The Topeka Wizards started the 2012 spring campaign with a friendly against the Benedictine College "Black Monks."  It was a hotly contested match from beginning to end with all the hard work from the off season starting to show potential for a very good season for TRFC.  With the Black Monks winning 20-10, the score is a sign of the improvement the Wizards have made so far this spring.

It was a game of fierce rucking and mauling with a match that went back and forth the entire afternoon.   Both sides came out to play hard and the fans were treated to a well paced game.  Topeka also used this friendly to play a lot of new rookies, who showed that they are a very welcome addition to the team as their contribution to the game was impressive. The friendly was also a big opportunity to try some veterans in new positions as quite a few members got moved around during the match.

Benedictine started the scoring with 2 trys in the first half.  These didn't come easy for the Black Monks.

With a 10-0 halftime deficit for Topeka it was interesting to see if the team had improved from the fall season as the team tweaked the game plan.  The second half was just as competitive as the first and Benedictine had another try about 10 minutes into the half.  That is when the Wizards dug in and showed that they are an improved club.

Late in the game with less than twenty minutes to play, the rookies for the Wizards stared the season off with the teams two trys.  The first was a beautiful play coming out of a ruck deep in the Benedictine 22 as Jon Cox passed off to rookie, T.J. McDonald for a quick score to make it 15-5, Benedictine.

Then, moments later, again deep in the Black Monks 22, rookie, Seth Akpovona scored a try after being in his very first game for roughly ten seconds.  What a fantastic moment for the young Wizard, making the score 15-10, Black Monks.

Benedictine themselves were not done for the day as they scored one last try very late into the second half, killing off any come from behind hopes for the Wizards as it ended in a 20-10 affair.

Overall, TRFC was pleased with how the game went and it invigorated the spirit of the club.  This result will hopefully provide some positive momentum for the remainder of the very young season.  The support, tacking and ball movement was much better and with hard work at practice the Wizards can improve a great deal more.

Next up for Topeka is a game against the Kansas University Jayhawks on March 10 at 2pm in Lawrence.  Prior to that is the bi-annual fund-raiser at Speck's Bar & Grill at 6pm on March 3.