Men’s rugby loses in first home game of year
A Kent State men’s rugby player fights for possession of the thrown in ball during their game against Ohio University at Dix Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. Kent State only scored a single try during the match, losing to Ohio University 30-5.
The rugby match between the Kent State Flashes and Ohio University Bobcats can be summed up in the words shouted by someone on the Flashes’ sideline: “It’s a s— show.”
“(Lack of) defensive (organization) really lost the game,” team president Keegan Gillilan said. “When we were in a perfectly spaced-out line we just didn’t move. We just watched them run over us, and they do not have good pack players (forwards). We made them look like superstars.”
The Flashes lost to the Bobcats on a blistering cold, 37-degree afternoon that felt closer to 15 degrees because of the gusting wind and occasional snowfall.
The Bobcats are the closest to an even match the Flashes have faced this season, according to head coach Tim Brofman, making this defeat that much harder to deal with.
“The story all year long has been we didn’t have a strong week of practice, and the results showed on the field,” Brofman said. “It was the perfect storm. A few guys were late showing up, it was a week of practice that wasn’t spectacular, and when you move from week to week, you should be getting better at what you’re already good at, and we have a bad habit of having to rework everything we’ve done.”
Brofman said the fact that the team doesn’t have as much time together compared to the Bobcats – they only practice twice a week compared to five times a week for the Bobcats – and not getting more fundamental work in, contributes to the breakdowns.
The Flashes’ fundamental flaws of giving no support downfield for the offense and being out of position to make tackles, were two major (mistakes) that can’t happen, Gillilan said.
“Honestly, all game it was a lack of concentration,” said junior fly half Ian Brooks. “Nobody was ready to come out and face this team, and these guys made the trip up here and were ready to smack us in the face, (which) they did.”
Brooks said the Flashes lacked what good rugby teams do, and that’s being able to drive the ball in for a try when a team gets within five yards of a score.
“Nobody wanted it,” Brooks said.
Kyle Samec is a sports reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].