Jacks Lose Road Game to Temecula

The Eastern Sierra Rugby Football Club (the Jacks) traveled to Temecula Saturday, 2/5/11, losing 32-0 for their second Southern California Rugby Football Union Division IV league loss. The news of the game is a bit sketchy as Jacks coach, Rick Frey, didn’t make the trip due to illness. Player reports indicate that the Mountain Lions scored four tries, converted three of them, and also made two penalty kicks in the 80 minute match. “They were a big, well-coached team with a lot of experienced players,” said Jacks forward, Bill Boyd. “They’ve been demolishing other teams in our league by 50 or more points and probably ought to be moved up into Division III. The fact that we held them to 32 points is actually a compliment to the play of our young Division IV squad.”

It probably didn’t help matters for the Jacks when Boyd, one of only three Jacks players with any previous rugby experience, had to leave the match in the third minute with a probable separated shoulder. On the sidelines, he was able to watch his teammates as they continually thwarted the Temecula team which was comprised of several veteran ruggers, two of whom were also former college football running backs. He praised the continued good play of Jacks players Manny Terrazas and Tony Bajtala, and the improved play of Nathan Whitehouse, Everett Patterson, Nate Williams, Eric Eddy, and Dennis Worley.  

The Jacks, now 3-2 in league play, have two weeks off before they take on the Orange County Ravens Rugby Club on Saturday, February 19^th, at 1:00 p.m. The match will be played on the west side of Pine Street School in Bishop. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to come out, cheer on the home team, and learn a little bit more about the exciting game of Rugby.

Jacks Lose Close Match to Ventura

The Eastern Sierra Rugby Football Club (the Jacks) faced the Ventura Outlaws on Saturday, 1/29/11, losing 10-7 for their first Southern California Rugby Football Union Division IV league loss. The Outlaws got on the scoreboard first at 3:43 of the first half, scoring a 3-point penalty kick. Play was even throughout the rest of the first half until Jacks’ fullback, Brad Miller, had his clearing punt blocked by the Outlaw standoff, who recovered the kick and ran in for a five point try with about 10 minutes left in the half. The two point conversion was good and the Outlaws led 10-0 at halftime.

The Jacks captured the momentum in the second half keeping play in the Outlaw half of the field for the first 30 minutes. After a series of strong forward rushes and a couple of fast penalty taps by Jacks scrumhalf, Manny Terrazas, Jacks inside center Mark Gadea broke tackles and crashed to within 3 yards of the Outlaw goal line. The Jacks forwards mauled the ball across the line and Gadea was able to touch the ball down for the Jacks first points. Terrazas converted the try and the score with 10 minutes left in the match was Outlaws 10, Jacks 7.

With the momentum definitely in the Jacks favor, the Outlaws coach made several substitutions to bring in fresh players. That resulted in play being primarily near the Jacks’ goal line in the final minutes; however the Eastern Sierra players put up a strong defense preventing any further Outlaws points. The game ended at 10-7 in favor of the Outlaws.

“I was particularly proud of our effort in the second half,” said Jacks coach, Rick Frey. “We only had 16 players make the trip which meant we only had one substitute we could use in the 80 minute game. In effect, we played against 20 of their guys, some of which we found out later were from their veteran Division III team. Ventura was definitely more experienced than us; but our guys never quit…and actually were within striking distance to have won the game.”

The Jacks are now 3-1 in league play and face Temecula Rugby Club next Saturday for their third road game in a row.