Wheeling Speed Sees Them to Big Rivers Final

11.02.2024

The Big Rivers semifinal between Wheeling and Iowa Central was expected to be high-scoring and it didn't disappoint, as two committed, fast rugby teams logged 77 points on the evening in Chicago.

Playing at the excellentChicago Lions for Hope field in the Windy City the teams overcame chilly conditions to put on a show.

Iowa Central knew of the danger Wheeling's fast runners posed and their plan was to dominate possession. The plan worked for a while, especially as Wheeling kept committing penalties in the ruck. While his first shot at goal went astray, fullback Takudzwa Mushingwini did slot two penalties to stake his side to a 6-0 lead.

Paced by some hard running from loose forwards Henry Bennetts and Tyler Gast, the Tritons also benefited from the playmaking of Koen Webb and Mushingwini, who both countered Wheeling kicks well.

It took about 15 minutes for Wheeling to get the ball on the front foot and when they did they squandered a prime scoring chance with a 3-on-1. However, a little while later A nice short ball to flanker and Major League Rugby draftee (Old Glory DC) Aaron Juma burst onto the ball and outpaced everyone to score under the posts.

Iowa Central was able to answer with another penalty, but the back-and-forth kicking finally hurt the Tritons as a superb weaving run from fullback Simo Haddar put him over, and just like that the Cardinals led 14-9.

The threats were coming thick and fast now and Iowa Central was facing difficulty on the outside. Meanwhile, while Iowa Central probably were stronger in the scrum, they couldn't capitalize too much on penalties because Wheeling's locks Clarouly Meca and Navin Couch kept stealing the throw-ins.

The increase pressure from Wheeling produced a try from a tap penalty move, and then after Webb was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, the Cardinals burst down the sideline at pace to make it 26-9 at halftime.

The same story came through early in the second half with Ayoub Jalli racing past everyone for a try. Iowa Central looked to answer with an impressive run from flanker Jay Gains, but they couldn't make that one pay off.

Wheeling flyhalf Shadreck Mandaza was opening up chances for his teammates and an excellent flat pass to center Alex Nyamuda put him under the sticks. Mandaza converted and it was 40-9.

After that, Iowa Central kind of found their mojo. They opened up the toolbox and some more risky offloads produced a try and a conversion. Mushingwini added a brilliant score and suddenly the Tritons had hope at 40-23.

But it was not to be. Perhaps the perfect illustration of the game was when ICCC scrumhalf Hianga Mibele sold a dummy at the back of a ruck and raced down the field. He was caught, and Wheeling got the ball back deep in their 22, only for scrumhalf Lawrula Bata to do the same thing Mibele did. Only, Bata had support in Joseph Iye, who took the pass and passed back to set up the scrumhalf's long-range try.

One more after that finished it off. They say speed kills ... well it was pretty deadly this time.

ICCC Head Coach Brent Nelson said he needed his team to defend brilliantly and hold onto the ball. They did both of those at times, but not enough. Wheeling Head Coach Michael Geibel had wanted his players to eschew the jackle and just tackle and defend. They didn't do that early on and put themselves in a hole thanks to a series of avoidable ruck penalties. Once they cleaned that up, they started to find success.

For Wheeling, Juma was outstanding but he wasn't the only one, and while the speedsters got the tries, it was the big guys up front who get them the ball.

Wheeling will face Thomas More in the Big Rivers final next week. Iowa Central will play Principia for 3rd.

Wheeling Speed Sees Them to Big Rivers Final

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