The Atlanta Renegades traveled to Nashville Saturday for their first D-1 matrix match of the spring season, and came away with a solid 38-7 win.  The Renegades held the advantage in field position and possession for much of the first half, but had difficulty finishing off movements for scores.  Captain Scott Hutchinson, playing on the wing after coming back off a sternum injury, put the Gades up 5-0 with a try out wide about 9 minutes in, from a scrum following a nice sequence of three straight quick “squeeze” rucks.

Nashville responded with continued stiff defense, and neither side scored for the next 20 minutes, until Renegades flyhalf Justin Germany made a loose play break and fed flanker Colin Hubbard in support for a try under the posts, converted by Germany, for a 12-0 Gades lead.  Hutchison added his second try as the half expired, with Germany starting a break to the weak side on the Gades fourth 5 meter scrum, 19-0 at the half.

The Gades added another try 4 minutes after the restart, with center Keith Jacupka finishing off with the try set up by a long downfield ramble by Hubbard, Germany converting for a 26-0 Renegades lead. 

Nashville came back strong, and took good advantage of some poor discipline by the Renegades, with offsides at a few break downs and back chatter to the referee, and after a series of penalty plays punched over a forwards try by the posts, converted by their flyhalf to narrow the score to 26-7.

The score seemed to invigorate Nashville, who came back down field and repeatedly pressed the Renegades goal line, until the Gades were awarded a 22 meter drop kick; the kick was placed well down field, and the Renegades’ speedster on the wing, Rod Ceasar, gathered in the ball and raced to a long try, converted by Germany.  Reserve wing Adam Bazydlo added another try for the Renegades on a ball spun wide on a penalty play, for the final score of 38-7.

In other USA Rugby South northern division action, Life won 44-0 at Atlanta Old White, to strengthen its position atop that bracket.  Next weekend sees both sets of teams in rematches, however, with Nashville traveling to Atlanta to face the Renegades, and Life hosting Old White.