The Orlando men travelled well to Gainesville this Saturday resulting in a 27-5 win. The game was very tight in the first half with no scoring occurring for either team. In the second half the game opened up and Orlando was first to score putting a try into the corner. Then another repeated to the same spot for the second try. Gainesville then came back to score a try making it 10-5 for Orlando. The men dug deep and realized they needed to play all 80 minutes of the game and went to work putting in three more.
Man of the match Alex Myers.
There is no game scheduled for next week but practice will be the usual Tuesday and Thursday 7:30pm at Cady Way park to prepare for our next game, away, against Jacksonville. It is sure to be a test for Orlando’s new spirit on the field.
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The new year saw Orlando off to a fast start and trying to build on a 2-2 record they carried into the break. The setting was the Central Florida Fairgrounds and the visitors Jacksonville the opponents. Orlando got off to a quick start dominating in the forwards and putting pressure on their counterparts. Making Jacksonville uncomfortable result in an early penalty attempt for Orlando which was pushed right of the posts. Once again great pressure from the Orlando defense secured turnover ball and saw a penalty given to Orlando for opposition hands in. This time the penalty was converted, 3-0 Orlando. Right off the kick off Orlando pinned Jax back in their half where a backline handling error lead to running room for Orlando. Great support from Adam Hyche saw Orlando score the games first try and with successful conversion a 10-0 lead for the home side. As was the theme for the first 35 minutes Orlando pinned Jax in their half and forced turnover after turnover. Stand-off Al “Night train” Lane chip kick over his opposite and into open area where an offload to Blake was all that was needed to secure a second converted try extending the lead to 17-0. Late in the first half Jax found there form and drove what would be there only visit into the Orlando 22 the first half. Repeated Orlando penalties and gave jax great field position and a try off the left side before the halftime whistle. Orlando 17-5.
The second half Jax used a combination of forward and center crashes to create overlaps for their fullback and wingers which created their second try of the match. A missed conversion left Orlando on top 17-10. Orlando’s fitness level seemed to drag throughout the second. The fast and aggressive start was gone and what was solid body tackles and aggressive counter rucking turned into arm tackles and poor positioned rucking. These lapses gave Jax another clear shot in which the score and converted tying the game at 17. Orlando fought hard to drive back and a great run by Frazier “Bacon” Kerrigan gave Orlando its deepest second half drive in Jax territopry but stalled about 20 meters out. A drop goal and late try by Jax created the final score 25-17 Jacksonville. Orlando drops to 2-3 for the season. They will travel to Tampa next week to take on Krewe at 2pm. A speedy recovery to all who were injured and see you on the pitch soon.
Men of the Match:
Forwards: Frazier “O’ boy its Bacon” Kerrigan
Backs: Al “Night Train” Lane
Saturday’s Orlando First 15:
Props: Zach and English Darren
Hooker: Brown Ben
Locks: Ben Law and Mike Fuller
Flankers: Guinea and Bacon
8 Man: Captain Adam
Scrumhalf: Mike
Flyhalf: Allen
Inside Center: Shane
Outside Center: Blake
Wings: Welshie and Michigan
Fullback: Matt Wise
Injuries: Matt Wise (shoulder)
Pat (hamstring)
Ben Law (Shoulder)
Welshie (Ankle)
Reserves:
Anthony – Came in at Prop
Sully – Came in at Wing
Pat – Came in at Wing
Haji – came in at Wing
Clinton Van Der Berg – came in at Lock
Hick Rick – Came in at fullback
The next game is away against St Pete on Jan.17th.
Thanks to all the Orlando Women for supporting us on Sat. We would love to see more of the Old boys come out and support us and get to know the players that are playing in their name.
Practice is at Cady Way Park this week, Tues and Thurs, starting at 7:30pm.
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Saturday marked the start of the new fall/spring season with Orlando playing host to the Bay Area Krewe. Orlando started the scoring off with an early try left of the posts from a well driven ball down the field. Darren “snikets” Chapman touched down to give Orlando a 5-0 lead after the conversion was missed. About 15 minutes passed before Krewe scored their first try to level and then took the lead with a successful conversion, 7-5. In the second Orlando was again the first to open the scoring with a try off an arrant Krewe backline pass that Blake and Jason Weir used to score. The conversion was missed again making the score 10-7 Orlando. Krewe scored later missing the conversion and taking the lead 12-10. Orlando wasted good territory by several poor line outs. With about 10 min left Orlando was awarded a penalty deep in Krewe territory however the attempted was pushed just right of the posts. The final Orlando10 – Krewe 12.
A special thanks to Jason Weir for his membership over the last 3 years. Jason was our MVP of 2008 and is leaving later this week to join the U.S Army. All of us at ORFC are proud to call you our teammate and thank you for your service to our country Jason. Take care, God Bless.
Men of the match : Darren Chapman (forwards); Mike Champion (backs)
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Saturday saw both clubs playing quarterfinal playoffs games to continue in national competition but in very different locations. Division III played host to Hilton Head (South Carolina) RFC while Division II traveled to Charleston, SC.
At the Central Florida Fairgrounds Division III saw itself down 10-3 at half behind a determined Hilton Head side. At half they were able to re-gather and put two tries across the line converting on one of them. Despite repeated pushes into scoring range Hilton Head was unable to put any points on the board due to a great defensive effort and solid conditioning. Division III moves on to the South semifinals in Jacksonville on April 26 and will play Montgomery.
There is no real way to detail Division II’s match against the Charleston Outlaws other that to sum it up by saying it was the poorest individual and team performance of the season. Div. II struggled to play well in a phase of the game and was easily moved around the field to territory Charleston preferred. The final score was 19-17 in favor of Charleston. Thanks to all who traveled to SC, especially Raoul and Amy Weir for their support. This should motivate all to drill hard in the off season. Since the merge of ORFC and Orlando Ironhorse the Division II has compiled a 21-3 record and has won 2 Florida Cups however has not passed the first round of playoffs in the national competition.
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Orlando traveled to Jacksonville on Saturday to play a division II pool match. Once again Orlando found itself in trouble early with penalties that led to a Jax penalty kick within the first 5 minutes of play. Orlando played the next 10 minutes inside the opposition 22 but was unable log any points. More poor play led to three tries let in by the Orlando defense. All conversions were missed by Jax making the halftime score 18-0. After a stern talking to by the coach, Orlando looked like a different team throwing ball around the pitch with the best display this year of forwards linking with backs and vise versa. Marcel McKinnon-Allen was able to put the first try through for Orlando. In the end Orlando had given away too many points in the first half and despite playing much more disciplined rugby in the second half they found themselves on the losing end 23-15. Special thanks and best wishes for a speedy recovery to Todd Cherner (leg), Kiwi Jason (ankle) and Tom Murphy (knee).
The loss is the first for the club in FRU or USA Rugby competition since August 07. Orlando will refocus and be ready for another tough opponent in the Gainesville Hogs who come to town Saturday March 29. Kick off is at 1:30. The match will be the first of a double header as Orlando Div. III will play their pool championship match against Treasure Coast following Orlando Div II v Gainesville. The kickoff is scheduled for 3:30.
Man of the Match
Pati Tanuvasa
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