HARC D2 Men Comeback Against The Woodlands RFC Falls Just Short

Tag(s): The Club ​

After a month off following the season opening 20-14 victory at San Antonio RFC, the HARC Men was ready to start a grueling five week stretch with five D2 games and three D3 games.  The first of those tests was up at the turf pitch of Alden Bridge Sports Park, home of The Woodlands RFC.

The first five minutes of the match saw a dominating HARC squad take the ball down into The Woodlands side of the pitch.  An excellent scrum, followed by quick ball-movement by the backs and a quick scrum-half take by HARC’s Dan Prostollo seemingly put 5 points on the board early.  Unfortunately, after a quick discussion with a touch judge, referee Daniel Caine took the points off the board. It wasn’t until about 10 minutes later before anyone scored, as The Woodlands fly half, Brendon Curle, hit a penalty kick from 20m out.  Five minutes later, HARC took the lead 5-3 on a hard run by fullback Stefan Marr. The Woodlands answered back with a quick scrum-half take of their own by Benjamin Chustz, then a try by Curle which made the score 5-17, The Woodlands. With time winding down in the half, a huge run by tighthead Rob Rutherford and conversion by John Welsey brought the score to 12-17, The Woodlands at the half.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half saw strong defense from both sides, while multiple subs on both sides brought fresh legs onto the pitch.  The stalemate was broken by a picked off pass by The Woodlands center, Dominique Dobbins, followed by a 30m try by the big Woodlands prop, John Poston.  Conversions made it 12-31, The Woodlands at minute 70.

With 10 minutes left, HARC kicked it into high gear, led by the strong defense of wing sub, Vieri Delai, and the great offensive lines by David Miller, who scored a try at minute 73.  With the conversion by Tom Johnston making it 19-31, HARC was down two scores with not much time. The teams exchanged turnovers when Miller got stripped of the ball, with Miller taking it right back on a strip of his own.  Good ball security by HARC led to a try by flanker Adrian Perez Jimeno. The conversion by Johnston brought the score to 26-31, The Woodlands, but HARC ran out of time as The Woodlands took the victory. 

The third half was clearly won by HARC with Adrian Perez Jimeno, subbing for Man of the Match David Miller, finishing a beer faster than The Woodlands fly half, Brendon Curle.  Same for HARC’s “Cock of the Match” Carlos Soler besting center Chris Saxon. HARC’s next match is Saturday, February 15, with a D2 match at Houston United Rugby Club at 3pm.
Tag(s): The Club