2/1/2010
Chaps Dominate The Woodlands
The Chaps hosted one the premier schoolboy rugby programs in the state last Saturday and handed the Woodlands a whopping 39-10 loss. Unlike Westlake, the Woodlands club team draws its players from several high schools and is a perennial powerhouse. So those Westlake rugby fans who braved the wintry conditions on Saturday afternoon were rewarded with a lively match and inspired play from the home team.
Although Westlake dominated all phases of the game, its superior team speed overwhelmed the visitors. All American eight man Evan Von Zur Meuhlen kicked off – literally – Westlake’s scoring early in the match with a penalty kick, a try, and a conversion kick in rapid succession, giving the Chaps an 10-0 advantage only minutes into the match. Westlake’s scrum kept the action confined to the Woodland’s side of the pitch for much of the period and its backs, led by scrum half James Robison, put on a ball-handling display to the delight of the fans in Ebby Neptune stadium. Both of Westlake’s wings, Chase Corona and Marcus Peiper, and its fly half, Markham Sayers, each scored tries after impressive runs. After Von Zur Muehlen’s conversion kicks, Westlake had a comfortable lead of 31-0 at the half.
The Woodlands roared back in the second half trying desperately to make up the point deficit, but Westlake’s back line defense held firm for much of the period. The Woodlands only managed to score two tries in the period, and Westlake held the upper hand and dictated the tempo throughout much of the match. Maclean Martin did an outstanding job controlling the toss on the line outs while scrum half Reid Mcmenamin continued the Chap’s crisp passing attack in the second period. Von Zur Muehlen added another penalty kick and fly half Sayers collected his second try of the match when he kicked the ball over the defender’s heads and raced past them to down the ball in Woodland’s try zone. Von Zur Muehlen had a perfect day kicking despite blustery conditions, converting two penalty kicks and four conversion kicks, and, with tries, accounting for 19 of the victor’s 39 points.
The second match of the day featured the two squad’s second sides, and the Woodlands prevailed by a score of 29-12. The match was hard fought and closer than the score would indicate. Fly Half Thomas Robison scored twice in the match and Eric Wiggen notched a conversion kick to account for the Chap’s points.
Coach Al Niece was pleased with the effort, observing during the “social” after the matches that, “the Woodlands rugby program has been around a long time and is known for its aggressive play and superior coaching. For our boys to beat them by that margin shows just how far this program has come.”
Charles Vermont