Watch video of the match between the Missoula Maggots and the Outback Barbarians“Yeah, that's Missoula rugby,” one said, shoving his hand into a fresh 12-pack of Budweiser.
Missoula rugby always seems to come with a wind-chill factor. And dogs. And beer-drinking sideliners. And so it was on Thursday evening when the Missoula Maggots faced off with a group of roughnecks from Australia as the official kickoff to the weekend-long Missoula Maggotfest.
Despite the 25-0 loss, Maggots coach Eddie Murphy (don't bother with the jokes, like this reporter did), was optimistic before Missoula's 15 butted heads with a team filled with lifelong rugby players.
“I think we have a good chance,” said the New Zealander. “Else it wouldn't be a contest.”
It was a good contest, despite the score. But in the end, the score didn't much matter. Nothing for the record books, nothing for the career stats.
The Barbarians, a traveling squad of amateur Aussie scrummers, stopped in Missoula for a 23-day tour of the states, raising money along the way for breast cancer and prostate cancer research.
The big prize? That will be raffled off on Sunday, the lucky $2-ticket purchaser receiving a pink - yes, pretty pink - rugby jersey. The Barbarians hoped to raise at least $1,000 for the causes in each of the cities and towns they visited.
Barbarians manager Geoff Barton said before the match that his team's goal is not winning, but spreading rugby love in the states while raising money for two good causes. In fact, he didn't much want to discuss the Barbarians' last match in Spokane, dryly saying: “Um, we won.”
“The idea is to assist in the development of rugby,” said Barton. “If they can learn something by playing us, we're more than happy. We're more than happy if they beat us.”
Which they didn't. But it was a spirited contest.
On Thursday night, the Barbarians presented the Maggots with a trophy. It read: “Rugby is the game they play in heaven.”
Big guys wearing pink shirts are such softies.
For Maggots player Bill Merrill, who coached the team last year, this is the best time of year.
“It's a great weekend for us as a club,” said the eight-year veteran of the Maggot squad. “This is what being a Maggot is all about.”
Reach Jamie Kelly at 523-5254 or at jkelly@missoulian.com
Scrum city
The Missoula Maggotfest, featuring 36 teams from the region and Australia, continues this weekend at Fort Missoula. Matches are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday. All matches are free and open to the public.
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