CONNECTICUT
GREY
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
~ est. 1979 ~
Mountain Mist Outdoor Center
Meriden, Connecticut
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~ est. 1979 ~
Mountain Mist Outdoor Center
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The Hourglass May 9, 1999 A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." H. S. Thompson GREYS SPLIT AT ALBANY LAW The Greys visited Albany New York over the weekend of April 17th for the Watkins Tournament sponsored by Albany Law RFC. Other teams that were present were Saranac Lake, Rutland, Albany Law Alumni, Albany Law, Berkshire, and some motley crew of current and former Albany lawyers. The weather was just awful, cold and rainy for a day at the beach but it was acceptable for rugby (playing but certainly not watching). The Greys started with Berkshire who was the only other team there that somewhat resembled an old boys side even with their younger than usual backfield. Anyway, things started out poorly for the Grey as Berkshire was able to counter up the weak side and blow past all defenders with this really fast little wing who ultimately scored from about 70 meters away. The conversion by a not-so-slim (or old) center was wide and the Grey were down 5 - 0. However, a nice backfield movement in the Berkshire half 22 minutes later resulted in a Steve Tenenbaum try in the corner. The conversion by Don Brancard was good and the Greys were up 7 - 5. "Let the scoring begin." This try was then followed by three more with scores from Pete McInerny. All conversions were good and an additional penalty kick was added to end the half 28 - 5. At the half there were some minor lineup changes and substitutions which may or may not have been to our advantage. Berkshire opened the second half with a roar as the little winger tallied two more tries from way out. Again, the conversions were no good and the Grey still had a solid 31 - 15 lead. The Grey were awarded a penalty kick from close range directly in front of the posts after Darryl Garrison was bumped chasing a ball. Darryl doing has "Walt" Garrison imitation grabbed the offending youth and bull-dogged him to the ground which led to a minor scuffle. The kick was good and the Grey now led 31 - 15. In the closing minute of the game, a set scrum by the Grey five meters out from the Berkshire tryline resulted in a Billy Aman scoop and dive for the final score. The kick was just wide and the Grey won 36 - 15. A real nice game by all and especially the forwards who just dominated the Berkshire pack. In the second game (which was around 4:00 p.m.) the Grey were matched against Rutland who soundly defeated Saranac Lake to advance to the semis. The Rutland team looked a bit more organized than past groups that we faced and looked to be very strong in the forwards with the addition of a South African eight. However, against the Grey he decides to play center which was a good move on their part. The Grey started strong and although Rutland received the kick, the ensuing maul saw the ball flipped back to the scrumhalf who spun the ball out to the flyhalf. Unfortunately for them, Brendan Coffey stepped into the lane at full pace, picked off the pass and darted the 30 meters for the try. The conversion was good and the Grey were up early 7 - 0. Rutland did a fine job in the pack but the Grey held their own until the ball went to the Rutland backs where nice movements created a couple of gaps that allowed the South African to blast through the center and created overloads that resulted in two quick tries. Conversions were good on both and Rutland now led 14 - 7. One more try was made - more of the same backline movement and the converted kick ended the scoring for the first half with Rutland up 21 - 7. The Grey came out strong in the second half and, with Rutland feeling very confident, were able to force a lot of play into the Rutland end. Nice breaks and good tackles kept the Grey in the game by not allowing Rutland to score. Half way through the period a nice back movement pushed the ball into the Rutland 22 and, with a maul won by the Grey, a pass by Kerr out to Gary Tamburri netted the try (which wasn't called until they unpiled the redshirts off Gary). The conversion by McInerny was good and the Grey trailed 21 - 14 with plenty of time remaining. However, the lacks took over as the lack of fitness and lack of intelligence soon caught up to the Grey who gave up a penalty (hands in over the top) which soon resulted in a break through by the Rutland backs and a try to end the game (missed conversion) 26 - 14. It was a good, hard fought match and although we didn't have a lot of guns the pack play, once again, was superb. Great efforts and assistance from the Mid Hudson contingent of McInerny, Seegar and Falatin. Even though we lost the match, it was a respectable 1 - 1 showing on the day. The loss also meant that there would be no third game of the day against the other semi-final winner, Albany Law. Good thing too. Albany Law went on to crush Rutland by two or three tries. Seems their young speedsters are just a bit faster than the Rutland boys. They also had about 30 players to draw from. GREYS LOSE CLOSE ONE TO DINOSAURS The first ever game against the Beacon Hill Dinosaurs was held in Wallingford on Saturday, April 24th. The late start may have played to the Dinos advantage since most Greys decided to do some lawn work to pass the time before kickoff. As time passed, enough Dinos showed up to field a full fifteen without borrowing any Greys. The first half opened with some good pressure by the Grey but the Dino pack was just too solid and really dominated the loose. Eventually, a break was made that resulted in a weakside dash that led to a Dino score. The conversion was no good and the Dinos led 5 - 0. The Grey still attacked and really pressed inside the Dino 22. The Grey took advantage off a second phase ball passing through the backs to Chuck Schutte who split the defenders and touched down for the try. The conversion was not good and the score was knotted at five apiece. Thus went the first period and with the score tied, the Grey substituted en masse. With an almost completely new pack and many new backfield additions the Grey opened the second half on the defense and stayed there most of the period. Any breaks that put us into Dino territory were soon countered by either penalties or missed tackles placing the ball back into our own end. It would have been a real moral victory to get through the period without giving up a try but that was wishing for the impossible as the Dinos were able to score not once but twice off backfield overloads. With both conversions good, the Dinos led at the end of the second 19 - 5. Down but not out, the third substitution wave took over for the final period. Once again the Grey started out on the defense but some good movements and kicks put the ball into the Dinos end. Winning a set scrum, the Grey moved the ball out to the backs to Steve Tenenbaum who split through the middle and touched down for the try. Once again the kick was wide and the Grey now trailed 19 - 10. As if there is some force that is preventing the Grey to win a close one, the Dinos were able to counter and with the ball in the Grey end and the backfield moving the ball out, a knock-on by the Grey was scooped up by the Dinos center who ran it in for the try. With the conversion the Dinos now had a somewhat insurmountable 26 - 10 lead. One final push by the Grey resulted in the ball flipped out to Mike Guzzio who trampled over several Dinos on his way to the tryline and a score. Again, no conversion and time expired with the Grey on the short end of the 26 - 15 score. Once again a good hard fought match but it was obvious that the experienced play of the Dinos (playing together as a team for many years) added to their win - that and our continued lack of tackling and coverage in the backfield. ROCKLAND UPSETS GREYS Yes, it was upsetting. And, in more ways than one can imagine. Oh, I wouldn't say it was all due to the youngsters but the game in Tallman State Park on Saturday May 1st wasn't one for the books. To begin with, the Grey show up at the wrong field, or was it? Seems that there was another field in the park that Rockland was waiting for us to play on. After an hour or so of waiting and the clock striking the scheduled kickoff time, the ref (whom I will dis later but was at least at the same field as we were) decided to take a look around the other locales in the park. He soon returned to inform us that we were at the wrong pitch but that Rockland was on their way down since they couldn't use the other field anyway. So what started as a 1:00 kickoff soon became a 2:15 or even 2:30 kickoff. The game began with what appeared to many backs as a ten minute dissertation by the ref on the proper way for a scrum to come together (while the clock was running). This done, the game then proceeded with intermittent scolding, warnings and general gum flapping by the incessantly talking ref. Eventually, Rockland scores a drop goal, then a try and, soon after, another try to take a good lead after the first period. Not sure of the score but believe it was 13 - 0, but this doesn't matter now (and didn't in the end either). Second period much like the first with several substitutions but with the Grey finally getting on the board with a Steve Tenenbaum try. Conversion is not good (seriously problem in the kicking game, guys) and the Greys have closed the gap - slightly. Another tally by Rockland followed by another by Grey Brendan Coffey and the period ends with the Grey down by 10 (20 - 10). The final period saw some real pep in the Grey step and a quick score (second by Tenenbaum) closed the gap to 5 points. Rockland answers with another try and the Grey tally another as the period progresses. Finally, down by 5 with time running out, Rockland was able to pop kick deep into the Grey 22 and smother our fullback - stealing the ball and bouncing over the line for the final try and the 30 - 20 win. The Grey were down but not out of this one and the surge in the third was a real change - also, two obvious Grey tries were called back during this period which would have resulted in a resounding come-from-behind victory if the ref would have just been running instead of coaching. Game ended at 4:30 and many of the Grey had to be across the Connecticut line before 5:30 - you know, that pumpkin thing. VICTORY AT LAST - GREYS DOWN ALBANY OLD BOYS If you had to make a bet on the possible outcome of this game - win or lose - I doubt there would be anyone who would give you better than 20 - 1 odds on a Grey win. Take the bet and head for the bank. What was feared as a potential drubbing when it appeared on the schedule, the game against Albany Old Boys was far from what past games have been and was one of the Grey's shinning moments of the spring season. Take all the close losses and make those minor corrections that would have won those games (Rockland, Dinosaurs, Les Vieux) and package them into a well executed game by all and you do get a win, a big one. With the 11:30 kickoff looming closer on Saturday, May 8th, the Grey patiently waited for the Albany numbers to appear at the Glastonbury Irish American Society field. As time went on, it was apparent that Albany was missing a few players (and some key ones at that). Without some of their standard backfield who so surgically cut their way through our backs last year en route to a 56 - 14 loss in Albany, the Grey actually had to provide two players to fill out their numbers. The Grey opened the game with good solid play and an interference on a pop kick gave the Grey a penalty within the Albany 22 that was successfully converted by Don Brancard for the 3 - 0 lead. Albany then took control and later in the half was able to score a try and with the missed conversion led 5 - 3. The Grey kept pressure on and were able to defend some close in scrums by Albany and had some breaks but were unable to convert them into scores. However, the momentum was with the Grey. In the second period it was all Grey as good forward play and decent ball handling by the backs (who I believe did not have knock-on all game) kept the ball in the Albany side most of the early part of the period. However, injuries took their toll as Joe Bordieri had to be replaced by Don Brancard who on the following possession took a shot to the chest and was out of the game. The Grey did have adequate numbers in the backs and were able to fill in despite the losses. The close in scrums soon led to a backline movement that saw Steve Tenenbaum split the center-wing and score from 22 out. The conversion was missed and the Grey led 8 - 5. Not long after, another set scrum from 5 meters out saw the ball squirt through the Albany second row and was scooped up by Ed Carr who dove over for the try. The conversion was good and the Grey now had a commanding lead 15 - 5. The second period has been our downfall this past season but instead of being scored on, the Grey kept Albany scoreless while at the same time racking up two tries. This started to bode well for the Grey. In the third, the momentum was clearly with the Grey and even though there were a couple of breaks by Albany, good defensive coverage by the Grey prevented any chances of scoring. The Grey scored on what was decided on the field to be the ugliest try of the year as several bobbled passes, two into the dirt that were picked up by Grey players and a pop kick that was fortunately mis-played by the Albany fullback resulted in the ball bouncing into the try zone and touched down by Chicky (of all people) for the score. I told you it was ugly. The conversion was no good and the Grey now led 20 -5. As time ran down, the Grey forwards pushed the ball inside the Albany five meter where Fred Seegar touch the ball over for the final try and with the conversion by Fred, the Grey ended with the 27 - 5 win. When things go right, boy do they go right. A really great game by the forwards and good defense by the backs contributed to the resounding win. Excellent games by Ed Carr, Fred Seegar and Lou Petruzello in the forwards and Steve Tenenbaum and Chuck Schutte in the backs. Also, thanks to all Grey who played for Albany and recognition to Bob Ferullo (a former Mad Hatter) who is our new addition but played the entire game for Albany. NEXT GAMES The next game is against the Village Lion Kings on Saturday May 15th in New York City. Kickoff is TBA the location is Manhattan's home pitch just outside Downey Stadium on Randalls Island. Keep in contact with Ed Carr or Tom Flynn for the location or check out the website. On Saturday May 22nd the Grey host Berkshire at the Woodhouse Avenue field in Wallingford. Kickoff is 1:00 and players are needed to line the field at 11:45. Once again, please notify Ed Carr, Flynn or Jim Facey of your availability. LIFESTYLES OF THE DUMB AND STUPID A true story out of San Francisco: A man, wanting to rob a downtown Bank of America walked into the branch and wrote on a deposit slip "this iz a stikkup. Put all your muny in this bag." While standing in line, waiting to give his note to the teller, he began to worry that someone had seen him write the note and might call the police before he reached the teller window. So he left the Bank of America and crossed the street to the Wells Fargo bank. After waiting a few minutes in line, he handed his note to the Wells Fargo teller. She read it, and surmising from his spelling errors that he wasn't the brightest light in the harbor, told him that she could not accept his stickup note because it was written on a Bank of America deposit slip and that he would either have to fill out a Wells Fargo deposit slip or go back to Bank of America. Looking somewhat defeated, the man said "okay" and left. The Wells Fargo teller then called the police who arrested the man a few minutes later, as he was waiting in line back at Bank of America. FRANCONIA WEEKEND The Old Men of the Mountain Festival is scheduled for June 5th and 6th. Festivities start in the evening of Friday June 4th at the Franconia Inn with the third annual pre-festival cookout. For all that are planning on attending this event, please contact Tom Flynn and let him know of the numbers of people in your group (family, living unit or ecological niche) so that we can ensure what to have at the cookout and champagne hour on Saturday night. The Inn is full, but lodging is still available at the Red Lion located in town. Any questions about the weekend should be addressed to Tom Flynn. AROUND THE FIELD With the season about half over, the Grey don't appear to be setting any record season with win streaks or even considering a winning season. With a current 3 and 7 record, we will need to win all of the remaining games (including both games in Franconia) to post a non-losing season of 7 - 7. A loss will mean a losing season. Looking toward the prospect of a winning season, we wondered what the possibilities are of going 4 - 0 over the next month and a half (a five-game winning streak). In Las Vegas we inquired as to the odds for a 5 - 0 streak. The answers were not quite what we had in mind but some are as follows:
Is there some law that states that there can be no more than three ex Mid Hudson players at a Grey game at one time? The recent game against Albany and the large number of Grey players reminded me of the book "The Thin Gray Line." But after considering some of our players like Harvey, Roncaioli, Flynn, Woodard and Trunks the title would have to be changed to "The Thin but Somewhat Large at Certain Locations and Especially at Those Locations Where You'd Expect the Line to be Relatively Thin, Grey Line." Great game played by John Kerr who filled in for the scrum half position for Albany in the second half of the game. John was seen dribbling a lawn bowling pass out from a set scrum that ended up somewhere between the flyhalf and inside center. The ball laid on the ground and was easily defended by the Grey. After the half John acknowledged the poor attempt on the pass that was to the Grey's advantage with a little wink - just to keep the game close. Duly noted, John then proceeded to throw three similar passes to the Grey backfield in the final period. There will be a kicking clinic on Saturday, May 22nd prior to the game against Berkshire. All forwards who think they can get the ball over the try line or in the general direction of the goal posts are encouraged to attend the clinic. Similarly for the backs, there will be a punting and pop kick clinic to provide some guidance in the correct way to kick a ball so that it travels forward, in the air and over the opposing backs. There may even be time to show how to kick a ball so that it goes into touch.
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