Westlake Takes Fourth Place in Dallas Jesuit Tournament
The Westlake rugby squad took advantage of a break in its schedule of cup matches last weekend by traveling to Dallas and participating in the 10th annual Dallas Jesuit Rugby Tournament. The tournament attracts some of the strongest rugby teams – both single school and club teams – in the state and the Westlake coaches were thrilled not only to take fourth place but to also get all twenty-eight ruggers that took the trip plenty of playing time against high-caliber teams with long-standing rugby traditions.
The Westbank locals kicked off the tournament on Saturday morning with a match against a very strong Plano-area club team, many of whose members played for South Lake Carroll’s football team. As the sides took the field it became apparent that, to a man, the opposing scrum outweighed Westlake’s scrum by at least 50 pounds. So the mixed side that Westlake fielded did a masterful job keeping the opponents at bay during the first half. Hooker Colin Harman and props Alex Putnam and Kelvin Arrindell helped keep the opponents bottled up at mid-field for much of the period. And both Josh Womack and Daniel Sharplin helped the Chaps control their share of the lineouts.
During the second half, Westlake jump-started its kicking game, which allowed its backs to move the ball. Markham “the Leg” Sayers took a pass from scrum half Connor McNally and kicked the ball to an open part of the field, just ahead of Paul Brown, who was racing full-tilt down the sideline. Brown beat the opposition to the ball, scoop it up, and rambled in to score. Evan von zur Muehlen added both a conversion kick and a penalty kick late in the game. Even though Plano scored a try in the period, the Westlake scrum continued to play inspired rugby in the second half, highlighted by David Babin’s continual harassment of the opponent’s fly half. Westlake ultimately prevailed over Plano 10-5 and scrum half Connor McNally, who skillfully directed the Westlake attack, was awarded “Man of the Match” honors by the tournament organizers.
Saturday afternoon’s match again pitted a mixed Westlake side against another over-sized team, the Alliance Club team from the Dallas area. Alliance took advantage of its superior size by scoring quickly after the opening kick. Even though Westlake’s scrum fought valiantly, especially prop James Howe and hooker Chris Van Datta, Alliance scored twice more in the period and went in to the half up 15-0.
Westlake had the wind at its back in the second half and took good advantage of it throughout the period. After taking a pass from Sayers shortly after the period got underway, Ellis Glaw pitched the ball to Cameron “Straight Line” Stroup on the wing, who ran untouched into the try zone. Evan von zur Muehlen added a conversion kick and the Westlake faithful had reason to hope. But Alliance scored again in the period and time ran out for the locals as they fell 22-7 to Alliance.
The final match of the tournament for Westlake was on Sunday afternoon against the hosts, Dallas Jesuit. Westlake had beaten Jesuit earlier in the season in Austin, but this match featured a mixed side for Westlake against a hungry Jesuit team, anxious to avenge its earlier loss. Jesuit scored twice in the first period while Westlake managed only one try - when Ari “the Bull” Shita lowered his head and once again carried several of the opponent’s scrummies across the try line with him after a short run.
The second half started with Westlake down 14-5 but the locals quickly jumped into the lead when Paul “Bronco” Brown broke through the defense and scored twice in quick succession. Von zur Muehlen added two conversion kicks and Westlake found itself sitting on a precarious 5-point lead with the period draining away. Jesuit scored again to knot the score at 19 apiece until fly half Sayers added another try after a long breakaway run. Von zur Muehlen’s conversion kick was good and, with only minutes remaining, Westlake clung to a 2 point advantage.
Unfortunately, Westlake was called for a series of penalties late in the match, two of which resulted in players being sent to the sin bin. Jesuit took good advantage of their superior numbers and scored once more as time was running out to seal the victory, 31-26.
Charles Vermont