Updated on December 18, 2015
By Dion Rabouin
ATLANTA – In the first home game of the fall season, High Country wasted little time putting up points and made a habit of it throughout a lopsided win over the Atlanta Bucks. Despite a gaggle of newcomers and a few missing veterans, the game was never in question. High Country won big, 82-17.
“For the most part, mission accomplished,” head coach Mitch Jaffe said to his team after the win. “You rucked well, hit holes hard and at pace.”
High Country got scored almost immediately off the opening kickoff and never looked back. Newcomer Doug Deer got the scoring started from the fullback position, finishing a long breakaway by center Edwin Bono with a try. Deer scored twice in the game and was selected as the man of the match for the backs.
Deer’s try was followed by four unanswered scoring drives, all with long breakaway runs by High Country players in both the forwards and the backs. High Country led 31-0 going into the game’s first break. The Bucks were low on numbers and rather than two 40-minute halves, the game was broken into four 20-minute quarters.
No matter the game’s timing, Jaffe said the win came down to solid fundamentals.
“We had good rucking, good unselfish play, decent tackling – not great – and good offloads,” he said.
The dominance continued into the second period where High Country outscored the Bucks 12-7 to take a 43-7 lead into halftime. One man who didn’t get on the board in the first half was High Country captain Troy Albright. That was apparently intolerable for the fly half.
“I went to the sideline and said to myself, ‘Troy, this is unacceptable,” Albright said. “There’s no ‘I’ in team, but there is a ‘me.’”
Albright scored three tries in the second half.
Corey NaLampoon, who stepped in at 8 man and scored his first try of the season to begin the second half, was selected as the man of the match for the forwards. He gave the credit for his success to some great mentoring.
“I had never played [8 man] in my life,” he said. “I was a little nervous at first, but under the tutelage of Jonathan M. Fine I was able to work it out.”
Nalampoon also pointed to a solid nutrition program he adhered to the night before the game.
“I didn’t have a heart attack, you know, I had sushi last night and didn’t crap myself,” he said.
The Bucks got two scores from their captain Joe Pennington and the third from High Country’s Mark Primavera, who was subbing in for the shorthanded side.
Deer’s two tries were his first with High Country and thus after the game he was welcomed to the club by performing a zulu.
High Country was bitten slightly by the injury bug with back Abram Vera and forward Lee Meche leaving the game with injuries. Coach Jaffe was less than impressed with Vera’s attention to injury, noting, “Ligaments are like rubber bands. Plus, Abram is a jackass. Make sure you write that.”
Next week, the team will play at home against league foe Macon at Walter Park.
Updated on December 18, 2015
First Home Game
On September 29th, High Country will host the Atlanta Bucks at Walker Park. Kick off is at 1 pm with a drink up to follow at the Brewhouse. Walker Park is located at 200 Memorial Terrace Southeast, Atlanta, GA. A google maps link can be found here . The Brewhouse is located at 401 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA. A google maps link to it can be found here .
Updated on December 18, 2015
First training just around the corner
Gentlemen, the time is at hand to come together for our Fall 15’s initial practice. Dust off your boots, grab your bag and get ready for another season of High Country Rugby. So far it looks like we will be travelling to Augusta where we will have a full crowd waiting for us. We will be playing the Atlanta Bucks at home, followed by Macon. For list of our full schedule click here .
Updated on December 18, 2015
A little over two weeks until training for fall.
As posted before, first training is August 30th. Make sure you are getting some conditioning in before that first practice. After looking up rugby conditioning online, I came up with this site which has some interval training and Lactate tolerance Training. I will say from personal experience that the union jacks are no joke.
Updated on December 18, 2015
Fall 15’s practice to begin on Thursday August 30 7pm
Lace up your boots, pack your kit, and say goodbye to your friends and loved ones because rugby season starts soon. And it is time to start preparing for the campaign that we will be undergoing for the fall. Once the schedule is firmed up, it will be posted on this site. Practices will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm rain or shine. All practices be at Southside Maynard Jackson HS Football field unless otherwise posted. As they are doing renovations to the school, parking will be on the street beside the concrete plant.
Updated on December 18, 2015
HCRFC takes 3rd in Hotlanta 7’s
On July 14th HCRFC placed 3rd in the annual Hotlanta 7’s tournament. A brief synapses of the day was supplied by the team captain.
“There were ten teams in the open division with 4 games being played by each team. The four teams with the best record went to semi finals. We went 3 - 1, putting a hurtin on a couple teams and lost to NARC. In the semi finals, we lost to “The Slackers” (who won the whole thing) 3 tries to 1. Really good day of rugby.”
Updated on December 18, 2015
Georgia Games Twilight 7’s
Come cheer on your High Country Rugby club as it competes in the 2012 Twilight 7’s Rugby Tournament hosted by the Georgia State Games on July 21’st. More information can be found here .