RRRC MEN'S D2 SOUTH WIDE OPEN AFTER HARC’S THIRD WIN IN A ROW Captain Tom Sargeant lead the HARC defensive line against HURT. Photo Credit: Mike Fortey The atmosphere was one of cautious optimism heading into a rare Sunday cup match, on February 17, 2019. After a tough 0-3 start to the season, the HARC D2 Men had won their previous two matches to start the calendar year against San Antonio RFC and the San Marcos Greys. The HARC Men knew that the match against cross town rival HURT was a true test of whether those two wins were a red herring or a bellwether of success for the rest of season. Sallie Buckner & Glen Fontenot came out three hours before kick-off, at the fantastic Farm League Park, in Spring, Texas, to ensure proper markings for a regulation size pitch. The sky was gray, the wind was cold and brisk, and there was slight drizzle as the Men on both sides started warming up. It looked like it was shaping up to be a match of tough forward play, one that played to HURT’s strength, as it was a forwards’ battle in the 21-26 HURT victory over HARC earlier in the season. As referee Blair McClure’s whistle blew at 2pm, HARC, electing to play with the wind in the first half, split possession with HURT in the first 10 minutes. As the sun started to peek out, but with the wind still howling, an errant kick by HURT, right to the middle of the pitch, led to a 50m run by fullback Mitch Pedler, for his fifth try in the last 3 matches. Rory Gleeson, hooked in the conversion, making it 7-0. Seven minutes later, #8, Tom Sargeant, waiting out in the backline after most of the other forwards had sucked in the HURT defense, took a pass about 10m out and scored, with another conversion by Rory Gleeson making it 14-0 after 18 minutes. Nine minutes later, scrumhalf Dan Prostrollo, took it by himself in a smart play off of a 5m scrum, with the third straight conversion by Rory making it 21-0, a score which stayed to half. Even without the benefit of the wind, HARC continued the attack at the start of the second half. Flanker Ernesto Turc had a hard run 42nd minute. HURT answered seven minutes later with a strong run off of a line-out, followed by controlled rucking leading to an overload, which allowed fullback Zach Talefski to score, with center Alex Liles conversion making it 26-7 at minute 49. After that, with the exception of a 66th minute try & conversion by Liles, it was all HARC. Further tries by Tom Sargeant and wing Dee Paul, a conversion by Rory Gleeson, and platoon subbing to keep legs fresh for defense, made the final score, HARC 38 - HURT 14. HARC hosted the social at Bubba’s on Washington. HURT named #8 Tom Sargeant as Man of the Match for HARC, and HARC named #13, Alex Liles, as the HURT MotM. The HARC D2 Men improved to 3-3-0 on the season and have climbed to second place in the table with four cup matches left. Next up is The Woodlands RFC (3-2) at home on Sunday, March 10. HARC will be looking to even the score once again, as WRFC won the season opener over HARC, 48-39. 2019-02-17 - HARC D2 Men Versus HURTSelect photos from the Men's D2 Match versus HURT on February 17, 2019. Photo Credit to Mike Fortey. Check out all his photos of the match here: https://mike40.smugmug.com/Rugby/HARC-and-Roughnecks/HARC-VS-HURT-2019/
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