The Renegades B side posted a big comeback win in a Division 2 matrix match against
Huntsville, coming back with 24 unanswered points in the second half after being down 0-18 at the half.
It was a cold and windy morning, with temperatures barely freezing for the unusual 10 am kickoff time, and the Beasts started out playing into the wind and on the wrong end of about 15 penalties in the first 10 minutes or so.
Huntsville took advantage of the wind for field position, and of two of the early penalties by kicking the points for a 0-6 lead.
Prospects didn’t improve when a
Huntsville back picked off an errant pass out wide and raced about 80 meters for a centered try, converted by their flyhalf, and the Beasts were down 0-13.
Huntsville added another unconverted try before halftime for an 0-18 lead.
The Beasts weren’t about to quit though, becoming more physical in the forwards, especially in the loose, and pressing up more quickly in the backs in the second half. We also gained the wind, and rode the big boot of flyhalf Barry Prendergast and his many long kicks to touch to keep the ball down within striking distance of Huntsville’s try line. The Bs first score came about 20 minutes into the second half, following about a 5 meter scrum, with #8 Tommy Farrar touching down a forwards try, converted by Barry, to cut the score to 7-18 and energize the Beasts side. Not long after we had a scrum center just over midfield, with the backs out left to give a big open weak side for an 8-man pickup play; however, after the play developed slowly and Huntsville made a big shift over to cover it, the ball was reversed back to the back line, the inside backs made the few defenders commit and then sent young wing Camaran Burke off to the races, down the sideline for the try in the corner. Kicking from near the sideline on a windy day, Prendergast was as good kicking at goal as he was for touch, converting the try to narrow the score to 14-18, and the Beasts smelled blood in the water.
With 10 minutes still left to play, the Gades moved the ball right back down field, and after a series of rucks inside 10 meters, moved the ball out to the backs, who set up a crash by big 2
nd row Bill “Cheese” Tracy - - out supporting the inside backs, and in his official debut with the Renegades after several years with High Country - - for a try under the post, easily converted by Barry for the Beasts first lead of the match 21-18.
Prendergast added a penalty kick a few minutes later, and the Bs defended and maintained possession well down the stretch for the 24-18 victory.
The win leaves the Beasts still in control of their own playoff destiny in their USA Rugby South (“USARS”) D-2 matrix Central pool, midway through the matrix season, with a big match coming up next week at home against Montgomery.