COLUMBIA, S.C. - Lander was placed into what proved to be the "Pool of Death" on the day at the Gamecock Invitational 7s Rugby Tournament. Pool B consisted of University of South Carolina A, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and Clemson B. While the tournament primarily consisted of the best 7s teams from the Southeastern Rugby Conference, both teams in the day's final were from Pool B.
The first match of the morning for Lander was against Clemson B. It was a high scoring affair for the Bearcats! Tomás Mussi scored quickly for the Bearcats and answered with a successful conversion. Shortly thereafter, Mussi assisted Austin Johnson for the second try of the day and converted the kick. Cameron Smith showed his return to form on the next Lander possession and scored a try that was converted by Mussi. Then to end the first half, Hayden Bulwinkle drove his way into the try zone and the Mussi kick was unsuccessful, the score at the half was Lander 26-0 over Clemson. The second half gave opportunity for some finishers to come in the for the Bearcats. Mussi was quick to get Lander in the try zone and converted his kick as well. Bulwinkle powered into the try zone again in the second half and Mussi was able to dot the exclamation point with a successful conversion. This match finished with the Bearcats besting the Tigers 40-0.
Next up for the Bearcats, was the Volunteers from Tennessee. UT had finished the Fall as the Southeastern Rugby Conference champs and the number one ranked team in the nation for their division. It was going to be a physical and close match. The match was closely contested and physical from the start, in the 4th minute Austin Johnson was able to find the try zone and Tomás Mussi converted the kick giving Lander the lead. On the last play of the first half UT was able to find the try zone in the corner and an unsuccessful kick followed, leaving the Bearcats up at the half 7-5 over the Volunteers. The second half started with a missed opportunity earl and UT capitalized with a try and successful kick. After several minutes of back and forth play and a couple of injuries for the Bearcats, the Vols found the try zone again in the corner and it was left unconverted. Unfortunately, the Bearcats couldn't get their attack to muster points and the match ended with the champs from East Tennessee on top 7-17.
The third match would have an in-state opponent in the Gamecocks from Columbia. USC is a perennial power in the SRC 7s circuit and would play a very physical style of play. The Bearcats were able to strike early with a Tomás Mussi try and conversion. A couple of minutes later the Gamecocks would get on the board with a converted try of their own. Late in the first half the Bearcats would lose their leading scorer in Mussi and were down their leading try scorer in Austin Johnson from the UT match. Not to be deterred, the halftime score was tied 7-7. In the second half several minutes went by with stellar defense by both teams until USC was able to score their second converted try of the match. Again on the last possession the Gamecocks were able to score a converted try, resulting in a USC victory over the Lander men 7-21.
The next match had Lander agains USC B had a lot of different faces getting to see a lot of play time for the Bearcats. After a few minutes of the Bearcats finding their attack shape, Ethan Syswerda was able to find the try zone and the Cam Smith conversion was unsuccessful. The next scorer in the match was Laureano Petris with a try under the post and Smith nailed the conversion taking the Bearcats into the half up 12-0. The second half started the same as the first, with a Syswerda try and unsuccessful Smith conversion. The Gamecocks brought in some fresh support from the sideline and scored a converted try. It looked like the match was about to get more tightly contested and James Borders got a line break and had the best offload of the day catching Eric Burkett in perfect stride and he scored his first try of the day with a successful Smith conversion. The final points in the match would also be for the Bearcats with Charlie Burger scoring in the corner and the tough kick would be left unconverted. The final score would have Lander over USC 29-3.
The last match of the day was Lander against the University of Georgia. The match had the Bulldogs on the board first with a converted try. Ethan Syswerda quickly answered by forcing and recovering a knock on, then bolting for the try line, the Cam Smith conversion was good to follow. The Bulldogs weren't finished scoring the first half with converted try after time had expired. 7-14 Bulldogs at the half. The second half had UGA stretch their lead early with a converted try. Blain Tomas was able to answer with an unconverted try on the side. UGA stymied the Bearcats comeback with a converted and unconverted try and won the match 12-33.
While the Bearcats out scored their opponents 95-78 on the day, their two close losses in pool play to the tournament champs (UTK) and tournament runner-up (USC) kept them out of contention. Injuries early to key players did allow some fresh faces important playtime and showed the depth on the sidelines. The Bearcat of the Day was freshman Ethan Syswerda scoring a hat trick and providing consistent defensive support.
Next up for the Bearcats is the Southern Rugby Conference 7s Championship at Wake Forest set for April 23rd.
