Rugby State Play Offs - Boys

The East Metro Bulldogs Boys team hosted the St. Michael - Albertville team
also on Wednesday. Again two very even teams with the lead changing hands
5 times in the match. The Bulldogs were on the board first 3 - 0 with a
30 meter penalty kick by Spencer Guse who is probably the best kicker the
boys have had in the 15 years since the start of the program. Not only
does Spencer make the placed kicks from penalties but also sends out
booming punts for gains for 40 -50 meters.

Soon after Spencer's kick, St. Michael came storming back and took
advantage of the Bulldogs who have a few new players starting late in the
season and have not had the time to learn team play. After sloppy coverage
off of a maul, the St. Michael team found a gap in the Bulldog defense and
scored a try and a conversion to take over the lead 3 - 7.

Showing some of our inexperience, Spencer put up another booming kick but
found himself the only one trying to tackle the St. Michael opposition.
soon after Spencer had another opportunity and this time it was standout
Chris Cunniingham together with Spencer trapping St. Michael and took
advantage of the poorly handled kick. Chris put on the moves and speed to
score the Bulldogs first try. After the conversion by Spencer the score is
now Bulldogs 10 St. Michael 7.

St. Michael came back and driving deep in Bulldog territory, pulled ahead
with a try of their own to lead 10 - 12 St. Michael 2 point conversion
failed).
The rain came pouring down and the wet ball became hard to handle and was
dropped many times through the remainder of the match. The see-saw battle
continued with each side driving to within 22 meters of the others goal ,
only to be turned back and find themselves defending inside their own 22.

Midway through the second half the Bulldogs finally broke through when the
ball passed through he back line in text book form from Guse to Cunningham,
to Mat Pilarski to rookie Joe Lynch ( coaches son) who scored in the corner
of the try zone for a 15-12 Bulldog lead.

As time was running out, St. Michael was working their way deep in Bulldog
territory only to be denied by Guse launching off yet another clearing
kick. After one kick East Metro was caught off-side by having a rugger
make a play on a ball without being passed up by Spencer thus being in an
offside position. St. Michael was awarded a penalty kick 30-35 meters
from the posts but elected to run with the ball instead after exchanges of
penalties, the Bulldogs continued to stiffen on defense and held back the
charge of St. Michael. the game ended after a long penalty kick for
touch. Final Score East Metro 15 St. Michael-Albertville 12.

The East Metro Bulldog Boys will continue their quest for first place in
the MN State Rugby Plate Championship on Saturday June 9th at eh National
Sports Center in Blaine.

rewritten by Terry Miller from notes of Coach Jeff Lynch