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Under clear blue skies on a perfect day to play rugby it appeared that the
rugby gods were not looking kindly on the team from New Haven. On Thursday
of the week prior the captain re-pulled a right pinky toe then on Saturday
morning while contemplating line up changes three more injuries came to
light. First an eight man with a bad case of the sniffles, then the 1st
option line out jumper got beat up by his friend from Australia and finally
the #13 with quick feet forgot his dancing shoes...Ok the injuries were more
serious then that but 4 starters in one game... come on. The black clouds
were forming.
Probably the quote of the day happened out of earshot of most. As I was
driving our two young PhDs (no really we have 2 soon to be PhDs playing on
our team) one of them turned to me and asked
PHD #1 "So if you and Tui are out who is starting"
Captain- "The two of you"
PHD #2 (after long silence)- "So who is playing B side?"
Captain- "The two of you"
PHD #1 and #2- Long awkward silence
I think that they were contemplated how to get out of my car on the highway
and make it back to New Haven. Thankfully both of them are from out of town
and can barely find their way from the apartment to class, might as well
from Western Massachusetts to Connecticut.
Enough of the stories onto the games.
The boys in Black came out undermanned in people but big in heart, with
newly married Jacko Ahoy and newly insured Buddy Lee leading the backline
and Sau Double Fist picking up the line outs it looked like the team didn't
miss their starters at all (and we only needed one PHD on the field to
start).
Early in the game the team had to fight a huge - I mean HUGE - ok did I say
HUGE Albany pack. But a little skill and a slap pass from the Mr. Medico to
Mr. Sun block put the team quickly on the board. (Side note: 5 minutes in
starter #5 goes down but the team gets smarter as PHD #2 runs on). The team
from Albany quickly returned the favor after a New Haven Penalty kick and
the early score was 10-7.
For the remainder of the first half saw Albany try to smash the New Haven
Pack and the New Haven boys trying to stay upright and wear them down. A
huge effort from Ed Pierkarski, Big Daddy and new Prop Chris (Serjak, I
think) kept the Albany boys at bay. At the half the score read 17-10 good
guys. (Special thanks to Monk for driving 4 hours to play 40 minutes)
The start of the second half saw more of the same and led to an Albany try
early on, but you could see the Albany pack tiring and the New Haven backs
really starting to take some control, with Mr. Medico taking the lead and
playing some of his most inspired rugby of the past year.
As the game progressed the fitness of Old Black team started to take
command. A mid second half try by one of the PhDs (they both scored on the
day) off of a brilliant flip pass from Jacko put the good guys up 5. With
about 15 minutes left (should have been 5 but the ref decided that he liked
fifty minute halves) Jacko made the gutsiest call of the game. From about
40 meters out Jacko gave Buddy Lee a shot at goal instead of going for
touch. The decision was argued by the Jason "calf cramp" Smith and Frank My
Blue Heaven right up until kick sailed over the goal to give the Old Blacks
the 8 point lead.
Unfortunately Albany mustered up some strength and drove the length of the
field, and aided by some skilled diving over from our reigning C award
winner, Albany had a shot for post to pull within a try. Fortunately for us
their kicker ailing was ailing from an earlier injury and it was not to be.
A missed kick and a late try by the good guys gave the team a hard fought 5
point victory.
Final Score 36-24
The B game quite resembled the A game due to the number of two way players.
Early on the Albany B side proved to be too much for our tired team and put
up early tries while we fiddled with the lineup. We started trying to go on
the offensive which only led to more problems as the fullback was caught in
the line twice and two kicks over his head led to a couple of easy tries.
With the B side boys reeling one of the A side stalwarts decided he still
had some left after the A game and began exhibiting the guile, skill and
leadership that has him still starting top level rugby at 36. As Benny from
the Bronx (the Korean Bronx that is) starting guiding the players the boys
responded and with good games from the 2 PhDs and Flex (that is John in a
Body Armor shirt) and the untiring Sau Double Fist the boys put in 2 second
half tries to make it respectable.
A great effort all around, next stop the 2 time National Champs.
PS (the reports are only this long when I am injured. Let's all pray that I
get healthy)
Man of the Match
A - Jacko Ah Hoy
B - Benny Boutaugh
Key Terms
Kate Medico= Jacko Ahoy
Calf Cramp= Jason Smith
Sun block/Crazy= Dave Fischer
PHD #1= Ryan
PHD #2/ Lance Armstrong= Jake
Buddy Lee= Buddy Lee
Quadzilla= Victor Milani
Other to follow as needed...
Editor's Note - Facts may be correct, incorrect and / or blatantly false, ok
never blatantly false but these are the facts as seen through the eyes of
the writer. Scores are always correct. If you have complaints call my mom
she likes to talk. |
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Match Results
