The Austin Blacks have announced their roster for the D-III semi-final matchup against Alamo City in Dallas on Saturday.
1. Luis Navarro
2. Jaime Piedra
3. Michael Norton
4. Bryan Windsor *
5. James Spindler
6. Eric Hernandez
7. Ron Nicks
8. Jacob Wurz *
9. Toby Robledo
10. Mike Gifford
11. Ryan Little
12. Chris McCarthy *
13. Drew Low
14. Ricky Johnson
15. Mike Taylor
16. Campbell McNeil *
17. Chris Wilder
18. Michael Burcello
19. Cevins McCullah
20. Mike Graham *
21. David Jackman
22. Brian Petty
23. Connor McNally
24. Michael O’Keefe
25. Carlos Regalado
26. Nate Claggett
Alamo City 28-Man Roster (starters not in order)
1.Ray Abonce
2. Brandon Borel
3. Larkin Buchanan
4. Mark Chacon
5. Patrick Costello
6. Casey Covington
7. Matt Dreiss
8. Vince Fellone
9. Tim Guillaume
10. Nick Harrell
11. Joe Hastings
12. Bryant Jack
13. Matt Jones
14. John Korban
15. Phil Light
16. Wes Major
17. Levi Mosely
18. Kris Newman
19. Ruben Ortiz
20. Andy Perretta
21. George Rikki
22. Mike Stewart
23. Ryan Stone
24. Garrett Tallerine
25. Jamie Taylor
26. Rich Watts
27. Dezmond Williams
28. Alex Zottarelli
This is what John Anderson, coach for Alamo City, had to say about Austin. “I know the Blacks will be a very tough side; they are well coached, big, physical and have tons of speed on the outside. We have a full plate tomorrow, hopefully all the hard work that Alamo City has done in preparation for this weekend will pay dividends.”
1st. How is this public info authorized to be posted, and if it is indeed public (and authorized) where are the other team’s roster? 2nd. It’s just sad this is considered news worthy. What do you know not even 1 part-time D1 guy on the roster. I’m sure the conspiracy theories will still commence however.
I enjoy this blog immensely as it provides good coverage of the Texas rugby scene, but I think this post is an exercise of poor taste. It’s an attempt to either appease those that have a grudge against Austin, or an attempt to stir up feelings of animosity towards them. Why can’t we just let silly things like this go and let the men compete on the field? That in the end is what truly matters.
Focus on what matters. I would have rather seen a preview of each match, maybe some quotes from both coaches or captains. Things of that nature would be more useful than a “Is Austin cheating? Let’s scrutinize” post
Thanks for the feedback, but we think you misunderstand our intent.
We asked the Blacks (and Alamo City) to give us rosters so we might publicize their players. We don’t care about the controversy stemming from last year, and we did not ask the Blacks for their roster in response to last year.
We want to post the names of rugby players who will be playing. Do you know them or of them?
Rugby Magazine has been publishing the rosters of the Super League teams before the matches (when provided), and we wanted to do the same.
For the record, we reached out to Alamo City and are waiting on their roster. When we get it, we’ll post it.
And you are right, we will try to do a better job of having coach’s quotes and such – but that is sometimes hard to time right with limited responses.
Please keep reading, and know this list is more about the individual players – a little publicity (if you can call us that) for the guys toiling week in and week out.
Thanks to the Austin Blacks for the info.
Rosters are cool, but a better story would have been what happened the week leading up to these playoffs. Austin didn’t win the D3(b) division as Galveston did not earn runner up in the south division to earn a playoff spot. More information from the union or from this site on why there seems to be so much drama surrouding the D3 playoffs every year would be a good read!
Only first place finishers are invited to the TRU this year. There are actually four diviisions in the Div 3. Only 3 were recorded on the website.
1: Galveson does not play in the south division, they play in a central division, which included Katy, Austin Horde, and UT Grads. the other four teams listed in the south division Alamo City, San Antonio, McAllen, and Corpus Christi were the only teams in the south division.
2: Katy was forced to forfiet games based on findings that I do not know for sure, but i believe it was inelligilble players. This elevated Galveston into the first place of the Central Division
3: Regarding the Dallas Harlequins. The rules for fielding a Div 1 Bside team, requires that you already have a division 1 team. The harlequins did, but they used their Div 1 team to compete in Super league, and forfeited all of their div 1 league games. This disqualified their div 1 b side elligiblity. To be elligible to play in the playoff the halequins apparantly would have either needed to compete in div 1 games, or left div 1, and be placed into a div 3 regional league.
Alamo City 45 – Blacks II. 26
On behalf of the Austin Rugby Club congratulations to John Anderson and the Alamo City Rugby Club on a great victory yesterday. Good luck as you move forward with the West Play-Offs.
Lachlan Ferguson
Head Coach
Austin Rugby Club
I was on the pitch for AC against the Blacks. The Blacks played good hard rugby, and frankly, the class the Blacks showed on the pitch was surprising.. clean hard hitting rugby and they shook our hands after the match – not much more you can ask for. I definitely think more highly of the Blacks now.
I guess OKC and Shreveport are not apart of the Union even though they won DII and DIII?
But I guess it is all about Texas teams as always…
OKC win was announced on our Facebook page.
Send us more info and we will publish. We usually try to run with what we are fed. As we are not paid to do this, we are not always making everyone happy.
Thanks for reading!
Lachlan,
Thank you for your kind words. Alamo City prepared extensively for the match vs. the Blacks. AC knew it was going to be a point’s shootout; since, the last time these two team played each other the Final Score was 122 to 0.
It was honestly the best match I have seen in Texas, at any level; I am not just saying that because Alamo City won. It was exciting, both team matched up well with speed and the ability to swing it wide, both sides were hungry for a win and left everything on the field. Each side had scoring options in the Forwards and Backs, It was a back and forth match up until the last 20 minutes or so, where it appeared AC might have a little more in the gas in the tank, with their Tactical Subs on the pitch.
OKC Smashed of Galveston 72 to 5 on Saturday and might not have been wearing as much Icy-Hot as they counterparts were on Sunday. OKC came out to win on Sunday, and never relinquished the lead once to AC. AC appeared to be on their back foot most of the 1st half and just before the end of the 1st halve were able to obtain a penalty try (3 trys to 1 at halve). The 2nd halve OKC’s multiple sin-bins allowed AC to punish them for being a man down. AC attacked aggressively and was able to bring the match to within 3 by final whistle. 27 to 24. AC will be looking forward to playing OKC in the future; they have a great back three. It is always outstanding to watch great rugby like that. Kuddos to their 15 for having such a high work rate.
Alamo City will do their best to represent Texas in the best fashion they can. AC should be sending up a competitive side to play against Northern State in their 1st match of the Westerns. Like the Blacks, Northern State is big, strong, and aggressive at contact/breakdown and will have no problem swinging the ball outside to score. Again AC has their work cut out for them, as the Saturday matches are only 30 minute halves…
John Anderson
http://www.alamocityrugby.org
Alamo City RFC-Coach