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Saturday, May 2, 2009

Away - Quins RSL vs. PAC

MATCH REPORT

Dallas Clinch Play Off Berths

Dallas has clinched a spot in the Rugby Super League Play Offs with a 29-15 win over Potomac Athletic Club, ending PAC's season. The visiting Harlequins picked the right time to claim their first away win of the season, guaranteeing themselves a place in the finals with a tough win. Dallas shot out to a 13-0 lead early before the home side clawed back with two tries to be within striking range at 18-10 at halftime. A third Potomac try just after the break breathed life into their own slim play off aspirations with the score back at 18-15 however the Harlequins regrouped with winger Frank Muchugia's second try and two penalties to Vaughn Crowe.   DALLAS HARLEQUINS 29 (TRIES: Frank Muchugia 2, Tim McNeeley; CONVERSIONS: Vaughn Crowe; PENALTIES: Vaughn Crowe 4) d. POTOMAC ATHLETIC CLUB 15 (TRIES: Al Martinez, Matthew Grinney, Guy Justin Prud'homme)

Saturday, April 26, 2009

Home - Quins RSL vs. Boston

MATCH REPORT

BOSTON @ DALLAS HARLEQUINS

The Dallas Harlequins have kept their season alive with a 28-7 win over Boston in Dallas.

The win moves the side into fifth place on the standings, equal on points with Charlotte but behind thanks to their head-to-head loss in round five, and gives them every chance of securing a finals berth in the final round.

After two early Vaughn Crowe penalties gave the home side a 6-0 lead, prop Jimmy Jewison crashed over to give his side an 11-0 advantage at halftime.

Boston then countered after the break to get within seven at 14-7 before a double to winger Drew West gave the home side a much needed win.

“We didn't play good rugby it was as simple as that,” Boston coach Eugene Mountjoy said.

“We didn't take the opportunities we had, particularly in the first half when we had the wind at our back.

“We got into scoring positions but for one reason or another couldn't finish.”

Boston now must win against the currently undefeated Life University and hope other results go their way if they are to feature in this season's finals.

“Stranger things have happened,” Mountjoy said.

“Boston never gives up and we will get back to training and prepare well before doing our best in front of our fans.

“We won't go down without a fight.”

DALLAS HARLEQUINS 28 (TRIES: Drew West 2, Jimmy Jewison; CONVERSIONS: Vaughn Crowe 2; PENALTIES: Vaughn Crowe 3) d. BOSTON 7 (TRIES: Justin Goonan; CONVERSIONS: Johannes Christoffel Swanepoel)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Away - Quins RSL vs. Charlotte

MATCH REPORT

DALLAS HARLEQUINS @ CHARLOTTE

Charlotte has overtaken Dallas to jump into the top four thanks to an impressive 37-17 victory over the Harlequins.

The home side played their best rugby of the season thus far to turn a 20-3 halftime lead into a clinical bonus point win, giving them the edge in the race to the play offs.

The result continued the poor away form shown by the Harlequins this season, with the boys from Dallas having real problems bringing their ‘A' game on the road.

“The most pleasing aspect of the win was we played as well as we practiced and finally put some good rugby together for most of the match,” Charlotte coach David Hamilton said.

“We set the tone in practice by being very physical, in fact Tuesday's session was probably the most physical I've ever seen here at the club.

“The boys then took it out on the field and concentrated on the collision which have us the upper hand early.

“By being physical up front we were able to create more chances and the result went our way.”

CHARLOTTE 37 (TRIES: Andrew Wilkins 2, Michael Felts, Tim Reading, Koeloe Basson; CONVERSIONS: Jason Zehmke 3; PENALTIES: Jason Zehmke 2) d. DALLAS HARLEQUINS 17 (TRIES: Kaleb West, Corne Cronje; CONVERSIONS: Vaughn Crowe 2; PENALTIES: Vaughn Crowe)  

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Home - Quins RSL vs. NYAC

MATCH REPORTS

Quins 39 NYAC 14

The Quins came out of their recent slump with a bang on Saturday.

After 3 grueling training sessions this week to prepare them for the match, the boys were pumped, ready to go and it showed from the opening kick-off. The attack ran at the NYAC defense consistently breaking the gain line and spoiling NYAC's ball at the breakdowns. The first score came after a line break from one of the Quins many young college players, Jimmy Jewison with support from Zach Rutlege the move being finished off by another college player Jason Engelbrecht who dived over for the score under the posts.

NYAC struck back with a penalty from full back Dan Power but errors with their own possession kept them playing defense for much of the game. The second Quins try came from a NYAC scrum when #8 Tim McNeeley charged down the attempted clearance kick, gathered the ball and scored in the corner. The conversion was made by flyhalf Vaughn Crowe into a stiff breeze from the sideline signaling that he was going to be dangerous with the boot from anywhere within range.  Two more NYAC penalties and one from Crowe ended the first half with the Quins 17-9 ahead.

The second half started with a try from center Kieran Ross after the Quins put pressure on a deep kick forcing the NYAC winger to fumble close to their line, allowing Ross to pick up and dive over for the try. With the conversion and a further penalty by Crowe the match was starting to slip away from the visitors. The try of the match came from turn over ball inside the Quins 22, fed to center Martin then out wide to prop Jewison who made a perfect chip kick around the NYAC winger and outpaced their 8 man to gather and score out wide.

As the game entered the last 1/4, fresh legs from the reserves continued to pound the visitors on defense and attack. The final Quins try came from hard working center Andrew Martin taking a quick tap penalty catching the visitors with their backs turned scoring out wide. With the scoreline at 39-9 the game was well and truely out of NYAC's reach, their only consolation being a try at the final whistle.

Quins: Trys Engelbrecht, McNeeley, Ross, Jewison, Martin. Conversions Crowe (3) Gallo, Penalties Crowe(2)
NYAC: Try Power, Penalties Power (3)

The Quins now stand 4th in the Blue conference going into the Easter break. 

Quins Welcome Texas Rugby Union

Divisional Restructuring

The Texas Rugby Union has decided to restructure the competitive leagues for the 2008-2009 rugby season. During each off-season, the TRU Competitions Committee evaluates the past season and looks for ways to improve the level of competition across all levels for the upcoming season. “The changes for Division I and Division II for this upcoming season are quite radical for the TRU in the sense that normally the structure stays basically the same but teams are moved around in order to shoot at the target of more competitive games” says Dallas Harlequins RFC Head Coach Michael Engelbrecht.

The “radical” nature of change that Coach Engelbrecht refers to is that the TRU has decided to drop the long standing Texas Premier League requirement that stipulates that RSL and Division I clubs must field 2 sides in the Texas Premier League (competing in Division 1 A and Division 1 B respectively). Additionally, the TRU has decided that those clubs that can field a bona fide 2 nd side can have that side compete in any one of the other TRU competitive divisions.

As a result of these changes the Quins have decided that they will field a TRU Division I side as they have in years past but instead now will field their 2 nd side in the TRU Division II competition. “What this means to the Quins is that our 2 nd side is now able to compete in more meaningful games during the course of a season and that each of these games now count toward not only a Texas Rugby Union Championship but also a seeding in the West Territorial Club Championships and ultimately a chance at a USA National Championship” states Coach Engelbrecht.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction” concludes Engelbrecht, “this sort of structure goes a long way to supporting the top clubs in the Texas Rugby Union and provides them the same opportunities to grow and prosper as it does all the other clubs. The provision of meaningful games to all club players throughout the season is critical to developing playing depth in a club and keeping the full club membership engaged and challenged.”

Join a Winning Team

Come out to practice and join our club. We welcome all players.