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This weekend is Rugby Fest in Edmonton

 

From on top of the Goal Post

The  view from on top of the Goal Post was not pretty this past Saturday as the Reaper Men’s played the Krems from Saskatoon in exhibition play.  While the Reapers showed moments of brilliance it was quickly dashed by errant passes , dismal body position in the rucks and a lack of focus in the set plays.

 

 
Reapers did put the points on the board first with a nice display of one and outs.  It could have been a lot worse for the Krems as majority of the time was spent in their half.  Many times though the Reapers failed to capitalize on their opportunities.  I am sure Coach Dean Murten would have pulled out his hair if he had any left. 
Since the Krems wanted to evaluate talent for their 1st and 2nd Division squad the game was broken into quarters, not the usually 40 minute halves which actually burned the Reapers at the end of the first quarter. A  5 metre line out was coming their way when the whistle went and had to restart the second quarter  with a kick off from half.  It would be late in that second quarter when the Krems would tie the game with no time left on the clock, 120 minutes of shutting their opponents out ended by a punch in from the wing.

Two more scores from both teams would come and go in the last half but it was the Krems that dictated the play .  The eventually winner would come at the end of the game when the Reapers could not seem to clear the lines .  Pinned dept in their half, a block kick by the Krems would be the winner with only two minutes left on the clock.
The saddest part of this loss was the fact the Reapers did not match the effort not of the Krems but the effort of their Coach. Questions that will need to be addressed before first league game in next two weeks are:

Do I know the set plays? 
Is the working group at phase 1 out hustling me to the ball?
Are the lineouts being called before arriving on awarded penalties?
Are you calling Pillars and Posts?
Are you willing to take the hit rather than passing the ball into no man’s land?
When is the right time to retaliate?
What did I do the night before to prepare for the game?

While the article is kind of negative, I think we all want to win.  We didn’t bring Dean over here for a full season to lose.  His given a lot of things up in his personal life so he can grow the sport of Rugby, all that he asks is that you wear your heart on your sleeve.

-Dwayne

Remember Train Hard, Achieve Greatness