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 September 23, 1999 A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club "What if the hokey-pokey is really what it's all about?" GREYS POST SEASON OPENING WIN On Saturday, September 11th the Greys hosted Rockland RFC at the Woodhouse Road fields in Wallingford. Last spring the Grey played Rockland close and lost by a couple of tries in New York. Knowing that this team is relatively young and fast, the Grey hoped for a good turnout with plenty of reserves to keep the game close and hopefully paste a W in the win column. Well, by game time there were relatively few Grey for a home game (20 or so) and even less Rockland players (11 - best guess). Once again, the Grey had to bolster the oppositions number with a fair amount of Greys which was a problem this day since the additions to Rockland left little in the way of reserves for the Grey - and the day was getting hotter by the minute. With the teams at full strength the game commenced and it is hard to say if anyone gained an early advantage. Rockland was able to score first with a penalty kick from about 35 - 40 meters out to lead 6 - 0. Soon after, another Grey error resulted in another penalty kick attempt from - well, let's say - Hartford? The kick was good and it should have soon dawned on the Grey that giving up penalties anywhere within radar range of the goal posts would result in 3 points since the Rockland kicker just couldn't miss. With Rockland now ahead 6 - 0, the Grey seemed to settle back into the "old man" game of control - which paid off. With little time remaining before the break, the Grey took the loose inside the Rockland 5 meter line - dished the ball out to the backs who handled it very nicely out to Brendan Coffey at wing. Brendan took the ball down close and then fed back inside to Grayson Gregory who dished it back out to Coffey for the try. The conversion by Brancard was good and the Greys led at the break 7 - 6. The second period was pretty much a draw between the two teams but Rockland was, once again, able to take advantage of a Grey penalty and led at the end of the second 9 - 7. Now the fun begins. Usually, the Grey being down in the third would automatically end in a close game but generally a loss for the Grey. And, it appeared that the Grey were banking on that ending since they pretty much messed up most opportunities close in. The threats close to the try were nothing more than that "threats." Just for example, the Grey had a penalty awarded to them inside the Rockland 40. Joe Bordieri scooped up the ball, toed it through the mark and took off for the goal. Problem is, no one else followed. And so, little Joe got drubbed. With seconds remaining, Rockland started a movement through the backs' hands which would have resulted in some significant yardage except for the fact that the ball was snatched in mid pass by Grayson Gregory who scooted untouched the remaining 30 meters for the try. The conversion by Seegar was good and the whistle sounded a Grey win 14 - 9. Great game by all and a special thanks to the Grey that played for Rockland. Man of the match (recently instituted this year at the thought of John Kerr and Bert - with the hope that the award will be presented to John in most of the games) was given to Grayson Gregory for his outstanding back play and the game-winning try didn't hurt either. Drink up was at Kenny G's and that's about all I have to say about that. GREYS LOSE CLOSE ON TO LES VIEUX On Saturday, September 18th, the Grey traveled to beautiful Randalls by the River for the match against Les Vieux. This is always a hard fought game and there have been times when the Grey are the victors but I can't remember too many. With many key players absent, the Grey did an outstanding job of playing Les Vieux quite even. Not much color on this game since I wasn't there but word has it that scores were provided by Ronco (the human glacier) and Phil (must always say something nice about this guy) Tufano who probably picked the ball out of a loose, shook a few Les Vieux off the ball and proceeded to steam-roll down the middle of the field with little Les Vieux bouncing off him like BB's off a brick wall. In the end, the Grey fell short 17 - 15 but it sounded like a good game. Man of the match didn't go to John Kerr, again, but instead was awarded to Mike Fotos who usually gets my vote for the guy who covers more of the field than anyone I know - even more than Bud (if shade counts). Specifics on the drink up afterward are a little hazy as something was mentioned about a dirty place with crap all over the floor and something else about a pack of hens - I get the impression that the boys ended up in a barn in northern New Jersey and stuffed birds. Actually I think the scenario was more like a trip downtown to McSorley's (worst beer and awful food) where there must have been some sort of Doe party. Anyway, I really can't see anything of value to report from that situation. Just send me the pictures! NEXT GAME - BERKSHIRE - AWAY This week's game is at Berkshire. Directions can be found on the web site www.pioneeraero.com/cgrfc/. Kickoff is at 2:00 p.m. so be there sometime after 1:00 and don't be late. As usual, let Captain Carr or Vice Captain Facey know of your availability or regrets. Berkshire is always tough on us at home and we need to try to break the home/away - win/loss rut that we have gotten ourselves into over the past couple of years. Directions: Take I-90, the Mass. Pike, to Exit 2 ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND GETTING CLOSE Just a reminder, the 22nd of October is getting close and the 20th Grey Anniversary weekend festivities. Visit our web site for more specifics. DUES ARE DUE With the expenses associated with the 20th Anniversary, it is imperative that we get some positive cash flowing going now. If you have not paid your dues, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you. AROUND THE FIELD Heard an interesting bit of news about last week's game against Les Vieux. Now I know that this is always a hotly contested match and tempers usually flare now and then - and once in awhile there is even a bit of fist-a-cuffs between some of the players. What struck me as odd though was the fact that during the game Trunksie (I just do what the voices inside my head tell me to do) decided to challenge one of the Les Vieux players to a foot race - right in the middle of the game! Now that really isn't the time or place to play Ben Johnson but it was Trunksie and, well, some things he may do just don't make any sense anyway. So, right in the middle of the field these two thoroughbreds start racing around the field - no one even heard the starter's pistol. And, off they went, round and round the field. The irony is that Trunksie was running against one of their more fleet-of-foot players (for a forward) and well, Trunksie - with all that extra padding - lost the race. I guess it is ceremonial at Randalls Island to roll around on the ground with your racing partner like two dung beetles mating after a brutal sprint since that was what it appeared was happening after the race. Guess what? The ref didn't really appreciate the little jaunt by these two and decided to kick them both off the field. Imagine that? Well, I guess after all the fun stopped, Trunksie and his running mate were seen standing together on the sideline - literally hand-in-hand and had now moved onto a new form of competition called "who can blow the most smoke up the other person's ass?" I think Trunksie won that one. Rules of Flying: 1. Takeoff's are optional. Landings are mandatory. Trivia: The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Kekoukela," meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax," depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "kokoukole," translating to "happiness in the mouth."
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