VERSUS

Little Rock Stormers Overrun Baton Rouge Redfish

by David Sosnoski

BATON ROUGE- Little Rock Stormers (1-0) faced Baton Rouge Redfish (1-0) last Saturday (2-9-2013) and won 67-3. The first half was full of action as Little Rock pulled to an early lead that was not matched by the host team. It didnt take long for the Little Rock Stormers to find a way to score against the Baton Rouge Redfish. At the start of the game Little Rock was penalized for not kicking the ball more than ten meters. The penalty resulted in Baton Rouge awarded a scrum at midfield, but Little Rock was able to gain the ball. Once the ball was cleared from the scrum, Patrick Precious Mason made a clean pass to Chance Hugh who was able to dart through the Baton Rouge defense. Hugh, while being pursued by several hungry Baton Rouge defenders, made a final pass to Darrin "DC" Oliver who scored the first try of the game and gave the Stormers an early lead from which the Redfish were not able to overcome. The ensuing conversion was good and just about a minute into the game Little Rock had a 7-0 lead. Little Rock was able to gain a few more scores (a penalty kick at the fifth minute and then a try by Aaron Valentine at the seventh minute) before Baton Rouge was able to score points from a penalty kick. Unfortunately for Baton Rouge, Little Rock had a two score lead 17-3 with 10 minutes of rugby having been played. Five minutes later Baton Rouge kicked the ball into the Little Rock side of the field in attempt to get the ball in a favorable position on the field but Panashe "Nash" Kamhara was able to run with the ball into the try zone by nimbly dodging the staggered Baton Rouge defense. The conversion failed and Little Rock lengthened their lead 22-3. Around 17 minutes into the game Baton Rouge threatened to score after managing to intercept a pass in the Little Rock backline. The Baton Rouge Redfish were able to maintain possession of the ball 10 meters from the try line. Baton Rouge then ran the ball right at Little Rock and was able to get five meters from scoring. Baton Rouge then tried to repeat the strategy by running the ball right off of a ruck, but a key tackle by Win Noble pushed Baton Rouge back 15 meters. Baton Rouge then switched strategies and moved the ball out to their backline near the far side of the field. A pass bounced off the

chest of a Baton Rouge player and Ronnie "Badger" Parkinson was able to snatch the ball in midair running at full speed. Parkinson then continued to speed down the field, scored a try with a defender unsuccessfully trying to catch up to him. This try and successful conversion put Little Rock up 29-3 eighteen minutes into the game. Nate Tucker was given a yellow card for a late hit and is sent to the Sin Bin for a late hit around halfway in the first half. For the penalty Little Rock now had to play for ten minutes without a player. Even though Baton Rouge had an extra player, they fail to score a point despite getting close enough to try a penalty kick. Near the end of the penalty time, Hugh was able to score and made the conversion to get the score 36-3 with ten minutes left to play in the half. Little Rock was able to score again 35 minutes into the game by using speed and great on the field awareness. Baton Rouge was called for offsides. Matt Guest quickly ran up to the spot of the penalty. While most of Baton Rouges defense was getting 10 meters behind the spot of the foul, Guest put the ball into play. He quickly passed the ball to DC. The defense struggled to stay with the quick pace as DC then passed to Ronnie Parkinson who was able to put the ball into the try zone. With a successful conversion the score was now 43-3. Just before half time Parkinson was able to pass the ball to Andrew Roach who found the ball to DC for another try. The ensuing conversion was not good and Little Rock Stormers were ahead 48-3 against the Baton Rouge Redfish at half. During halftime Eric Lunsford was subbed in for Andrew Roach and Drew Ensminger for Josh Wolverton. Win Noble and Jason Pollack who were playing lock were moved to flanker position. The substitutions were put in at lock position. The second half was less explosive than the first. Eight minutes into the half Parkinson was replaced with Mike Bauer. Soon after the substitution Jason Pollack almost scores a try, but Chance Hugh was able to get the ball into the try zone. The score was now 53-3 and the conversion was not good. Brian Lum was subbed in for Jason Pollack about 20 minutes into the final half. About ten minutes later Danny Brickey comes out and Caleb Craig fills his position. Little Rock scored two more tries before the end of the game: one by DC and the other by Aaron Valentine. The final score was 67-3. This Saturday Little Rock Stormers face the Jackson Rugby Club for Little Rocks first home game of the season. Directions to the pitch and more information can be found on the Little Rock Rugby website www.littlerockrugby.com.

Little Rock Stormers Starting Lineup 1) Derik Oliver 2) Nathan Tucker 3) Danny Brickey 4) Win Noble 5) Jason Pollack 6) Andrew Roach 7) Josh "T-Flex" Wolverton 8) Joshua Wall 9) Matt Guest 10) Patrick "Precious" Mason 11) Ronnie "Badger" Parkinson 12) Chance Hugh 13) Darrin "DC" Oliver 14) Panashe "Nash" Kamhara 15) Aaron Valentine-Namani Subs: Michael Bauer, Caleb Craig, Drew Ensminger, Mark Fulmer, Brian Lum, Erik Lunsford, Kevin Ryan, David Sosnoski Coach: Donna DT Thomas Game Notes The temperature was on the cool side. The field was North South orientated. Little Rock kicks. 0m Penalty LR Kickoff not 10 meters (Scrum midfield) Scrum BR- LR wins scrum. Chance to DC try scored. 1st minute 5-0 Conversion successful 7-0 3rd minute Penalty LR Knock-on Scrum BR BR win 4.5 minute Penalty BR Not letting go/talking to ref Penalty points good 10-0 7 minute Aaron Valentine scores a try 15-0 Conversion successful 17-0

7m 30s Penalty LR Knock-on Scrum BR BR win 10m Penalty LR Offside BR penalty points good 17-3 14m BR lineout BR win Penalty LR Offside Penalty LR Knock on BR scrum BR wins 15m Nash scores try from BR kick 22-3 Conversion no good 17m LR lineout LR wins BR turns the ball over and has possession about 5 meters from scoring. Key tackle by Win Noble pushes BR back 15 meters. BR maintains possession of ball and moves ball out to back line. 18m Ronnie Badger intercepts pass off BR player chest and runs it in for try. 27-3 Conversion good 29-3 19m BR lineout BR wins Nate Tucker late hit and is yellow carded (out of game 10 minutes). Penalty LR Late Hit Cleaned his clock as soon as that ball was leaving his hands; took him right out. Michael Bauer It was called a late hit, but I didnt think it was late. Nate Tucker walking off the field. 21m Kevin Ryan warms up 22m BR lineout BR wins 1 MINUTE MAUL BR penalty - ??? Kevin goes in to prop (Derik to hook) Ronnie out (will go in when Nate comes back) You saw I stole their cookies? Ronnie "Badger" Parkinson on the sideline LR scrum LR wins 24m BR lineout BR wins LR penalty diving over 25m BR penalty kick no good 27m LR penalty Knock-on

BR scrum LR wins LR penalty Forward pass BR scrum BR wins BR penalty LR kicks ball OB 29m LR lineout LR wins LR lineout LR wins (maul) 30m Chance scores try 34-3 Conversion good 36-3 33m Nate back in game. Kevin called off. LR lineout LR wins 35m BR penalty offsides Matt puts ball in play to DC to Ronnie Ronnie Scores Try 41-3 Conversion good 43-3 37m T-Flex bad pass LR penalty forward pass BR scrum BR wins (turnover) LR penalty Win ??? BR scrum BR win LR lineout LR win LR penalty - ??? BR kicks ball OB 40m BR lineout BR wins LR lineout LR wins Ronnie to Roach to DC 48-3 Conversion no good 48-3 Half Eric Lunsford in for Andrew Roach Drew Ensminger in for Josh T-Flex Wolverton Win Noble moves to flanker Jason Pollack moves to flanker 0m BR kick (noticeably offsides) LR turnover LR penalty - ??? BR scrum BR wins 2m30s

BR penalty - ??? LR kicks ball 4m LR lineout - ??? LR penalty - Nash warned for stiff arm BR scrum BR wins 8m Ronnie Badger Parkinson off Mike Bauer in BR lineout LR wins BR penalty - ??? LR scrum LR wins LR penalty - ??? BR kick ball in play Jason Pollack almost scores try Chance scores try 53-3 12m Conversion no good 53-3 12m30s BR lineout BR wins 14m30s BR lineout ??? Injury timeout BR (hit by Nash) 18m30s Brian Lum in Jason Pollack out About 20m LR penalty Bridging BR scrum BR wins BR penalty diving over BR penalty diving over 23m LR kicks ball in out bounds 24m LR lineout LR wins BR lineout quick BR wins LR lineout quick LR wins LR penalty offsides ??? BR kicks ball OB BR lineout BR wins BR penalty diving over 28m LR scrum LR wins BR kicks ball OB Danny Brickey out Caleb Craig in

LR line out BR wins 31m LR penalty knock on BR scrum ball straight out BR scrum BR wins 32m30s Dave Sosnoski in ??? out LR lineout LR wins BR lineout BR wins DC scores try 58-3 Conversion good 60-3 BR scrum BR wins BR line out LR wins 2m Nash to DC to Aaron Conversion good 67-3 GAME OVER