September 6, Big pitch celebration with University of Northern Iowa - Columbia Heights, MN

At the Annual fall "Big Pitch" celebration, Metropolis headlined a full day of rugby with a 29-12 victory over collegiate powerhouse UNI to open the fall season.

Recent Division II National Champions, UNI provided solid opposition, a good test for a Metropolis team seeking to improve on their 4th place Midwest finish from last year. Metropolis started the contest controlling possession from the outset, and retaining it well through multiple phases close to the forwards. A couple of breaks from center Dave Heebner eventually gained some field position as well, and Metropolis began testing the tryline about 15 minutes into the half. However, the UNI defensive front withstood the test, and eventually sent the action heading the other way with some good clearing kicks. On a lineout from close to midfield, UNI used a fine first phase movement to find space in the Metropolis backline, and excellent ball movement resulted in a converted try. While Metropolis continued to dominate possession, they sacrificed ball movement, and did little to gain significant ground. Eventually, the ball found its way to wing John Hromadka after a UNI kick. A solid straight arm sent the covering UNI fullback to the ground, and Hromadka outraced the remaining defense to touch down in the corner. After a missed opportunity at a penalty goal just before half, UNI maintained a 7-5 lead at the intermission.

The second half opened similar to the first, with Metropolis controlling possession. While the Metropolis point of attack close to the breakdowns did not yield many breaks in the first half, it clearly wore down the UNI pack. Metropolis took advantage in the second half, beating UNI to the breakdowns and running pick-and-go's up and down the field. Heebner broke though a thinned-out defense for the go ahead try, a 40-meter burst. More of the same led to a try from flanker and Captain Jamie Kholbeck a few minutes later. Metropolis did not yield possession throughout the half, giving UNI limited opportunities to use their athletic backline. From a scrum just outside the UNI 22-meter line, #8 Mike Kreblin picked and went weakside, attracting enough tacklers to put away trailing scrumhalf Matt Shanahan with no opposition remaining in the way. A final try saw the Metropolis forwards maul their way in from 10 meters out, dotted down by substitute flanker Doug Byrnes. UNI added a late try to bring the final to 29-12.

While not the flashy brand of Metropolis rugby, the tactical play was very sound so early in the season. This game was clearly won in the trenches by the big boys up front. Tackling was solid throughout, and the forwards manhandled a large UNI pack in the scrum all day. All in all, a good foundation for the divisional season, which kicks off next week against Northwest Indiana.

Final Score: METROPOLIS 29, UNI 12

Tries- J. Hromadka, Heebner, Kholbeck, Shanahan, Byrnes
Conversions- Prahm (2)

B-Side coverage courtesy Doug Byrnes.

score uni 22 - metropolis 8

What a day for rugby. With the smell of pig in air, fans aplenty and heat on the pitch, the B-side match ensued. After a great A-side victory over UNI in what is turning out to be both a fierce and good-natured rivalry, the B-side took the pitch. Metropolis B was filled out with a collection of active players, a few salty veteran old-boys and a smattering of new faces. I think the game can be summed up in one a name ... PEDRO .... TATER ... DICTATOR ... whatever. You pick the name, the results are the same. Our humble and loveable 7's coach took it upon himself to play with the kids from UNI and they are a better team for it. Funny, prior to the game, I asked this rugby icon if he was going to play with UNI and he said ... 'no'... as the game began, who's smiling face do i see guiding the boys forom iowa? indeed...Pedro. The game was back and forth thruout the first half and much of the second half. It featured good rucking, some dandy tackles and some spirited play.

UNI got on the board first with try and a conversion.

SCORE 2: UNI 7 - Metropolis B 5
Metropolis battles back with a collection of loose-phase waters to get the ball deep in UNI territory and then a bunch of pounding pick-and-goes by the forwards. Culminating in the diving try by ... you know him, you love him ... our very own Big Pete. How great it was to see Big Pete nimbly reach down for the ball, tuck it up into his side and lunge across the tryline in one deft motion.

SCORE 3: UNI 10 - Metropolis B 5
UNI 3 point penalty kick.

2nd Half

SCORE 4: UNI 17 - Meropolis B 5
Apparently Pedro didn't get the memo that really old-boys are supposed to slow down as the game wears on. UNI worked the ball into the right side of metropolis territory and after a series of loose plays, Pedro scampered dead ahead off a the right side of a ruck, dummied a couple of bewildered metropolis would-be tacklers and gave a nifty right lateral to an at-pace Chris Reid, who centered the ball, untouched in the metropolis tryzone. You may recall that Chris likes to split his time between us and the U of M...something about better chicks at the U. He may even someday graduate. The try was converted.

SCORE 5: UNI 17 - Metropolis B 8
Not losing faith and now under the guidance of cagey flyhalf, Greg Stern. Metropolis worked the ball outside numerous times to our venezualan viper, Pablo, who did a great job hitting and surpassing the gain line. Solid loose play by both the forwads and backs advanced the ball into UNI territory. UNI received a penalty, Metropolis chose the post and Mr. Stern converted from the 25meter mark, just right of center. Greg, once again proved his good standing with the yamaka gods by hitting the right post before bouncing the ball thru the uprights.

SCORE 6: UNI 22 - Metropolis B 8
As time waned, Metropolis battled hard to advance the ball only to find a stingy UNI defense. Metropolis kicked the ball downfield into the waiting arms of Pedro, who, in true dictator form, yelled 'WHO'S WITH ME!' to the UNI boys...apparently, there weren't any, so he took it himself. He ran past and thru a couple dozen tackles before off-loading to a streaking UNI back who took the ball along the right sideline and ran untouched past the remaining metropolis defense for the final score. Well done Tator.