The Principia College Thunder Chickens fell on Saturday to the Saint Louis Hornets 12-20. The Hornets, in their final match of the season, demonstrated why their forwards are regarded as some of the best in Saint Louis. The Thunder Chickens showed great intensity, some of their best rucking of the season, and a strong defense, but the Hornets were able to capitalize on the Chickens’ slow start and frequent penalties.
After knocking the opening kickoff, Principia became pinned inside their own 22 meter line for several phases. A good punt relieved the pressure, but after winning a lineout at the half-way line, the Chickens threw an interception to the Hornets, and again had to play defense near their goal line. In the 6th minute the Hornets punched the ball in for a try, and took a 0-7 lead.
After the next kickoff, play continued between the 10 meter lines for several minutes, which included a series of lineouts. After winning one, Principia got their first scoring opportunity when fly-half Martin Buchanan broke through the Hornets’ defense. With only one man to beat, Buchanan was tripped up as he crossed the 22 meter line, and couldn’t complete his pass to winger Ezra Ranz. After a restart Principia drove the ball all the way down to the Hornets’ 5 meter line, but couldn’t get the ball into their in-goal.
In the 14th minute, the Hornets kicked a penalty kick to increase their lead to ten.
Principia scored their first try near the end of the first half. When the Hornets ran a banger after being awarded a penalty near their own 10 meter line, on the near side of the field, scrum half James Suber made the tackle. Forwards Brett Banning, Jon Nacewicz and Palmer Aguirre immediately rucked, winning the ball. Suber, picking up the ball and driving forward, was supported by Ranz and forwards Tim Drysdale and Greg Freeman. The ball was passed out of the new ruck to prop Christian Coker, who gained 15 meters on his run before passing down the line to his supporting players, Brian Lord, Justin Taylor, and Buchanan. Now on the far side of the field, Buchanan was able to gain 15 meters before being tackled. His pass from the ground reached a supporting Taylor, who took the ball into the in-goal for the try. The score at half was 5-10.
The second half started out well for Principia, as they won their own kickoff at the Hornets’ 10 meter line. However, the Hornets were able to recover the ball after several phases. After a series of kicks, Principia threatened to score, but a penalty arrested their progress.
In the middle of the half, the Hornets drove the ball nearly 50 meters by continually running bangers. A penalty by the Thunder Chickens gave the Hornets an opportunity for a penalty kick, which was narrowly missed. Play continued on Principia’s half of the field, and when the Hornets were awarded another penalty, they took another opportunity to kick—this time making it.
With four minutes remaining, center Paul Olsen picked off a pass between the Hornets’ fly-half and inside center. After running the ball 20 meters and drawing the Hornets’ remaining defender, he passed to Taylor who was able to outrun all of the other Hornets. Taylor’s conversion kick brought the score to 12-13, mirroring last year’s score when the Thunder Chickens beat the Hornets by a lone point. However, after winning a defensive scrum, the Hornets pinned Principia against their try line for the remainder of the game and gained a try as time expired to bring the final score to 10-20.