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 April 13, 2000 A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club "You know you're at a southern zoo when the cages THE "P" WORD The Grey began the spring season with the now obligatory practice session. This took place on Saturday, March 18th at the JonBenet Ramsey field in Wallingford. The field, I might add, hasn't changed one bit but the same can't be said about many of the participants. Highlights were that there were 13 members present for the ceremonious run-around and pathetic display of sevens that ran for about an hour-and-a-half (generally more time than we actually play during a regular match). Also, we welcomed three new additions to the Grey contingent: Mark Collins, who has played in Texas and was recently the stable boy at the Southfork Ranch, Dan O'Brien, who has played with the Wanderers and has recently been paroled from the Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, and Ray Oberg, who is a friend of Jeff Bouvier's – so nothing more needs to be said about his credentials. Welcome to the new guys and hope to see all at the games this spring. GREYS OPEN WITH TIE (LOSS OR, WHATEVER!) With the disbanding of the Rockland team, the Grey were forced to reschedule the opening match for March 25th. Chris Rose was successful in lining up a match against New Paltz (New York) 'B' side at Randalls Island. Initially the game was scheduled for 3:00 but word had it that this was changed to 1:30 for reasons unbeknownst to all. Anyway, the day started with that usual confusion and long wait. At 1:00 there was still a half of a women's game to play and a full game between New Paltz 'A' side and the Village Lions. Guess that 3:00 kickoff really was never in doubt. Add to this the disappointment of a cold rain that began to fall during the second half of the New Paltz/Lions game and the mood was quickly turning sour for the Grey. Oh, let me also add that while waiting for our game to begin we began noticing a group of young strong-looking mid-20ish men beginning to don rugby gear with the all-too-familiar New York Old Blue colors and crest. Yep, it seems that the Blue had a Super League game in Kansas City and all those not fortunate enough to be selected for the "elite" team got to stay home without a game. Guess they heard about this one and decided to "fill in the gaps" for New Paltz 'B's'. As Captain John Kerr put it, there will be a "sprinkling" of Old Blue guys on the New Paltz team. That's like saying there's just a "sprinkling" of rocks and glass on the Randalls Island field. Onto the game. The game began like so many other Grey endeavors with some enthusiasm but not enough to prevent a quick score by the opposition. Sadly, this was followed by two more and the Grey found themselves being decimated by the younger stronger Blue (oops, I mean New Paltz 'B's'). However, after three straight blasts through the scrum/backfield gap, the Grey finally found a way to fend off the attacks and were able to muster some strong offense before the half. A penalty allowed the Grey to get to the Blue (oops, again) 5-meter line where the Grey finally got a break and a pass out to Don Brancard who was soon swarmed over by Blues (OK, give up) but before going to ground popped the ball to Joe Bordieri who touched down for the try. The conversion by Brancard was good and the Grey were down but not out at the break. With substitutions, the Grey began the second half on a much more positive note. Also, the Blue had since been replaced with a "sprinkling" of New Paltz regular players. This was a big advantage to the larger and more powerful Grey forwards who also included the addition of fireman Phil (the human mountain) Tufano. With the Grey firmly camped in the New Paltz half of the field, the tide turned quickly and the Grey were able to bully their way close into the New Paltz try zone and with reckless forward abandon, pushed over a maul with the ball popping up into the hands of Ed Carr for the score. Not sure about the conversion but this doesn't matter at this time anyway. Soon after, another spark of offense had the ball close in again and a backfield movement had Pete McInerny flipping the ball overhand to Tony Johnson who broke through two defenders for the score. Again, the conversion is not a factor, yet. Now, with the try totals dead even, the Grey believed, or maybe just some of us, that the score was knotted or at least close. But errors in field positioning and play as well as a few feeble attempts at tackling (you just can't get close – you actually have to try to grab the guy) allowed the Paltzers to tally a long score just before break. This appears to have put the youngsters ahead going into the second break. In the third, another quick score by Pete McInerny seemed to tie the try total again and the Grey were in a dogfight to eke out the win. New Paltz seeing the destruction of their lead in the second period decided to substitute in mass their team and replace the inexperienced 'B' players with most of their 'A' side. This proved to be a good decision as the Paltz team was allowed to touch another over as time was running down to apparently secure the win for New Paltz. Now, I did take a few math courses in college and I have some idea of theoretical calculus which allows you to just assume an answer (right or wrong – it doesn't matter) but I am still trying to figure out how we came away with a 31 - 31 draw. The long drive home had many of us counting our fingers and toes and trying to remember where that fifth try came from. I know we missed a couple of conversions but there is no way the conversions can total an odd number since I remember quite clearly that all multiples of two are even so that can't be the reason why we had 31 points. Someone has erred and quite possibly the change in refs from the second to third periods accounted (if that can even be used correctly) for the confusion, possibly giving the Grey the extra score. If anyone has any recollection of that missing fifth try scorer, please let me know and I will print the corrections next month. Man-of-the-Match was awarded to the entire Grey forwards for their excellent play and domination even though it was predominantly the Grey backfield that scored most of the points (they can also be blamed for giving up most of the points too). GREYS BAIL ON RUTLAND Uncharacteristically I might add, the Grey came up short on the numbers for the game scheduled on April 1st against Rutland in Vermont. With only nine confirmed players by the Wednesday cut-off, the decision was made to cancel the game – a first for the Grey in many, many years. However, and not to be left out of print, there was one Grey who in usual manner did not inform the necessary people that he was planning to play that day and was not notified of the cancellation. This resulted in the hapless nymph driving the full 3½ hour trip each way to find out that he was stiffed and, after all that, did not even consider bringing back any maple syrup or fine cheddar for the boys. Actually, and this sounds much more interesting, the whole game against Rutland was a beautiful ruse fabricated for the sole purpose of making Bud Harvey drive up and back from Vermont in the guise of a game – on April 1st. And has there ever been a more fitting April Fool????? GREY DOWN LES VIEUX (and there was much rejoicing) The Grey hosted the ever dominant Les Vieux (Manhattan Old Boys) on Saturday April 8th at the PNA field in Wallingford. Let's put it this way, our first home game this season, a week off due to a cancellation (oops, a fine choreographed wheeze on Bud) decent weather and the possibility that many of the Grey didn't get tee times for that Saturday, what would you expect to see? About as many Grey shirts as Pickett had at Gettysburg. Well, maybe not that many but, with a more impressive result. Les Vieux showed with 14 that was quickly reduced to 13, and with several subs from the Grey tried their best to make a game of it. However, the numbers were just too large to overcome. The Grey scored first on a penalty kick by Don Brancard which was quickly followed by a drenching attack by the Grey backs, then forwards, at the Les Vieux try line that eventually resulted in a Grey try by Jim Facey. The conversion was good and the Grey led 10 - 0. Les Vieux countered deep in their own end with a pop kick that, well, sort of just ended up outside the Grey wing. Les Vieux was able to advance the ball downfield and, with good support, just overloaded the Grey defense to score the try. The conversion was awry and the lead was halved at 10 - 5. This was quickly answered with a score by John Kerr, whose picture is now hanging in your local post office for grand theft after stealing the ball out from under the Les Vieux number 8 and scampering 30 meters for the try. The conversion by Brancard was good and the period ended 17 - 5. In the second period the Grey added a little more speed and youth to their backfield as Dan O'Brien, Steve (Alice) Carr, Grayson Gregory and Daryl Garrison were inserted to bolster the scoring threat. And so it was, as the fine ball handling and support resulted in a nice score by Daryl Garrison. The conversion by Seegar barely made the try line on a bounce and the Greys now led 22 - 5. Even with the extra muscle, the Grey were unable to tally any more points that half – partly due to the fact that the wind (30 mph plus) was blowing full force into the Grey faces. In the third, the Grey ended up giving up a quick try to draw the score closer at 22 - 10. However, the Grey still had some fight (and why not, with almost a full side of replacements) and Les Vieux was running out of steam. This led to more fine backfield play and another try for Daryl Garrison. The conversion by Brancard was good and the Grey now led 29 - 10. Finally, as if the game had to end soon, another broken play sees Malcolm Davidson draw the defender in on a backfield break that resulted in Mark Collins grabbing the pass and scooting 40 meters for the try under the posts. The conversion by Brancard was good and the game ended Greys 36, Les Vieux 10. Man-of-the-Match was awarded by Captain Kerr to the entire Grey backfield, which received objections from Trunksie who added that the two most notable screw-ups of the game came from backs – Johnson's attempted touch down for the try a few meters short that resulted in a free kick to Les Vieux, and Garrison's dropped pass from Trunksie that had just a little less velocity on it than a V1 missile – and Daryl was only two feet away. NEXT GAME – VILLAGE LION KINGS OLD BOYS CUP As if we need a trophy to celebrate a victory these days? Anyway, the next game is against the Village Lion Kings in Queens – not Randalls Island (I'm not sure which location is actually worse). Kickoff is at 11:45 a.m. and the directions can be found on the web site, www.pioneeraero.com/cgrfc/. As of the writing of this letter, the exact directions have not been provided so check the web site or call Jorgensen, Rose or Kerr for directions. Let's extend the unbeaten streak to 3 – remember, we beat the Lion Kings last fall in the last game of the season in Wallingford. Please let John Kerr know of your availability for this week's game. GLASTONBURY RELAY FOR LIFE Patty Brancard has asked (well, not directly mind you) for the Grey support of the American Cancer Society's Glastonbury Relay for Life Luminary Ceremony that is going to be held this year on Friday, June 2nd. This is also the same weekend that most of us usually go to Franconia but we can still support this effort individually and as a team. Your help is needed and can be provided in two ways, one being the donation of $5.00 that will purchase a luminare used to light the track around which the relay will take place, that will bear the name of a person whom you designate that currently has cancer or who may have succumbed to cancer. For those of you who are not traveling to Franconia, you may also consider organizing a team of walkers (10 or more people) to participate in the relay itself. Each participant is required to pay a $10.00 registration fee and raise at least $100 apiece to enter. The Grey will participate as a Track Sponsor and will donate $150 for a sign. Members are urged to participate and purchase a luminare – it's for a really great cause. For more information contact Patty Brancard at (860) 228-1394. EASTER WEEKEND - ONE WEEK AWAY The Easter Festival, the first in Connecticut, is scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd. Catch the complete listing of the events and festivities on the web site: www.pioneeraero.com/cgrfc/. AROUND THE FIELD With the advent of spring, there are lots of sights that are just awe inspiring and provide conclusive evidence that the seasons are changing. There are those obvious welcome signs of the crocus creeping out of its winter sleep, the robins back from their snowy retreats, the greening of the lawns and the four most feared words of them all, "The Buds are out!" And so they are. We found our "Bud" walking his dog at the recent practice session – fully clothed for what appeared to be a day out walking the dog, but we were wrong. Although it appeared that Bud was wearing a pair of blue jeans and wingtips to run around in, we soon discovered that those weren't actually jeans. No siree, those were Levis-sports, a new line of denim warm-up gear that should be hitting the stores soon and will probably be found in most Bob's Stores or the Gap. Seriously guys, no one can be that lame to actually try practicing rugby in a pair of jeans. In the next issue we'll bring you more information on "Air Wing-tips," the scientifically engineered dress shoe that doubles as a rugby boot. We have come accustomed to the use of English references by our current President, Dean Jorgensen, but we were quite surprised to see or, in this case hear, that some of this crap is wearing off on some of our own, home-grown, homies. At the practice session, Captain Kerr was giving us the what-for for the upcoming game at Randalls Island and was outlining the necessary steps that all were to take with respect to the preparations, and the timing of such, prior to the game. In a chance misstatement, John noted that all were to "get togged" by such-and-such a time. Now, this was not an overlooked slip of the tongue as many Grey concurred during the drink-up at the Old Dublin, that John had indeed used the word "togged." John refused to admit that he made such a remark. On Saturday, prior to the game against New Paltz, John once again mentioned that is was time to "tog up." This time, it was immediately brought to John's attention that he had used the word "tog." Again, although somewhat ashamed, John refused to admit that he said "tog." I have looked into this further and although I have found that according to Webster's, the word tog is listed as a reference to "dressing up" usually in fine clothing, I believe that John didn't mean to use the word "tog" in reference to getting dressed but that he clearly used the word "togue" (also pronounced "tog") in which he was making the inference that the Grey were a bunch of Lake Trout. Next month we will try to catch John using the phrase "it's the berries!" This is a moral question for you. It is an imaginary situation, but it is fun to decide what you would do. The situation: You are in the Midwest, and there is a huge flood in progress. Many homes have been lost, water supplies compromised, and infrastructure destroyed. You are a photographer out getting still photos for a news service, traveling alone, looking for particularly poignant scenes. Suddenly, you stumble across Bill Clinton struggling to keep from being swept away in a raging river and you have the choice of rescuing him or getting a Pulitzer-Prize-winning photograph of the death of a President. You must decide....................What shutter speed would you use?
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