10/29/00

About 11:30 am today outside the Dome I met a young man from New South Wales. He was wearing a kangaroo on his head and an Australian flag draped around his neck. I approached him and asked if he was there for the matches today and he smiled and replied yeaaaa! I asked him if he was coming in to see the finals and he said he desperately wanted to, but he had been waiting in line for an hour and a half to get in, and he didn't hold much hope in getting into the finals some 3 hours later. Looking around it was evident that the venue already filled to the rafters would not be able to hold this fan as well as the 4,000 other people waiting in line outside.

Inside the Dome was an incredible crowd of screaming fans. The mostly reserved seat crowd had arrived before the tip of the first game of the final day of competition. To a dedicated rugby player it was like an early Christmas present. For fans to be paying money for reserved seats and a national television audience watching throughout Australia, was validation for all the many days, months, and even years that the athletes and staff had sacrificed to get to this point.

With the push towards the Gold Medal game, other final matches took place. Switzerland lost to Germany for 7th and 8th, Sweden overcame Great Britain for 5th and 6th, and New Zealand defeated Canada for 3rd and 4th. And with the stage set for the Gold Medal game an air of euphoria filled the venue. Fans and tired players settled in for 32 minutes of what promised to be hell.

The rematch of Thursday's "The Game" had been building throughout the day. Players tried to focus before the game, but the tension could clearly be seen on their faces. Even coaches seemed somewhat amazed by the crowd and tried to avoid the pitfall of getting caught up in the moment. It seemed again that the Australian crowd would put the USA in an underdog position. These ruggers that had never lost an International competition, and now had the weight of a country and its people squarely on their back.

And the shoulders that Team USA put their hopes on were Pate, Kirkland, Chunn, and Guillou. A line that had done considerable damage to the Aussies just 3 days before. Said coach Richner, "we went with balance". And they would need it as coach Vineyard of the Australian team went with a balanced line of Dubberly, Erdem, Boylan, and Alman. Much debate and planning had gone into scouting the Aussies by the USA, and this line had been prepared for since mid July. And with all the pomp and circumstance out of the way it was time for rugby.

Having had a miscue on the jump the last time Team USA played the Aussies, the United States looked to control the jump. And with the toss of the ball by referee Tony Lapolla, it seemed the USA might just do that, but Dubberly had other plans. Dubberly who was jumping against Kirkland, tapped the ball to Boylan, but Pate had slammed into him from behind causing him to miss the ball and as the ball was rolling towards an apparent re-jump, Dubberly raced to the ball and secured it for the Australians. He showed wisdom beyond his age as he patiently followed his picks down for the games first goal.

Literally rugby fans, you could not hear anything in the Dome when his wheels crossed the baseline. The crowd erupted into a noise that sounded as if it came from a F5 tornado. With the noise you might think it would rattle the USA squad but the USA easily broke the triangle and a man up top zone of the Aussie's. With Pate taking the ball over the line for a goal the match was pulled even.

A defensive stand by the USA forced the Australians to call an early timeout 43 seconds into the game. Dubberly had been turned away from the frontcourt after the inbound by an aggressive man-to-man American defense. With an opportunity to sub coach Vinyard went with the AC line of Dubberly, Hucks, Croker, and Erdem. The move proved to be a costly one. As Croker was in bounding the "Matador" Cliff Chunn stole a bad pass and dished it off to Pate for a quick goal.

The windfall continued for the USA as "The Punisher" Steve Pate let his wrath reign down on Croker who was trapped and trying to make a pass. Pate stole the ball out of his hands and with a quick strike found a streaking Kirkland for another USA goal.

It seemed the USA could do no wrong when their first miscue happened. Dubberly who was trapped in the backcourt by Steve Pate had positioned himself facing up court. Pate, who had his back wheels to the front of Dubberly's chair, was pulling back towards what seemed an imminate time out or out of bounds turnover. Instead he was whistled by referee Lapolla for a push. The crowd went wild as the big American was sent off the court and into the bin for a minute with 3:13 left in the first quarter.

The Aussies seeking to slow the pace of the game down pulled the ball up and played "catch" for 52 seconds of Pate's minute violation. With an attacking defense, the hope was that the Australians might draw a second foul on the US. But the Americans stayed tough and after the Aussie goal, the USA responded with a pass from Chunn to Kirkland for a score.

As the teams exchanged goals the clock waned in the first quarter. And with little time left (11 seconds) Pate got the inbound and charged towards an Aussie team that had fallen back into the key. "When worlds collide", might be the best description of the hit that took place between Pate and Dubberly. As the big man went to pass, he entered the key and took a crashing blow that put him on the floor. A scramble ensued for the ball and a jump was called with 1 second remaining. A quick sub by the USA of McGuirk, Draney and Crouch caught the Aussies sleeping and while the Australian bench was screaming, McGuirk inbound to a wide-open Chunn on the far side of the key for a last second goal. The score after one period, USA 8 - Australia 6.

With an untimely jump at the end of the first, the Aussie's had the ball for the start of the second. They wasted little time in pulling the game to a 1-point margin when Hucks took the ball in for a score. Both sides looking for continuity decided to go with the same lines that had ended the quarter. This may have led to some early confusion on the USA side as Chunn was trapped in the backcourt at 7:17 and had to take a timeout. The problems would not be solved on the bench however.

At 7:09 an errant pass from Draney to McGuirk went astray and was recovered by an energized Hucks. He weaved his way down the court for the Aussie goal. And things got worse when at 6:28 McGuirk who was trapped by the Australians highly effective picking chairs, was tapped out of bounds. However, he managed to get a timeout as his front wheels crossed the sidelines. Having seen enough, coaches Richner and Gumbert made a sub of the "killer b's". Said Richner, "they were struggling and we made a sub to change the pace".

And change the pace they did. As the tempo picked up the defense of both teams seemed to evaporate. Five goals between the teams rang up on the scoreboard before the next error occurred. Running a double-double defense on the two high pointers of the Australians, the US forced the ball into Crokers hands. A steal ensued when Chunn took the ball right out of the Aussie low pointers hands and dished it off to a wide-open McCabe for the USA score. But, Hucks would respond in due fashion on the next two plays for the Australians. He took the next inbound down for a goal and on the following USA inbound, Kirkland had a bad in bound pass that was recovered by Dubberly and passed to Hucks for the Aussie goal with 4:10 left in the quarter.

The USA didn't falter though and responded with great defense. The Yanks again put the ball in Crokers hands who quickly called a timeout. The US nursing a 1-point lead came back on to the floor to find a new squad for the Australians. Erdem, Harding, Dubberly, Porter would look to institute the ball control offense coach Vinyard has become famous for. But, the offense would pale in comparison to the defense these men from the south pacific displayed causing 2 turnovers on the US in a 34 second time span.

With just 2:40 left in the half the USA went to their bench again, sending Draney and Lyduch out to work with McCabe and Chunn. The move proved to be pivotal as the Australians had taken the lead for the first time and the crowd was going berserk. Enter again Chunn (32 minutes on the day) who quickly forced an over and back on Porter and seconds later stole the ball on the inbound and scored a goal. Looking to take total control of the game and take the crowd out of it, the USA missed on a prime opportunity to take the last goal and jump into the half, when Dubberly playing ball control held the ball until 7 seconds were left on the clock and scored the last goal of the quarter. The score, USA 15 - Australia 13.

The fans were certainly enjoying the game and the halftime show of a "Grease" medley danced by Paralympic mascot Lizzy and Aussie youth. No one wanted to leave their seats, but occasionally you would see the fish and chip patron coming back from the concession stand with a meal and a coldie. The air still electric in the stands was anything but that on the sidelines. USA coaches were busy trying to adjust to the Aussie powerhouses of Dubberly and Hucks. And for the Australians, trying to erase the turnover bug that plagued them in the first two quarters.

A strange thing to this date, after reviewing game sheets there was never a held ball documented in the 2nd quarter. But, as luck would have it, the Australians ended up with the first possession. And they took full advantage of the gift. On a quick inbound from the AC line of Australia, Croker got the ball into Dubberly who took the ball in to pull the game within one. And the luck continued as on the next play Draney's pass to McCabe bounced off the back of McCabe's chair and was recovered by Hucks. And as he pushed the ball up for a goal Draney fouled him on a reach.

With Draney in the box for a minute and only down one, the Aussie's played ball control. They ran 53 seconds off the clock as the USA attacked Dubberly and Hucks with Chunn, McCabe and Lyduch. The crowd went wild as Hucks took the goal and tied the game at 15. Chunn quickly answered the goal with one of his own and the Aussies again attacked at the USA defense. On a highlight moment in front of the US key Draney had his back to an approaching Dubberly who was trying to commit the American one way or another. For several seconds the two "danced" closer to the goal line with Dubberly finally finding the baseline and a score.

The two teams exchanged goals back and forth until 5:09 in the third when Houck stuffed Draney on a pass in the backcourt. With a tie game and the Aussies having the ball, US coach Richner went to his bench and brought back the starting line of Pate, Kirkland, Chunn, and Guillou. In an uncharacteristic move Chunn reached and was in the sin bin for a minute at 4:47. And it got worse when Guillou was baited into reaching just 7 seconds later and was whistled for the foul.

Problem, what do you do when you have two men in the box and the other team has the ball? Turn Pate loose. After a quick goal by Dubberly the Aussies went into an immediate double-double defense. But, it couldn't stop Pate as he took the inbound and blasted his way down the court, but as he approached the key he was met head on by Dubberly and after a fantastic hit Pate was in the Australian lap. US turnover with a man in the box and one point down.

In a move that many will second-guess, coach Vinyard subbed in Porter and Harding for Croker and Hucks. With the momentum on his side and a line playing well. The Aussie coach went with the new squad and immediately had problems. At 3:47 in the quarter Dubberly was playing "catch' with Porter when and errant pass from Dubberly landed in Kirkland's hands. Porter reached and the US had the ball with a man advantage. The US looking to pick the tempo back up found a streaking Chunn who got a great pick from Crouch (subbed on an equipment a play later) and took the ball in for a goal. The titans continued the exchange with each side answering the others score. And at 41 seconds left in the quarter the US took one of their two remaining time outs for a little strategy. The move paid dividends as the USA went for the last goal and would try to pull the game to a 2-point contest. Pate took the ball in for a goal with seven seconds left. And it appeared the Aussies were going to charge down the court for the last goal, but the inbound went astray and Pate gobbled up the ball and took it in for a last second score. The score after three, USA 22 - Australia 23.

With four years of waiting behind and in front of these two teams it came down to the last quarter. The US had the ball and was down by one. As the sold out audience screamed with adoration and an estimated 8 million viewers across Australia watched TV, the US sent the same line on the court and the Australians responded with their money line of Hucks and Dubberly.

The USA quickly caught a break when Hucks was whistled for a spin at 7:43. With a man advantage and the ball, the USA went to Chunn who weaved his way for an American goal. Hard luck again found Hucks as he was trapped in the backcourt by a stiff US defense. Here was the opportunity the USA had been looking for and the big bomber Pate took the ball in for the score. Having the lead for the first time since the third quarter a newfound confidence filled these Americans. Pounding hits were being dished out all over the court. In particular, a crashing hit between Pate and Hucks that awarded the Aussie a penalty goal was of note.

As the momentum began to swing towards the Americans the crowd got a little quieter and a lot more nervous. As the two teams exchanged 5 goals in succession it seemed the Aussies had gotten away from their ball control offense and were playing the Americans up-tempo game. The fast pace would have to catch up with one team and it was the Aussies. At 5:09 Pate baiting a low pointer on the inbound stole the ball from a disbelieving Hucks and passed it out to Chunn who amazingly put the Aussie's game right back at them. They played ball control and forced the Aussie to expend even more energy chasing them around. After 40 seconds the US took the goal with Kirkland stamping his approval on the point.

The US seeing Hucks was struggling, put all out pressure on the Aussie. It paid its dividends when at 4:07 he was again trapped in the backcourt and called a timeout. A raucous bench and a small contingency of Americans erupted with enthusiasm. The team that had been cast as the underdog and was down to one of the best ball control offenses around had fought their way back into the lead.

The Aussies came right back out and rose to the challenge with Dubberly scoring a quick goal. Hucks however again was whistled for a spin with 4:00 on the clock. Again the USA went to a page out of the Aussie playbook and played "catch" with the ball, taking precocious ticks off a dwindling clock. To the boos of the crowd Pate took the ball in for the goal and the USA fell back into the key.

The Aussie's who had seen everything the US had, had not seen this. The Australians seemed to sputter in the set up offense letting 35 seconds elapse before getting a goal. The US quickly responded with Pate taking the ball the length of the court for the goal. And again the Aussies came down and slowly (25 seconds) found the baseline goal. The two teams were exchanging goals on each possession but the clock kept ticking and with the ball and a one-point game there was some 14 seconds on the clock.

The setting was almost slow motion. Kirkland had in bounded to a speeding Pate and the hit possibly of the game occurred when Dubberly threw everything but the kitchen sink into a head on hit. Pate seeing it coming got rid of the ball at the last second but, the hit brought him forward and just as he was about to land in Dubberly's lap as he had earlier in the game causing a US turnover, he spun with his hips and landed on the floor. His pass fell safely in the hands of Chunn who danced his way around the court running out the time securing a US win and Gold Medal.

As mayhem erupted on the bench, the US staff and team jumped with glee. On the floor Pate was still upside down being helped up by Lyduch and Shadowens. In the stands the crowd cheered in appreciation of a hard fought match. And in the hearts of many a new sport had taken its place center stage at the Paralympics and delivered a Gold Medal performance.

As I left the stadium I saw a blow up kangaroo on a boy's head. I caught up to him to find the young man I saw earlier in the day. I asked what his thoughts were on the game and he said it was "awesome"! He went on to say it was the best sporting event at the Paralympics and how it should be on TV all the time. He left me with what I took away from Australia, " You guys played well and won, but wait till next time". Wait till next time indeed, one can only hope the hospitality, enthusiasm and love of sport is there in four years. Thanks Australia.

To all the staff and players, Thanks for the ride guys, you are awesome and deserve to be the best in the world! See you on the court!

How to Contact us | Quad Rugby Central Index

Home Page | Rugby Calendar | Sports Page | Score Board | USQRA Zone | Files