| OCR Text |
Show mmmmmmmmmmmmmemimmwmmmmmmmammm TJlC photo by Dave Mueller The Muckers and the Assassins tussle in a ruck for the ball. Portoeuf Assassins are shown the door by Park City hosts by Dave Mueller In a determined effort to shore up their game before the annual Fourth of July Haggis match, the Park City Muckers played rude host to the Portneuf Assassins on I.Saturday, , besting the Idaho side 21-3 at City Park. Although the Assassins managed to open the scoring on Gary Phleger's 20-yard drop-goal, the Muckers soon took control of the match, moving ahead on a stellar individual effort by Bud Macchia off a Portneuf lineout. Macchia took control of the ball at the end of the line when it was tipped into the open. Macchia went 35 yards to the try line in a display of fine breakaway running. run-ning. Jackson Popovich missed the kick to convert, but the Muckers were ahead to stay, 4-3. Rick Phaler made a break for the home side at mid-point of the first half, collecting an uncovered kick and bursting for the posts. As the Portneuf fullback set up for the saving tackle, Phaler gave off to inside in-side center Erici Smith who found Eamonn Martin outside him. Martin slid down untouched beneath the left upright for the second Park City try and Popovich connected on the conversion con-version to send the Muckers up by , seven points, 10-3. Phaler added to the Muckers' advantage ad-vantage with a 30-yard penalty goal just before halftime and the Park City club took a 13-3 lead at the intermission. in-termission. Park City continued to pressure Portneuf in the early stages of the second period. With five minutes gone, Macchia found an opportunity for his second try of the match after Phaler had kicked ahead and the Assassins failed to cover. The ball, rolling loose, was grubbered ahead by Macchia who out-raced the nearest defender to the extreme right corner of the in-goal. The Muckers continued to parry any serious Idaho attacks until they got their final score of the match with twelve minutes remaining. With a penalty chance in front of the posts, Phaler elected not to kick, in stead giving inside to prop George Austin who punched down to within three yards of the Assassin line. Park City won the ensuing ruck and Phaler broke to the right side with support, passing out to Ken Tedford who put Dave Sundquist across for the try. Although Park City failed to convert the final two goals, they held the match securely in hand by 21-3, the final tally. "We had a tough match with the Haggis last week ourselves," said Assassin Lowell Carlson. "A couple of guys have been hurt and a couple more just aren't with us at this stage of the season. I definitely see the HaggisPark City match as an even game, if the Park City pack can get around the field as they did today. But the Haggis backline is very fast and the forwards are strong. You have to rely on fitness and aggressive tackling to force mistakes. I look for a good match." Mucker meddlings Dan Margolis played an aggressive second half Saturday in his Park City debut. He brings more depth into the Park City front row with experience both at prop and hooker. Peter Banwell and Frank Fields bracketed the pitch well on Saturday from their respective wing positions. Although the seldom-used Fields gets far less playing time than some, he almost always is a solid player when called upon; Saturday was no exception. First-year player Bar-well, Bar-well, seeing his first rugby action in front of the home crowd made several good tackles when the action came his way. After the Muckers hook up with the Haggis on the Fourth, the club will have less than three weeks to prepare for the 10th Annual Ski Town Rugby Tournament. Park City will host the event this year on July 21-22. The Muckers have never claimed the championship, but they will increase their chances with a tune-up on July 14 in Sun Valley with Bald Mountain R.F.C. Anyone wishing to make the trip with the club should call Blacky Jones at 649-8681. |
