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By Alex Goff (Tight Five photos)
Super League finalists in 2009, Life University has something else in common with fellow finalists San Francisco Golden Gate in that they’ve had to deal with a series of postponements and forfeits in their buildup this season.
It’s been frustrating for the club as a whole, but they’ve still been able to get some work in. Their DI team, made up mostly of undergraduates, is still undefeated, and this past weekend the Super League side played Arkansas State University, coming away with a 38-15 victory.
New director of rugby Dan Payne was very impressed with Arkansas State, and also pleased with how his team is coalescing with just a few days to go before the season starts.
The team itself is hardly changed from the outfit that made the final last spring in their first season back in the league. But Payne doesn’t want that achievement to define them.
“Nothing has been proven yet,” said Payne. “We want to earn our accolades and we’ve got a ton of work to do to get there again. One thing I want to bring back to recreate that kind of season is the chip on our shoulders.”
That won’t be a problem, as many players have returned because they finished second, not first, and think they have more to give. Scrumhalf Brendan Thompson leads a squad that has an outstanding backline centers about Tui Osborne, Nolte Coetzee and Nate Rogers. All could play center, wing, fullback, or even flyhalf at a pinch, so Payne will have some work to do to put them in the right spots.
Aaron McMaster and Peter Burt should be at #10.
But he’s got some decisions to make out wide, too where, 2009 top try-scorer Steve Petzel is back and 18-year-old sensation Colton Cariago has turned plenty of heads with his pace. And don’t forget All American Kyle Grossheider.
Up front the big addition is USA lock/loose forward Pat Danahy, who has continued to grow as a player. Locks Kris Headlee and the imposing Mark Aylor push against a front row that includes Phil Thiel and Seth Strauss, while the back row of Danahy, Joe Perez and Derek Wolfe is outstanding.
And don’t count out current defense coach Scott Lawrence, who can still play.
Overall, then, Life remains fit, smart, very tough and hungry. That makes them still one of the favorites in the East.
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