HOUSTON SABERCATS SEASON OPENER

We didn't realize we had some rugby fans that follow the blog.  Several of you asked how our local professional rugby team did last weekend (a week ago today actually) in their season opener and did we have any pictures to share?  The Houston Sabercats played the Colorado Raptors.

I took several hundred pictures (using the repeat shutter mode does that).

Here are a few (as always click to enlarge):

The game started and we scored almost immediately.

Rugby is such an amazing sport.  These guys do this with virtually no protection.  A friend of ours was as a game recently and said "they have no helmets and no padding!".

The guys are athletes for sure and without a doubt it's a rough and tumble sport 

This is called a scrum, one of many.

It was a great game with scoring back and forth between both teams but in the end...

...we were victorious!

Sabercats 21 Raptors 12

A really cool thing that rugby teams do is after the game, each player makes their way along the stands to shake hands, give high fives or just say thanks to each fan who stays.

You can tell by the smiles on their faces that they love interacting with the fans.

Speaking of fans, this season we have a new member of the team.  We have a mascot!  He's a Sabercat (of course) and his name is SCRATCH!  What a great personality he has and he is very fan friendly as well!

Here's to a great season!

DAYTONA 500 RACEDAY

Regular blog readers know that we love NASCAR. I know, some might find it odd but we love it.

For me, my Dad loved it for as long as I can remember and when you're a kid at home on the weekends and Dad is in charge of the remote, well, you know how that ends, ha.  So I watched and grew to enjoy it as well.  Even my Mom got into it, of course she also liked the nice looking drivers.  I think I got some of that from her too, LOL!  

This is one of the drivers that we root for, Daniel Suarez.  He's a younger driver and it's his third season in the Cup series.  We root for a few of the veteran drivers as well.

2nd Man watched it on and off over the years and then more regularly after we met.  Now we try to catch every race.  Most certainly we always catch the big ones and today is THE big one.  The Daytona 500.  It's like the Superbowl of racing.

....and hey, the cars are pretty cool to look at too.

On the menu today is steak, potatoes and creamed collard greens.

Yesterday was COLD and WET.  Ugh.  I went to the farm, checked on things, harvested some stuff, watered the plants on the porch and came back into town.  Today is cold and wet again.  Hope you are having a good weekend!

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY WHO YA GOT

SO...it's the day of the big game.

East vs West.

We're having steak and potatoes (and maybe a glass or two of wine) and watching.  We had the game here in Houston just a couple years ago and all the parties and pregame stuff happened right by our building.  We know how much fun they must be having in Atlanta right now.

What are you all having to eat during the game?

Big party or quiet night?

In it for the game or just the commercials?

And the big question, who ya got?

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots?

or 

Jared Goff and the LA Rams?

Fun fact, Jared Goff was 7 when Tom Brady played in his first Super Bowl.  Kind of amazing to think about.

Happy game day!

KARBACH AND SABERCATS WEEKEND UPDATE

We started at Karbach Brewery and Restaurant for our nephews 21st birthday.  It was outdoors in the biergarten so it was hot but thankfully we were under a covered pavilion.

Good food, cold beer, and family.

Karbach Lemon Ginger Radler

Karbach is right across from the stadium and so they have some special mugs. Side note, I've never been a beer person, but I love the Karbach Lemon Ginger Radler (above).  Who knew I'd like beer?

Karbach Sabercats mugs

Nice souvenirs of the day to bring home. "J" had a wonderful 21st birthday with family and friends and we were grateful to be a part of it.   

About 7:40, we donned our wrist bands and headed to the stadium.  

Houston Sabercats

Rugby time as the Houston Sabercats took to the field.  The sun was starting to set and there was actually a cool(ish) breeze.

Matt Trouville

Rough and tumble as always. 

Rugby under the lights

It wasn't long until the sun was gone and it was time for rugby under the lights!

We had the ball a few times but Seattle was a good team and by halftime...

...the Seattle Seawolves had managed to score  twice and put six points on the board. 

Houston vs Seattle

After the half, the Seawolves scored the first "try" of the game and that made the score 13-0.

This is one of my favorite parts of the game, it's called a "lineout".  Here Matt Trouville gets the ball during the lineout.

Sam Windsor

We finally had our first try of the game and Sam Windsor converted bringing the score to 7-20.  

Sabercats vs Seawolves

But in the end, sigh, we lost.

It was the last home game of the season, there are two more games on the road.  Here's hoping the guys win both of them!

HOUSTON SABERCATS RUGBY

Saturday was our first home game for the 

HOUSTON SABERCATS 

that we were able to attend since the first one we went to.  The second one was the weekend we moved and timing just didn't work out.  

We were excited to go back, hot as it was, ha!

Flag and National Anthem

During the National Anthem, they unfurled a flag and then...

Coast Guard flyover

...there was even a flyover just as the anthem ended.  It was a rescue helicopter from the Coast Guard.  Very neat to see, it flew low and made a couple of passes over the stadium.

Houston Sabercats vs Utah Warriors

The game was action packed as always.

Sabercats

Our players were great on both defense...

...and offense. 

Sam Windsor about to kick

Speaking of great plays here was one. Sam Windsor was up next for getting some extra points on the board.  He kicked the ball from the 50 meter line...

It was a long way...

But it flew high and straight down the field...

And he slotted it right through the uprights!  

Three more points!

We entered half time with a lead.

Houston Ladycats

Here are the Houston Ladycats, the Sabercats' cheerleaders.  As usual, they put on a great halftime entertainment program.  Great job Ladycats!!

Sabercats and Warriors

The second half was just as rough and tumble as the first half.

Houston Sabercats Rugby

Both teams played well and we had the upper hand several times.  

Rugby scrum, Houston Sabercats vs Utah Warriors

Here is one of several scrums that happened.  Always fun to watch and root for your team.

Alas, in the end, a last minute score by Utah gave them the lead and ultimately the win.  

Next home game is this coming weekend. A night match.  That should be fun!

GO CATS GO!

EDIT: Somehow, this posted but didn't allow comments or show up in sidebar feeds of other blogs.  Not sure what happened.  A glitch I suppose.  I turned it back on and a couple of coments appeared.  

Sorry if you were unable to comment.

HOUSTON SABERCATS RUGBY HAS ARRIVED

On Saturday, we attended out first ever rugby game. Well, I guess our first ever professional rugby game. 2nd Man's nephew played rugby in high school and we saw a few of his games.  But this is professional MLR (Major League Rugby).

Houston Sabercats image courtesy of @Hou_Sabercats

Houston now has its very own professional rugby team.  They are called the SABERCATS. 

They join the Astros, Texans, Rockets and Dynamo as hometown teams to cheer on. They are currently building a stadium that will be completed next year and so for now they are playing on a grass field at Dyer Stadium.

2nd Man and I braved the weather to go (it only sprinkled while we there) and I took a lot of pictures. Here are a few (click to enlarge):

Sabercats rugby

We are new to understanding all the rules of the game but wow is it ever fun.  We are learning, slowly but surely.

Houston Sabercats

Lots of action from beginning to end. More intense than American football for sure. 

Houston Sabercats vs NOLA Gold

The guys are definitely tough...

And talented...

Sabercats scrum

This is a scrum, the players get into formation and try to get the ball back to their side. 

They made a late game score that gave us hope...

...but alas, in the end, we lost 26 to 32.  

Still, it was an exciting game and when it was over we got to shake hands with all the players, including the opposing team.  They really are all about the fans, as sports should be.  

It was a great day and there will be more because we became season ticket holders!  Anyone out there interested in tickets, season or otherwise, you can click here for the link.