8/26/23

The first match off the ranks against last season’s league champion, no other than our friendly marsupial foes, the West Des Moines Wombats. 

The Wombats showed that they were out of hibernation and hungry for some meat (tries, or points, if you will). Their stubby little legs and tails and wet noses accrued a total of 50 points across the 80 minutes, through combinations of incredible individual efforts backed by superb support. 

The Ducks did not lay down, however. Every minute of the 80 was an opportunity to work hard, play hard, and bind together in the face of a strong opponent. Some crisp backline execution saw Dico Lourens cross the line, twice, from a **trick of the trade that cannot be shared publicly**. Joel Horne scored the last Ducks try late in the game in his typical lightweight-but-strong willed fashion. Final score was Ducks 16 to Wombats 50. 

Tries:

Lourens- 2

Horne-1

Conversions:

Connolly- 2

Despite the duration, drifting due North to Decorah is definitely the most delightful drive the Ducks get to do, destined for the delightful scenery North East Iowa can deliver.

The Leatherball 10s format was forced to be edited, made “fluid”, if you will. The Mighty Ducks, with the assistance of one Dubuquean, one Des Moinesian, and two Wombats, presented a formidable front to the well-stocked and well fed Decorahns.

The day saw FOUR twenty minute Rugby Tens matches. Normally, this is too much rugby for most competitors in Iowa Rugby, given the extra space and less bodies on the field. However, a leathery ball, lacking in grip and tackiness, presented many-a rest opportunity from the bounties of ball handling errors.

Tries were frequent, but not abundant. Tackles were ruthless, but not reckless. Play was friendly and jovial, but did not lack competitiveness.

At a total point differential of 52-54, The Ducks won 1/4 games, drew one, NEIA won the boat race, but rugby won the day.

Tries:

Sunde-3

Powley-2

Musa-1

Simiele-1

Connolly-1

Conversions:

Sunde-3

Powley-1

Hall- 1

Horne-1

5/6/23

ALL IOWA TOURNAMENT

Exiting Bremer County flying north, the Ducks (and most other tournament goers) were met with some heavy splashes of rain and hail, casting a looming unknown across the morning upon arrival, like whether or not Pizza Hut will be of acceptable quality next time you order it. So what should one do? Go for it, and find out. Many-a-rugger were pleased to find the wet-n’-wild weather to wane by those who played the first round of matches at 8:30am.

Across the day, the Ducks first faced off with old foes, the Cedar Rapids Headhunters, who had already had a game under their belt (to warm up? Or get more tired?). Either way, an impressive 29-0 victory to the Ducks.

Next game was Ducks vs. Dubuque, the would be finalist. In what was a tight match with Dubuque holding a lead most of the game, the Ducks clawed back to tie it 15-15. A Duck’s lapse of judgment allowed the opportunity for a penalty kick in the dying seconds of the game. Despite it being 40 meters out, from the grass (no tee), Dubuque’s Lemke slotted it like a feature, and Dubuque was victorious, 18-15.

The final game of the day for the Ducks was the battle for 3rd place vs the Quad Cities Irish. At 17-5 Ducks at half, Quad Cities were FAR from being out of the contest. It took some solid defense to slow the bruising ball runners of QC, along with some cunning offensive ball movement, for the Ducks to edge two tries further away. Play was called off with 4.5 minutes remaining after a QC Irishman suffered what seemed to be a serious head injury during a two-man tackle. We wish him a healthy recovery. Final score 29-5.

Ducks round out All Iowa, 2023, with a very respectable 3rd place.

Trys:

Sunde- 6 (Man of the Tournament)

Chaplain-1

Parkinson-1

May-1

Detar-1

Moore-1

Doty-1

Conversions:

Sunde-2

Chaplain- 1

Marker-1

Home 4/15/23

IC Ducks v. CR Headhunters

In a reflection of last match, the morning was rife with concerns over potential inclement weather. But the impending tempest that was to descend unto Scott Park was not one born of the heavens, but a flurry of tries accumulated by both sides.

Cedar Rapids traveled down to meet the Ducks for a 10s friendly. With a final score of 60-55, this was easily one of the higher scoring Ducks match in recent memory. The men were fresh, utilizing rolling subs, as well as a breakup into quarters. Through this, the action was truly nonstop. Tries were responded with opposing tries. Momentum was built and destroyed in equal measure. And the weather that warned of rain in the morning, in actuality blossomed into a calm and sunny afternoon, providing plenty of opportunity for successful conversions.

Our man of the match, Alex Chaplain put us on the board with a try moments after kickoff. CR immediately responded back in kind with one of their own.

Next strike was Iowa City with two back-to-back tries from John Polk! Making the maroon proud.

Odin McDonald followed with a try of his own, again with an immediate response from CR.

Taking the lead for the first time of the match, CR scored two consecutive of their own.

Not satisfied with this shift in order, Ben Johnson created a beautiful opportunity off a boot to the tryzone, touched down by captain Joel Horne.

Returning to the Ducks after a quick dental hiatus, the one and Marco burned a try off the sideline to follow our previous message.

However, CR answered these back-to-backs, with two more of their own. Putting the Headhunters above the Ducks once more.

Breaking up what could’ve been a third opportunity for CR, James Gadient intercepted a pass and took it to the House, Ducks back up on top.

In an absolute blizzard of action as the final minutes ticked up, the two teams traded blows as fighters in a brawl. Try for CR. But, May blasts in from short range, retaliating for having his previous breakaway stopped. Try for CR. Another Try for CR, this one from a now traitorous James Gadient. This angered Chap, who told Gadient to cut that out with another try brought in from the sideline. And to bookend it all, Chap was able to sneak one final blistering try in the final seconds to secure the Ducks again on top.

60-55 Ducks

Tries:

Chap: 3

Polk: 2

Odin: 1

Horne: 1

Marco: 1

James 0 (1-1)

May: 1

Conversions:

James 0 (1-1)

Chap 2

Game: 4/8/23

Never did a Duck visit the Bucks in Waverly and say “today will be an easy day”. The Ducks were accommodated by Bremer with a couple of young and eager players, one prop in particular, to help facilitate gameplay to feel more like 15s than 10s, as the Ducks flew light. Captains and Official agreed to three, twenty minute periods, hockey-esque.

Weather was optimal, clear, dry, light breeze and 60s.

Point scoring for the Ducks throughout the 60 minutes of play consisted of a variety of methodologies. After some persistent energy and territory by the Ducks, Parko opened scoring early, placing some “don’t argue”s on a couple chests, Chaplain converting. THREE tries came from speed-machine Ben, twice through the middle and once out wide and long range, displaying his vision and athleticism. Nick May took advantage of no opposing flankers at scrum time (13 vs 13) to utilize the short side and run probably longer than he was hoping, to score. Even a penalty try was awarded in the final minute. Chaplain made the difficult conversions but missed the easy ones, so Horne completed conversion duties for the (second) last try.

The youthful Bucks scored their well earned points by exploiting some holes in defense and/or busting tackles after identifying fitness discrepancies, as phase-play trickled near double digits.

It was fun watching different combinations of Ducks players thanks to the generous contribution of a couple of Bucks. It was a great day to be rugby. Thanks to Bremer County for the hospitality.

Final Score

Ducks 38-17 Bucks

Tries-

Ben x3

Parkinson x1

May x1

Conversion-

Chaplain x2

Horne x1

Prime Time

Murmurs of “there’s still snow on the ground”, or “gee it’s cold”, or “gorsh it wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for that darn wind” were rolling around the field at noon on April Fool’s day, in Iowa Falls. The Ducks were to get dressed bleacher-side leaning into the nor-westerly gale, while Iowa Falls robed up in their cozy and heated clubhouse. Warm ups ensued, Ducks won the toss and kickoff occurred at 1pm with the wind to the Ducks’ backs.

Strategies became apparent as the Ducks prioritized burying Iowa Falls in their half through some deep kicking, and Iowa Falls utilized a larger pack as battering rams, keeping it tight. Strong winds, strong scrums and consistent pressure saw Iowa Falls only escape their territory a few times in the first half. Mercer opened scoring by executing a perfect inside-line off an offload from Parko at first receiver. Conversion by Horne.

Much to the surprise of absolutely everybody onlooking, an almost invisible James Gadient found himself in space after an intercept between the 22 and 40 meter line, shimmying all the way to the tryline. Horne converts, half time.

Most of the second half looked like a physical slug-fest, trading blows throughout the midfield. Mercer opened second half scoring, working out wide and finding space outside of John Polk’s magnetism at outside center.

Soon enough, Iowa Falls made good meters through breaking tackles and some extra whistles for three consecutive tries spread throughout most of the half. Mercer, after scoring a try in the dying minute, found himself robbed of a hat-trick and the Ducks robbed of victory, as a yellow-card was given from an encounter 25 meters away from the try.

Final score, 19-21, Iowa Falls.

Some notable mentions were Sam Caswell in his first ever game, Truc Nguyen from WDSM Wombats for heading up to help, JJ (Summer ‘22 Duck) for helping out, Cody “Concrete” Connolly for running touch and Jimmy Hogan for the most memorable yellow card story one may ever hear. Three yellow cards to the Ducks is also notable, perhaps a modern record for the club.

Tries-

Will Mercer x2

James Gadient x1

Conversions-

Joel x2

The Ducks battle to keep Muddy River from crossing the try line during their 44-7 win in Clinton on Sept. 1.

This weekend the Iowa City Ducks will look to stay undefeated as they head to Omaha for their third game of the 2018 Fall Season.

The Ducks started the 2018 Fall Season with a 36-17 win over Des Moines. Strong play put the Ducks up in the first half and the Flock was able to hold on through the second to come out with a victory.

The following week’s match in Clinton was a mirror image of the one against Des Moines. Muddy River fought hard and were ahead for a good portion of the first 40 minutes.

But the Ducks struck back in the second half, turning the match into a track meet Muddy River’s big men had no chance of winning. Iowa City would walk out of Clinton with a 44-7 victory under their feathers.

The Ducks will try to continue their unbeaten streak as they head to Nebraska to face the Omaha GOATS, a new addition this year to the Iowa D-3 division.

The Ducks fly after a loose ball at Whiskey 10s in Chicago.

The Ducks went 2-2 in Chicago at the South Side Irish's annual Whiskey 10s tournament on Saturday, March 10. 

It was an opportunity for three of the newest Duck's players to get a chance to get some playing time with the team.

Jacob Hillyer came in and scored multiple tries throughout the day. The newest pack player — Jordan "Tuna" Stern came in and anchored the scrums well. Braden Nelson impressed at breakdowns.

Next up, the Ducks start Spring practice and will play the Peoria Pigs in Peoria on April 7.

The Ducks after getting second place in the Midwestern D3 Championship.

It came down to a last minute score.

That was all that stood between the Ducks and moving forward into the playoffs: a last minute try by Fort Wayne. The only loss of the season would also be Iowa City's last game until the Spring.

Despite the heartbreak, the season was still a success. The Ducks did a full 180° from 2016 — when they didn't win one game — to go 7-1-1 in 2017.

"We have to remember what helped get us from 0-6 last year to a Midwest Championship game," Duck's Captain Ty Carew said. "We earned everything from the hard work, dedication and sacrifices that every guy made."

Carew said the Ducks would do everything they could to get back to Midwest Championship in 2018.

"We put together an excellent season and every one of us had something to do with that," he said. "In the off-season we need to build on our strengths and correct our weaknesses."

Until the Spring Season starts, the Ducks will be training hard, working at Beat the Bitter in North Liberty and hanging out at Grizzly's, Deadwood, The Dublin Underground and other various sponsors around town.

Looking for ways to support the Ducks? Can't find that perfect gift for the rugby player in your life? Head to The Ducks Shop for all your waterfowl-related rugby needs.

The Ducks will face the Fort Wayne Rugby Club in Chicago on Nov. 11 for the Division 3 Midwestern Championship.

The Iowa City Ducks are headed to the D3 Midwest Rugby Championship on Nov. 11 in Chicago after a wild weekend of rugby in Iowa City.

On Saturday, The Ducks faced Wisconsin RFC. As was the case for most of the season the Ducks found themselves down at half, but came out in the second half ready to roll. There was some confusion after the match, as the official had a different score down than scorekeepers on the sideline.

The Ducks wouldn't know if they had won or not until almost 9 p.m. Saturday night, when it was decided by the Midwestern Rugby Union the Ducks had won. Their reward? A match-up with Milwaukee RFC on Sunday for the West Division Title.

Milwaukee played with heart and a powerful pack, but it wasn't enough to take down the flock. Key runs by the Iowa City backline set a tone that Milwaukee was simply unable to match towards the end of the match. The match was a battle, but in the end the Ducks managed to escape with a win and a spot in the Midwest Championship.

The Ducks will face the Fort Wayne Rugby Club on Nov. 11 in Chicago. No matter what the result of that match is, it's undeniable this season has been one to remember for the Boys from Iowa City. Going from 0-5 a season ago to playing in the Midwest Championship isn't easy for any team or club, but the Ducks have pulled it off with a style all their own. 

The Iowa City Ducks will play Fort Wayne at 11:00 a.m. for the Midwest Division 3 Championship. The match will be held at the Chicago blaze rugby pitch at 13011 W Smith Rd, Lemont, IL 60439.

 

Of course none of this would be possible without the Duck's sponsors who have supported the club and helped make this season possible.