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SM Mens Rugby Sweeps 2011 Opening Day

Santa Monica Rugby Club opens the 2011 SCRFU season against Huntington BeachWe set out with a goal to win three rugby games on the seasons first week and were able to achieve that and more.

The Dolphin squad opened up against the Huntington Beach Unicorns and it was David Hughes, filling in at flyhalf who opened the season scoring ledger. Padraig Cremin’s conversion was good, as were most of his kicks on the day (we recorded him as 4-5 the referee awarded 2-5). The Dolphins pressured throughout the first half and were rewarded with an Aaron Davis try and a second Hughes touchdown after a pretty nifty chip and chase.

Up 17-0 at the half the Adam Guerra lead side set their sights on a fourth try and bonus point in the second stanza. It was prop and captain, Guerra who made the magic happen as he flopped over for the 5 pointer after only a few minutes had ticked off the second half clock from a 5 meter lineout. It was the Unicorns who answered next after about 20 minutes of pressure on the Dolphins line, with a converted try. Not to be out done, reserve center, Nick Regas collected an errant Unicorn ball dipped, dashed, and dished to center, Kelly Serfoss who was moving with pace and dotted down under the posts. Cremin converted his second, and closed the scoring at 29-7.

Man of the Match was second row, Aaron Davis who ran roughshod over the opposition for 55 minutes before giving way to Matt Strangeway making his flanker debut.

The Barracuda played an outclassed Unicorn second side and were paced by 8 first half tries on their way to a total of 14. Robert Kremer converted 6/14 trys (he admitted after the game that he tried kicking off of a tee for the first time today). The Unicorns were outclassed by the entire Barracuda second team, but special mention needs to go out to the entire back line (scrumhalf, Tom Manzo; flyhalf, Kremer; wing, Chris Clay; center Joe Killifer; center, Nick Regas; wing, Cris Ersdtsiek; and fullback Zac Schwartz). The backs took the Unicorns out behind the wood shed and gave them an old fashioned ass whooping.

Chris Clay in his Santa Monica debut was man of the match for the twos.

The Santa Monica three’s, the Kelp, opened the season at Ventura, and gave the home side all they wanted. Lead by captain and flyhalf, Paul Baumer (3/6 conversions) the Kelp scored 36 unanswered points. Former ICEF wing, now Kelp scrumhalf Allen Corruth reported that he had some nice runs, and even got into the try zone, but was unable to finish.

The Kelp were coached this week by former Dolphin captain, Aaron Blatt. The players report that Blatt coaches like he captained; ruling with an iron fist, and vowing not to learn any of the players names until they’ve played a minimum of 5 games with the club.

Overall it was a magical opening day. The club outscored its opponents 147-7 on the day in three games.

Next week the 1’s and 2’s face the Los Angeles Rugby Club in San Pedro. The Kelp resume their campaign on January 29th at home.