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OU attacks inside A&M's 22. |
Those are apt descriptions of what has evolved in the Allied Rugby Conference this season and only three games have been played!
Baylor traveled to Norman, OK and got a rugby lesson from the Sooners. It seemed to be the wake-up call that the Bears needed. They turned around and traveled to Lubbock this past weekend and nipped the Red Raiders by a point.
Tech has a win under their belt, but it was a unplayed forfeit by Sam Houston. Their match against Oklahoma had to be rescheduled due to weather. Weather has also prevented them from putting in plenty of meaningful practice time. This may have been the crimp in their step Saturday.
Texas A&M had to reschedule their match against Sam Houston due to an unplayable pitch in Huntsville. The Aggies defeated NSCRO's St Edward's, but they had to dig deep and rely on a lot of size and strength to do so. The next weekend, they took a shellacking from Arkansas State in another out-of-conference match. That woke up the Ags when they needed it. Texas A&M opened up this weekend with a try in the first 30 seconds to put the Sooners on notice. Had their cover defense matched their breakdown defense, the Aggies may have nipped the Sooners.
It wasn't to be. The Aggies and the Sooners played to a bone-breaking, eyebrow-swelling draw.
The Sooners are "All-In." They did more than was necessary to obtain minutes before the spring season. Wins against TCU and UNT, a trip to Vegas for more 7s, and a exclamation-point win against Baylor at home all built up a team that needed the depth. The Sooners arrived in College Station, TX with flankers playing at prop (and no props to replace them with) and a slippery scrumhalf-type at hooker who doubled as their goal-kicker. They moved their star outside center into flyhalf to ensure the ball could get delivered to their speedy fullback. A&M's first two tries woke up Oklahoma with some serious nike en rectimus. The Sooners may not have won on Saturday, but their forwards certainly did not allow them to return home with a loss.
What about Sam Houston? They've yet to play a conference match and have had to forfeit their scheduled match against Texas Tech. If you've played or watched any college rugby around Texas in the past decade, then you know that Sam is comfortable playing the spoiler. No team will be able to play the Bearkats without being ready.
Three games into the season and it is already close, undecided, and exciting!