Since our fans are no different, we want you to nominate the best that have ever worn the Black and Gold! The rules are simple, the nominee can be from any era of our 40+ year history but please make sure they played for Austin Rugby more than one season. Nominations start next week with the front row, so start thinking about who should represent the All-Time Austin Blacks!

The kickoff times are:

• 1:30        Blacks-2 vs. Huns-2
• 3:00        Blacks vs. Huns

In addition, Austin Rugby Club will be hosting a special Ladies Day at Burr Field in honor of the ladies who support the club. There will be complimentary Champaign and Mimosas in a special Ladies area during the matches. We cordially invite all our members and supporters to Saturday’s matches with special emphasis on our members of the fairer sex.

This past weekend the Austin Rugby Club’s Div.1 team opened the season with a bang defeating Shreveport 112-0 at Burr Field. The score-line flatters us a bit since Shreveport showed up with only 13 players. Nevertheless, it’s not easy to score 18 trys no matter what the opposition puts out. Aaron Seaney led the way with six trys followed by Levi Kareti and Dave Comerford with two each. Eight players scored one try apiece – Alex Lamont, John Murrell, Austin Byrne, Dave Goss, Ryan Little, Alex Sarroff, Ryan Mouritzen, and Zak Triplett. Austin converted 11 trys with newly arrived Fly-half, Gonzalo Sanchez kicking four, Levi adding six, and Aaron one.

In the early match, Blacks-2 jumped out to an early 7-0 lead over West Houston through a try by Brian Petty and Michael Taylor’s conversion. West Houston narrowed it to 7-5 before Ron “Pinky” Nicks touched down and Michael Taylor struck a penalty to increase the Austin lead to 10-5. However, West Houston controlled most of the rest of the match with five more trys and three conversions. For Austin, Mitch Landis and Michael Taylor scored trys with Taylor converting both for the final score, Austin-29, West Houston-36. The Blacks Div.3 side salvaged two league bonus points for scoring 4 trys and losing by less than 8.

Next up for Austin are two matches against cross-town rival Huns RFC. Blacks-2 host Huns-2 on Saturday in a 1:30 friendly match followed by Blacks vs. Huns in the Div.1 League match. The match is also a Justin Whitehead Trophy match which the Blacks have held since its inception in 2005.

Hope to see you at Burr Field this Saturday, Jan.29.

First half

HARC received the opening kickoff and maintained possession for most of the initial 5 minutes. Though they were repeatedly driven back by hard tackles and aggressive counter-rucking they were aided by the referee’s whistle (6 penalties against Austin in the first 5 min). Eventually HARC was able to take a shot at goal and take the lead at 3-0. However, the Blacks came storming back with three unanswered trys in the next 20 minutes – one by evergreen prop Mark Brewerton at 11 min, Captain and #8 Troy Mussey at 16 min, and winger Ryan Little at 27 min plus two conversions by scrum-half Zak Triplett. At 32 min HARC answered with a penalty followed quickly by another try by Blacks fly-half Levi Kereti. With less than a minute left in the half, Austin held a commanding 24-6 lead but, against the run of play, HARC broke through for a converted try to narrow the half-time lead to 24-13. Austin had dominated HARC in the first forty and had already secured the 4–try bonus point. But head coach Lach Ferguson sternly reminded them that there was still 40 min remaining.

Second half

At 48 min Zak added a penalty kick and followed up 4 minutes later with a try to take the lead to 32-13. But HARC came storming back with two trys and a conversion to narrow the lead to seven and look to salvage a bonus-point. However, enter super-sub, Aaron Seaney. Seaney blistered the HARC defense with an 80 meter sprint to touch down between the posts. Zak converted and the final score was Blacks-39, HARC-25. Troy Mussey was named by HARC as Blacks Man of the Match.

The 2^nd team match between Blacks and HARC followed with Austin dominating and eventually running out 52-24 winners. It was more points than Asst. coach Todd Oosterhouse would have liked to have conceded  but he was encouraged with the commitment of the squad – Austin traveled with 40 players. A couple of new  players stood out in their first outing in the “Black and Gold” jerseys. Second-row Ty Terrazone featured as a late substitute in the Blacks match and exploded with  three trys in the second match. Three other new players also scored trys: prop-Aaron Callaghan, Inside center-Tim Mason, and winger-Martwain Johnston. Outside center-Nick Whitelonis and winger-Aaron Seaney also added trys and Fullback-Michael Taylor kicked 6 of 8 conversions.

Austin Area High School also rugby pick up a 20-5 win over Alamo Heights on Friday night to leave Austin RC undefeated on the opening weekend.

Next up for Austin is a home weekend at Burr Field this coming Saturday, Jan.22.

1:30        Div.3      Blacks-2 vs. West Houston

3:00        Div.1      Blacks vs. Shreveport

St. Edwards also hosts Steven F. Austin and UT Grads host Huns-2 at Burr Field on Saturday.

By RUGBYMag.com Staff (Trevor Kohl on the run for the Sun Devils this season.)

Arizona State Head Football Coach Dennis Erickson has given the go-ahead for varsity and scholarship football players to participate in Arizona State’s rugby team this season.

The announcement is a huge benefit to the Sun Devils rugby program, which is jumping from DII to the College Premier League this season.

Read Full Article Here: Gridiron Influx Jolts ASU CPL Campaign

This past weekend Austin travelled with 22 players to San Antonio for the Div.3 League match.  In very windy conditions the Blacks-2 scored 10 trys, converting five, while allowing no points to San Antonio. Scorers for Austin included:

Trys – Rickey Johnson (2), Will Martin (2), Michael Taylor, Troy Mussey, David Goss, Nick Whitelonis, Dave Comerford, and Mark Brewerton. Michael Taylor kicked five conversions.

The last match of the season will be this coming Saturday as the Blacks-2 travel once again to San Antonio to play Alamo City at Doc Bowie field. Kickoff time at directions will be provided later this week.

Immediately following the match, the team will head back to Austin for the Christmas Party at Burr Field – 7pm start, no end time.

Next up for the Blacks is a Div.3 League match at San Antonio Olmos Park this coming Saturday – kickoff at 2:00pm.

Thanks, Bill