Shreveport(A,B) vs. Baton Rouge (A,B)
Date: December 13, 2003
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Highland Road Park Baton Rouge, LA
Referee: Richard Prim
Sirs:
The Baton Rouge Rugby Club took a major step forward in its 2003-2004 campaign when it defeated the visiting Shreveport Rugby Football Club 32 - 12 at the BREC Highland Road Park on Saturday afternoon. The weather was cold, wet and windy which dictated a physical match dominated early by the two teams' respective packs of forwards. The match remained scoreless until the 25th minute of the first half when Baton Rouge's consistent pressure was rewarded with a rare penalty try to give the home team a 7 - 0 lead. Two minutes before half, they struck again on a 50 meter run by their elusive scrum half to take a 14 - 0 lead to the intermission. Baton Rouge had several opportunities to put the match away early in the second half, but produced no points for their efforts. With 20 minutes remaining, Shreveport mounted an impressive attack and were rewarded with their first try to cut the margin 14 - 7. Baton Rouge countered with a penalty kick to stretch the lead to 17 - 7, but the men from Shreveport weren't ready to roll over. Thirteen minutes from full time, poor tackling by Baton Rouge gave the visitors a second try. However, Shreveport missed an easy conversion which could have cut the lead to three points. Still, it was anyone's game at 17 - 12. Baton Rouge responded immediately with pressure and forced Shreveport into a penalty which was converted into three points to give the home team a 20 - 12 lead with less than ten minutes remaining. Shreveport again took the attack to within five meters of the Baton Rouge line, but this time they were denied and Baton Rouge was able to relieve the pressure with a clearing kick with five minutes to go. Needing two scores to win, Shreveport now had to take chances. A desperate attack went astray and Baton Rouge countered with a try of their own to take the score to 25 -12 and finally break the visitor's spirit. Baton Rouge added a converted try on the game's final play.
The win takes the Baton Rouge 'A' side's overall record to 7 wins with 2 defeats and puts them on top of the Texas Rugby Union Division II table at 2 - 0. The Baton Rouge "B" side defeated Shreveport "B" 22 - 7 to take their overall season record to 4 - 0 and their record within the Texas Rugby Union to 2 - 0. The Club will take the Holidays off, but will resume formal practice on January 6. The next match is an "alumni" game scheduled for January 17 at Highland Road Park. All former players are invited to play against the current side in a friendly match.