In just 60 minutes, the 2010 Birmingham Buccaneers U19 Rugby season ended, with a first round playoff loss to Dexter, 18-13.
“We played hard and didn’t even play that badly,” Oudersluys said. “We just didn’t get the calls that we expected.”
The Bucs entered the game with a strong record of 5-1, recording their only loss to the same Dexter team.
“I wanted to repeat the success of the bound by blood championship team from 2007,” senior Max Koskela said.
Though there were key differences between this team and the bound by blood team, the 2007 team entered the tournament with a high ranking and an undefeated record.
“We controlled the opening 15 minutes of the game,” Koskela said. “Then our backs seemed to let their fly half take over.”
The first round took place on Saturday, May 22, at what is know as “The Armory”.
Dexter, ranked at the fifth seed, entered the game with a high pace of play and hard hitting tackled, which seemed to overwhelm fourth ranked Bucs.
“We took care of Troy pretty well before the tournament,” senior Joe Denison said. “I think it would have helped us more going into the tournament.”
The team had recently come off a 41-0 victory over Troy and had boosted their confidence, which was ended abruptly.
Injuries took a toll on the starting line up for the Bucs’ which didn’t favor the cause.
“I dislocated my finger,” Koskela said. “I couldn’t even focus towards the end of the match and I got removed from the game.”
Brother Rice Chris Padmos tallied the tries scored for the Bucs’ while Koskela converted on a penalty kick, though the ref and opposing talent was too much for the team.
“It was a little disappointing,” senior Barclay Oudersluys said.
After the game, Head Coach Brad Warner stressed that they had one more game, more of an exhibition against Dearborn, and stressed to “Remain focused”.
“We beat them pretty good,” Oudersluys said. “Then [coach] Brad put a bunch of bench players out and the score was closer than the actual game was.”
A season filled with success and glory was ultimately triumphed last Saturday and the shock still sat with senior ruggers that their high school playing career was completed.
“The seasons over,” Koskela said. “It’s all over.”
