrum. The No. 8 picked the ball off the back of the scrum and ran to the blind side with the winger and scrum half all involved for the try. Again, Texas failed to convert, 17-13.
With everybody anxious as the Longhorns were getting back into the game, Kwedar kicked another penalty but badly missed it low to the right. However, the solidarity of the A&M rugby family pulled through as everyone played their socks off in the final stages of the match. Wearing their hearts on their sleeves, the team gelled together and pushed Texas to the brink with good attacking moves and very tough defending. The colossal effort was rewarded as Vogt crossed under the posts to put the game beyond doubt. Kwedar converted to make the final score 24 – 13 to the Aggies.
It was the will to win that produced the win on the afternoon. The Aggies just wanted it more. The need to get back the University Cup that they felt they had given away the last time the teams met was a driving motivational force that all took to heart. Although not playing anywhere near their best rugby, and perhaps letting the occasion get to them a little bit, the team performed very well indeed. They look to next week’s test against Sam Houston State to go undefeated in the league and lock up a prime seed for the Western playoffs.