KUA overcomes a 12-point deficit in the final minute of the match to secure a tie with Portland RFC.
KUA 29 Portland 29
KUA overcame a 12-point deficit in the final minute of the match to secure a tie with Portland. Asher Pollak scored a try with mere seconds remaining in the match securing what was thought to be a 31-29 KUA victory! Minutes later, however, the referee indicated that a re-tally indicated a 29-29 draw.
Portland scored first at the 18-minute mark and added the conversion. Henry Hamilton drove in from 5 meters out to close the gap, but Portland answered with a long drive and try. Portland went back to their bench with with a 12-5 halftime lead.
After back and forth play in the first 10 minutes of the second half, Portland found the try area twice in a five-minute span and took a commanding 22-5 lead. The KUA side refused to give in, though, and fought through every ruck and maul to gain control. After a number of phases Xavier Manning ran it in from 50 meters out for a try, out pacing 4 Portland defenders. Some controversy surrounded the conversion kick, but the KUA side played on. Soon after Xavier’s score, Will Robbins-Cole found the try area, running it in from 22 meters. Will also added the conversion kick to close the gap to 22-17 with 10 minutes to play.
With five minutes left in the match, Portland added an insurance try and conversion kick to take a 29-17 lead. It was looking like the hard fought comeback had come to an end. But then, as the time on the pitch went under the minute mark, Portland turned a sure try into a turnover in the KUA goal area. Will Robbins-Cole scooped up the ball and ran it back 103 meters for a try. He also added the conversion kick to close the gap to 29-24. With time running out, a Portland penalty gave KUA the ball at the 50 meter line. Knowing that the next whistle would end the match, the KUA side fought hard to advance the ball and look for one last opportunity. Asher Pollak saw an opening and ran 30 meters for the tying try in the right corner.
Asher’s tryThe conversion kick fell just shy and KUA came home with a hard fought draw against a very talented Portland side!
It was a bruising day on the rugby pitch for both sides. Despite the physical play all afternoon, the members of the KUA side never gave up. When the final whistle blew, it was actually thought to be a KUA win until the re-tally of points indicated the draw. Rugby is a different sport. It is a physical sport. Players like Arthur Hwang, Antonio Suer, Henry Hamilton, Nihat Alizade, Asher Pollak, Anthony Intrieri, Rintaro Kawahara, Will Robbins-Cole, Charles Qian, Tanner Fisher, Nick Powers, Trevor Adams, Busara Hall, Elliot Stevenson, Jorge Manzur, Patrick Quinn, and Hamson Shen can tell you how hard it is to get up off the turf after consistently throwing all you have into a match. Everybody seemed to have that moment when getting up seemed impossible. All however, did get back to their feet and played on. Anthony and Rintaro were really banged up, but both stayed on the pitch for as long as possible before being replaced. Nihat was the fullback and was the last line of defense. He had to take on runners twice his size, but kept bouncing back.
Patrick Quinn and Hamson Shen played key roles on the day. Both entered the match early on and played well. Elliot Stevenson was switched to flanker from lock mid match. Despite only spending a short amount of practice time at the position he quickly took to the role. Tanner Fisher played his first complete match, and played two different positions.
Man of the match honors goes to every member of the KUA Rugby football club. Hug a rugby player this week.
KUA hosts Kearsarge RFC on Wednesday in on Kilton Pitch.
Please notice that the author refused to simply change the ‘Harvard beats Yale 29-29’ headline from the 1968 football season in the making of this report.
