UNITED STATES QUAD RUGBY ASSOCIATION

7/98

2nd Wheelchair Rugby World Championships
by Terry Vinyard

Almost three years have gone by since the first World Championships in Notwil, Switzerland. This time frame gave many teams a chance for vast improvement and a chance to move up in the World rankings. The games were held in Toronto, Canada at Humber College, over a six-day period. For many it was much to long to deal with the inaccessibility of the housing. Athletes who were charged $100 Canadian a day for housing and meals only to find out they would have to shower at the gym. However the games went on.

Day one pitted the higher seeds against the lower seeds so an upset was highly unlikely. The reigning World Champs, USA, opened the tournament by whipping the 12th seed Finland 42-16. On court two New Zealand used more energy in their pre- game "Haka" ritual than it took them to beat Austria 53-19. In pool A 4th seeded Sweden found them selves in a battle down to the wire as they took on Belgium who were playing in their 1st World Championship. Belgium was trying to accomplish the unthinkable as the ninth seed took a lead in the 4th period. This was all happening without the services of a class 2.0 who was ill. They also had two chairs break. Their Captain, Bob Vanacker was forced to use his fallen teammates chair for the entire second half. Their .5 left the game when his front bumper collapsed. Their back up .5 had a hard time filling the shoes of Koen Delen, but they managed to put themselves in a position to win. With 48 seconds to go they had the ball and a chance to score the go ahead goal. They planned to score the last goal for the win or if they failed it would go into over time. Tragedy struck them once again when 3.0 Ludwig Budener, was trapped by the half court line. Their players and bench were yelling for time out however referee Gille Brier was compelled to move within a meter of the players wheel in anticipation of a backcourt violation. The action cut his view of the rest of the players and any timeout call. Sweden now had the upper hand as they scored the last goal with only 4 seconds remaining. They escaped the first upset with a 28-27 win.

The 2nd seed Canada had easy victories over Switzerland (35-20 and Austria (43-26). Great Britain, who had struggled to beat Holland at the 1997 European Championships, now found them selves in a rout of the Dutch. Great Britain's improvement could be attributed to several factors. A new coach in Rugby veteran John Gunn, and the members of the Dutch squad had changed dramatically. Travelling with a small squad offered little depth to their team.

The Championships first upset occurred when 7th seed Germany came from behind to beat the 6th seed Australia 34-33. This was one of two one- point games on day one. Germany's preparations prior to the Worlds included competing in two U.S tournaments along with training tournaments with three other European entrants. This attributed to their rise as one of Europe's finest.

Belgium gave USA's opening line (Joe Soares 3.5, Dave Gould 2.0, Bill Renje, and Norm Lyduch) an admirable effort, when they played them even after the first seven minutes. USA coach Reggie Richner had the luxury of going to the bench which contained a faster line up (Brad Updegrove 3.5 Cliff Chunn, Chad Farrington, and Eddie Crouch). That line over ran an already winded Belgium squad. Team USA finished the day by pounding Belgium into submission, resulting in a forfeit after Belgium lost their Captain Bob Vanacker to injury. While USA was cruising past Belgium the second seed Canada was destroying Austria 43-26 to conclude the first day of competition.

Day two's games were mostly mismatches. Germany gave New Zealand's WheelBlacks a strong effort but eventually fell 37-27. Fourth seeded, Sweden struggled with a lower seed (8th seed Holland) for the second straight day. Playing without their top player Tomas Ericksson, who had health problems was not easy at his level. They held on to defeat the Dutch by a 32-26 margin. USA pummeled Great Britain 43-15. The Brits once challenged the US at world competitions now found them selves severely outmatched. Canada was able to best Australia 40-31 to go to 3-0.

In the closest contest of the day Belgium upset the Netherlands who were seeded just in front of them. After quick start by Belgium the Dutch came back and tied the game in the third period. They managed to hold on for a 28-26 victory and take an inside track for a possible top eight finish.

On day three Germany continued to impress the Rugby World when they took Canada to the fourth quarter. Canada held on to win, 40-34, in a close battle throughout the game. New Zealand moved closer to a semi-final birth by narrowly defeating Australia 42-38. The game wasn't as close as the score would indicate as both teams were able to use their bench. Day four of the Worlds would have only two games that were closely contested. Great Britain struggled with Belgium. They had two costly technical fouls that kept Belgium in the game. Great Britain's experience paid off in the end with a 29-25 win.

The much-awaited pool Championship game between Canada and New Zealand lived up to the hype. The Kiwi's established the early lead, but they couldn't break away from the team denied them a Paralympic final appearance in 96. New Zealand's commitment to their World build up included over 60 days of training which included a U.S. tour against some club teams and finishing with two games against the top seeded USA squad. Two of their players had successfully used a hypnotist to quit smoking. As the game wore on their preparation was evident through their poise on the court. Every time Canada made a run the Kiwi's answered. Canada's attack was centered on, 3.5 Garret Hickling, while the Kiwi's used the balance of three mid-pointers. New Zealand was able to hold on to a 33-30 win. Hicklings 81 goals led all scorers in pool play. Kiwi high scorers included 2.5 Sholto Taylor 77, 2.5 Curtis Palmer 61, and 2.0 Geremy Tinker 43.

A battle wary Sweden, who barely made it into the semi-final's had the tough task of playing USA for a pool Championship. The Swedes were no match for the U.S., especially without the services of Europe's top high pointer Tomas Ericksson. USA cruised to an easy 51-31 victory leaving the WheelBlacks and themselves as the only teams at 5-0. High scorers for the U.S. were Dean MacCabe 45, Brad Updegrove 38, and Joe Soares with 35 goals.

The first crossovers began for the bottom four teams of each pool on day 4. Talk of pool B being stronger was substantiated after three of the four teams in pool B blew out their pool A opponents. Only the Netherlands, who beat Austria, 45-33 was able to record a victory against a pool B opponent. Switzerland rolled past Finland 31-18, Australia pounded Great Britain 51-28, and Germany trounced Belgium 40-24.

The semi-finals were held on Day 5, with top seed, USA going up against number two, Canada. Canada offered a surprise start by class 2.0 Dave Willsie who joined Paralympian's, Hickling, 2.0 Allen Semeniuk, and .5 Dany Belanger. The Americans wet with their big line up of 3.0 Troy McGuirk, 2.5 MaCabe, 2.0 Gould, and .5 Crouch. The US's big lineup won the tip and scored off of their first possession. Canada came back to tie, but made the first mistake when they were called for a second contact warning. The turnover enabled USA to go up by two. Canada kept the intensity and managed to knock down Cliff Chunn with the ball at the 4:15 mark. Canada avoid two 15 second calls by time out usage. An Updegrove foul enabled Canada to work their way back to tie the game at 19. MacCabe went for a held ball, which looked like he had, but was called for a foul. That gave the Canadians a chance to tie the game again. Chunn redeemed his earlier turnover by forcing a loose ball that was scooped up by Gould who's goal made it 21-19. USA's mid point lineup of MacCabe, Gould, Chunn, and 1.5 Bill Renje scored off the first possession of the half to make it 23-20. Their first play on defense held Canada in the backcourt for a 15-second call. USA quickly capitalized to open a four-goal lead. Their defense eventually made Canada use their last timeout at 4:10 in the 3rd period. Canada attempting to mount a comeback when Hickling hit class two Daryl Stubel with a pass. Stubel's clear path to the goal became clouded when Updegrove caught him from behind and dumped for the turnover, which marked the beginning of the end. Canada's defense did manage to make USA use their last time out but couldn't get any closer as they fell 35-40.

The second semi-final game was far less eventful. New Zealand's WheelBlacks were able to use all their personnel in an easy 38-19 win. Sweden's performance led many Rugby enthusiasts to suggest that Australia and Germany were a more formidable team. They will not get the chance to prove that until Sydney 2000.

A proper seeding would have allowed for that to be proved at these Worlds. The semi-final's made the top seed play the loser of 2nd and 3rd seed in the most important round. If correctly seeded USA would have had the 3rd seeded WheelBlacks in pool play while Canada would have faced the 4th seed in pool play. This would have pitted #1 versus #4 and #2 versus #3 in the crucial semi-final round. Hopefully, the order of play will be corrected by 2000.

In final placing games Austria won their first game at the World level by downing Finland 37-24. Switzerland upset the Dutch with a narrow 40-38 win. Belgium's rematch with Great Britain had no better result, as the tiring squad was soundly beat 25-37. Australia was able to make the most out of their rematch with Germany. In pool play they lost by one but returned the favor by nipping the Germans 43-39. Canada looked to have an easy afternoon for third place. Sweden playing for pride played a tough game against the Canadians but eventually fell 35-44.

After forty-one games over six days it was now time for a showdown of the World's best wheelchair rugby teams. New Zealand started the game predictably with 2.5's Taylor and Palmer with 2.0 Tinker and class 1.0 Grant Sharman. The U.S. countered with a mid-point lineup of their own (MacCabe, Gould, Chunn, and Renje). The teams traded goals for the first four minutes. Chunn's 10 second no dribble enabled New Zealand to take their first lead at 5-4. Palmer's held ball on defense led to a Taylor goal to go up6-4. When USA brought in Updegrove and Crouch for MacCabe and Renje, the WheelBlacks returned to their key. The strategy quickly paid off as USA was forced to use their second time out with only 13 seconds left in the 1st period. They failed to score and remained two down at 7-9.

The U.S. subbed Soares for Updegrove anticipating the Kiwi's key defense. The kiwi's recognized the change and immediately pressed USA. After trading goals Soares got turned as he was catching a pass which resulted in a turnover. New Zealand couldn't take advantage as USA came right back with a turnover. Tinkers dribble off his footplate gave USA the possession. The WheelBlacks press caused USA to use their third timeout with 3:22 left in the half. Gould's score tied the game at 12. Palmers goal put the Kiwi's up again. Soare's pass into the front court was stolen by Taylor, who converted the steal for a two-goal lead. Soares came back with a goal to pull within one. After an U.S. substitution, Updegrove and Chunn knocked Palmer into the cone for the turnover. Updegrove then shot through a hole in the Kiwi defense for the tying goal just before the end of the half. New Zealand started the 2nd half with the ball, but had to use a timeout when Tinker couldn't find an open teammate. After the timeout the Kiwi's went back ahead with a Taylor goal. USA tied the game at 17 and then forces a turnover resulting in a goal giving them the lead at 6:15 in the third period. Palmer's ten second call, led to another goal to put USA up 24-22 at periods end. USA had the arrow going their way and converted their first possession to go up 25-22. Updegrove's 10 second no dribble gave New Zealand a chance to reduce the lead to one. Updegrove turned Taylor in what appeared to be a spin, but instead caused a turnover. USA kept their 3-goal advantage until Palmer's held ball on Updegrove gave them the ball. The Kiwi's shaved the U.S. lead to two. Tinkers inbound was stolen, but the Kiwi's changed the arrow with a defensive held ball. USA kept possession and scored bringing the lead back to three.

After the Kiwi's third timeout with 3:38 remaining Tinker was forced out of bounds. The Kiwi's gave Taylor and Sharman a rest in favor of 3.0 Peter Martin and .5 Marty Payne. They forced a turnover and Martin took it coast to coast for a goal. That's when the lights went out with 3:14 left. Technical difficulties waited until the title game to make their prescience. The Power failure lasted about twenty minutes. I thought to myself that this has to help them by giving the less deep New Zealand time to recoup. The game resumed, but the Kiwi's could get no closer than three. USA would hold on to a sweet victory after surviving their closest contest in International play.

WheelBlack Coach Tony Howe sighted the turning point, "Right around the halftime area when we lost those balls when we had to go up by two. It was like a wave hit us when we had those errors of judgement on a lineup assignment."

USA's Bill Renje sighted his team's depth as the difference, "We could withstand their rush with all the different lineups Reggie put out there." USA Coach Reggie Richner said "they surprised us throughout the game, they keep improving and will be tough in 2000. I have to tip my hat to them for giving the U.S. their toughest game in history."

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