HARC Finish 2nd in D1 Playoff

This past weekend, the HARC Men's team traveled to Fort Worth as the Texas #2 seed in the Western Playoffs. We had finished the season with four consecutive wins and this was to be our first post-season appearance since 2005. Our opponent on a hot and sunny Saturday afternoon was Boulder, the team that had beaten us in that game three years ago.

[SATURDAY] HARC 27 - Boulder RFC 22
HARC started the game at a furious pace with both forwards and backs controlling the ball well. Boulder hardly had a touch of the ball in the opening ten minutes and Houston's early dominance was rewarded with a Matt Hoare penalty. After such a promising start however, the match started to turn into a scrappy affair with persistent infringements at the breakdown preventing either team from exerting any dominance. Boulder began to come more and more into the game and when a counter-attack opportunity was handed to their dangerous back three, they cut through HARC's line to score a fine try. Moments later, a handling error in midfield was seized on by Boulder and they were in again. But with both conversion attempts sailing wide, HARC only trailed 3-10 and still looked the better side. Houston again began to control possession and exert pressure around the fringes of the breakdown as our superior distribution out of contact began to stretch the defense. A superb break by flanker Oli Laseinde nearly ended in a try as the pressure began to build and, minutes later, he broke clear again at the breakdown and outpaced the cover to score under the posts. 10-10. HARC were beginning to dictate matters. No. 8 Carl Newman attacked the inside defense, dummied the pass and was over. 17-10. As half-time approached, Boulder were again caught out at the breakdown as scrum-half Matt Echezabal made a clinical break from midfield to score under the posts. Matt Hoare continued his fine day with the boot and HARC led 24-10 at half-time.
Three quick tries had completely turned the game around. The second half began with Boulder immediately attempting to spin the ball wide to make use of their outside backs but were met time and again by outstanding cover defense. Still, as the pressure mounted, Boulder eventually took their chance and scored their third try to narrow the gap to 24-17. Persistent infringements at the breakdown and counter-attack opportunities were now starting to take their toll in the heat. Boulder were now dominating territory and looked far likelier to score. A number of chances went begging at the goal line as HARC defenders forced handling errors and turn-overs but finally the line broke and Boulder were within striking distance. 24-22. But, in what has become a feature of this new HARC, there would be no further heroics by Boulder. A last-minute defeat at Shreveport followed by one point wins over San Antonio and the Woodlands has taught this Houston side how to fight for the full 80 minutes and HARC went on the attack in search of the match-winning score. It was now Boulder who were punished at the breakdown and Matt Hoare's second penalty gave HARC a five-point lead. The final two minutes seemed to last an eternity as Boulder again attacked deep inside HARC's 22. But the blue line held and Houston ran out winners, 27-22.

[SUNDAY] HARC 0 - Aspen 31
And so to Sunday and Aspen, a team who had lost only one match all season and had dispatched the Woodlands 67-3 the previous day. We had no illusions as to the task ahead but equally had no doubts that we could improve upon Saturday's performance. The conditions were completely different as although the overnight rain had no effect on the artificial surface, the 30 degree drop in temperature from the previous day was somewhat unexpected. Reports on Aspen spoke of a team with an outstanding lineout, capable of rapidly recycling ball courtesy of a very mobile back row. The early exchanges saw neither team gain any real dominance. HARC were able to retain possession well but a long-range Matt Hoare penalty fell short. Aspen then began to dominate at the lineout and a fine midfield break resulted in their first try. More pressure followed as Aspen kept the ball tight and offloaded well in the tackle. The HARC defense was resolute but was unable to prevent a second score and a 0-14 deficit.
Aspen now began to move the ball well, relying on their back row to secure possession before combining forwards and backs out wide. However whether attempting to punch through midfield or move the ball wide, they were met by wave after wave of HARC defenders. Half breaks were made and overlaps created, but these were just as quickly snuffed out as forwards and backs combined to make tackle after tackle or drive their opponent into touch. Moreover, time and again Aspen were penalized for not releasing as Houston arrived in numbers at the breakdown or were driven off the ball and turned over. HARC attempted to attack at every opportunity with drives close to the ruck and maul producing good yards and recycled ball. However the telling breaks of the previous day did not appear. Aspen's third try came from a close lineout. The ball was caught and the player driven over with well-practiced precision. Half-time: HARC 0-19 Aspen. The half-time talk was very simple. Win or lose, give everything you have left. And everyone did. HARC tackled, rucked, mauled, and fought for every scrap of possession and when, through injury or otherwise, a player came off, their replacement did the same. For fully 30 minutes Aspen were unable to add to their advantage while being forced to defend mightily themselves. Only in the last few minutes were they able to break again to score under posts. A further try in the dying seconds made the final score 0-31 but while disappointed in the outcome, there was a genuine sense of pride in our performance at the final whistle. Not only in the effort that each player had put in on the field but in how we have grown as a team this season and what we believe that we'll achieve next year.