The Edmonton Rugby Union all-stars were pure Gold in Wednesday’s U23 friendly against a touring select side from Texas.
Seven of the 11 tries for the Edmonton Gold were scored by St. Albert Rugby Football Club players on their home pitch in the 65-10 rout of the Lonestar Rugby Conference Rattlesnakes.
“We didn’t practice too much coming into this but the lads just came out with really good pace and played simple rugby,” said Orrin Farries of SARFC, who crossed the try line twice as the Gold eight-man. “It was just a good game of rugby.”
The hat-trick try of the night by outside-centre Antony Fitch of SARFC and conversion by scrumhalf Andy (Pinky) Kelleher of SARFC in the 24th minute made it a done deal at 31-0.
Fitch was too fast and too slippery for the Rattlesnakes to stop on his last two scoring romps.
He also threw the ball away a couple of metres away from the try line two minutes into the second half instead of dashing in for the score.
At halftime it was 41-5.
“We were expecting a more physical challenge and a more well structured attack and they didn’t necessarily bring that. We kind of took them off that by bringing up the defensive line quite fast and once we had them on their back foot they mentally had a very tough time getting into that game but they still showed a lot of hustle,” said Farries, his jersey splattered with blood from a cut around his left eye. “Kudos to (Gold coaches) Colin (Sheridan) and Forrest (Gainer) for a good game plan to keep them on the back foot.”
Fullback Josh Oden of SARFC also scored in the 12th minute and his second try ended the match.
Christian Otto and Matt Harrison started at prop and hooker, respectively, and Nathan Yue was subbed on into the front row during the second half.
They were among seven SARFC players on the 23-man roster. The Lep/Tigers were represented by eight players and the lineup included individuals from the Parkland Sharks, Clan, Nor’Westers and LA Crude.
“The boys just kind of meshed and ran off each other,” Farries said of the players who tried out for the U23 Gold. “When you have strong leadership from players like Antony Fitch and Andy Kelleher, our nine, and Josh Oden the fullback, who is a really good and strong talented Kiwi, in those positions it doesn’t really matter who shows up to these kind of rep teams.”
The Rattlesnakes looked overwhelmed by the show of force by the Gold in their tour debut of Alberta.
“They were a phenomenal team. We were very blessed and very fortunate to be able to play against them. They really showed what Canada rugby is all about. They really came out and smashed a few of us in the mouth,” said eight-man Ryan Rackley, who attends the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“We came out and gave it our best. Unfortunately we came up a little bit short but we did some really, really good things. Unfortunately we did some bad things at the same time but we have some things that we can capitalize on before our next game on Saturday (in Calgary).”
The Rattlesnakes are a collection of players from the Lonestar Collegiate Rugby Conference.
“We basically came together as an all-star group from the state. We went through multiple combines and tryouts and we were the best that performed and we were selected to come out and travel all the way out here to Canada to play,” said Rackley, 23.
The Rattlesnakes were tighter as a group as the match progressed but the slow start sealed their fate.
“We only had a couple of practices to get together so we did the best we could and I think it went pretty good from where we started to where we are now,” said winger Deionte McMurray. “It’s difficult at first because we’re all selected from our respective teams and we have to come together and gel as fast as we can.”
Down by 31 points, the Rattlesnakes found the try area in the 32nd minute and it was 55-5 when McMurray zipped down the touchline for the team’s second try.
“My teammates did a really good job of setting me up. They gave me a really great pass and from that point on it was try and get to the try line as fast as I could and help my team out,” said the student at Sam Houston State University.
McMurray, 19, was in awe of his new surroundings.
“It’s awesome. I’ve never been outside the country so touring Canada and playing this great group of guys was just phenomenal,” he said. “It’s a really good country. We went to Banff and the scenery was amazing, just to be in the Rockies and to see all the snow and different weather.”
The joint was jumping at the SARFC facility for the exhibition.
“I loved it. I’ve never seen the stands with such a diversified audience. It was nice to see that many people come out and watch us play rugby. It’s double the enjoyment when you’re scoring tries and having fun with the guys you’re playing rugby with,” said Farries, who basically walked over the try line after the first score by the Rattlesnakes and opened the second half with a diligent effort for his second try.
After the match the SARFC players started to focus on today’s Alberta Cup premier tilt with the Calgary Saints (1-2) at the Irish rugby club in the Cow Town. Kickoff is 11 a.m. between last year’s Labatt’s Cup provincial combatants, 40-12 for SARFC fantastic firsts for their second Alberta crown in a row and third in six years.
“It’s going to be an early game but we’re going to take it, just like today. We’re going to take them off the front foot. They don’t have a great semblance of a front row right now so in the scrums and the set piece we’re going to look to attack and eat them up,” said Farries, 21, a key cog in the last two provincial championships.
The firsts are 2-1 to start the premier fixtures under new head coach Si Culley.
“With the shape our coach is setting into place we’ve got big things ahead of us. The three-peat is well on its way.”
