Ash and Vigder combine for 36 points in home opener.

On Saturday the Milwaukee Barbarians hosted the Palmer Dragons (Davenport, IA) for their 2017 home opener in the Midwest conference for USA Rugby Division 1. 

With the same teams playing to a rare draw during the final match of the 2016-2017 season, both Milwaukee and Palmer were excited to put their off-season preparations to the test in a highly anticipated match.

The Barbarians began on the right foot with a try by winger Ty Ash at 1-minute mark following a Palmer handling error.

The Barbarians then starved the visitors for possession and exploded on offense with two additional tries by Ash and a try each for coach Joe Gardener and Joe Grams.

With the accurate boot of captain Nick Vigder converting tries (and landing seven of ten attempts (70%) throughout the match), the hosts had accumulated 33 unanswered points in the first 24 minutes.

Palmer then regrouped and recommitted themselves to their defense. By halftime, the Dragons had shut down the Milwaukee offense and answered with two tries of their own. At the whistle, Milwaukee were leading 33-12.

Second half

The second half was more balanced than the first with each team exchanging scores throughout. Ash got his fourth try at the 45-minute mark, Jeff Cebe crossed at 55 minutes, and Vigder slotted a pair of penalties.

Palmer scored three tries in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to catch the Barbarians. At the full-time whistle, Milwaukee walked away with bonus-point victory on the back of a 51-33 scoreline.

2017 08 26 Milwaukee V Palmer Score

Roster 

2017 08 26 Milwaukee V Palmer Roster

Match Stream

MINEVENTSIDESCOREDETAILS
1′TR scoreMIL5 – 0#14 – Ash, Timothy
2′CV scoreMIL7 – 0#9 – Vigder, Nick
7′TR scoreMIL12 – 0#10 – Gardener, Joseph
8′CV scoreMIL14 – 0#9 – Vigder, Nick
11′TR scoreMIL19 – 0#14 – Ash, Timothy
19′TR scoreMIL24 – 0#14 – Ash, Timothy
20′CV scoreMIL26 – 0#9 – Vigder, Nick
23′TR scoreMIL31 – 0#2 – Grams, Joseph
24′CV scoreMIL33 – 0#9 – Vigder, Nick
31′TR scorePALM33 – 5#11 – Lourens, Gareth
32′CV scorePALM33 – 7#11 – Lourens, Gareth
34′TR scorePALM33 – 12#11 – Lourens, Gareth
40′TC subMIL33 – 12Off: #11 – #11 – Mross, Alex
On: #21 – #21 – Leahy, Keenan
41′TR scorePALM33 – 17#8 – Maricelli, Glen
42′CV scorePALM33 – 19#15 – Simpson, Cody
45′TR scoreMIL38 – 19#14 – Ash, Timothy
50′TC subMIL38 – 19Off: #6 – #6 – Gray, David
On: #18 – #18 – Sims, Anthony
50′TC subMIL38 – 19Off: #5 – #5 – Ruys, Adam
On: #17 – #17 – Konvalinka, Michael
53′TR scorePALM38 – 24#1 – Schultz, Dominic
53′IJ subPALM38 – 24Off: #15 – #15 – Simpson, Cody
On: #22 – #22 – Loupee, Ryan
55′CV scorePALM38 – 26#11 – Lourens, Gareth
55′TR scoreMIL43 – 26#8 – Cebe, Jeffrey
56′CV scoreMIL45 – 26#9 – Vigder, Nick
59′IJ subPALM45 – 26Off: #13 – #13 – King, Austin
On: #18 – #18 – Deig, Benjamin
62′IJ subMIL45 – 26Off: #10 – #10 – Gardener, Joseph
On: #16 – #16 – Walczak, Ryan
65′TR scorePALM45 – 31#3 – Laursen, Terry
66′CV scorePALM45 – 33#15 – Simpson, Cody
68′PK scoreMIL48 – 33#9 – Vigder, Nick
68′TC subMIL48 – 33Off: #14 – #14 – Ash, Timothy
On: #20 – #20 – Mackie, Alexander
69′TC subPALM48 – 33Off: #7 – #7 – Young, Adam
On: #16 – #16 – Morneau, Joey
71′TC subPALM48 – 33Off: #14 – #14 – Seeley, Dylan
On: #20 – #20 – Holtschlag, Clarence
80′PK scoreMIL51 – 33#9 – Vigder, Nick
Vic Drover
Vic Drover

Vic has a long history in and around the sport of rugby both in Canada and the US. He has played for and started numerous clubs (Vandal's RFC, Strathcona Druids, Suffolk Bull Moose, Westside Harlequins, Milwaukee Barbarians, Hamilton Girls Rugby), and served many roles over the years at all administrative levels. Vic joined the Harlequins in 2007 and remained an active club member through the transition to the Barbarians. These days, he spends his rugby time playing tag rugby and touring with the Old Boys, keeping the club website updated, helping organize the Lakefront 7s, and fundraising.

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