The Hourglass

October 16, 2001

A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club
Dean Jorgensen, Editor

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, HOME v. LES VIEUX, 11:30

Congrats to John Kerr and the Grey on snapping a three-game losing streak this past Saturday against the Lion Kings. We have succeeded in coaxing Tony "Bud-and-Rosie-Know-I-Was-Only-Kidding" Johnson out of retirement and onto the editorial board of the Grey web site in order to provide you with his always insightful versions of what went on, both on and off the field of play. Read his musings on the Defense of the Cup below.

This Saturday, we return to PNA Park to take on Les Vieux. KICK-OFF HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO 11:30. Please be there by 10:45. Contact John, john.kerr@loctite.com, with your availability.

Also, remember that little-known rule: Dues are due by the second home game of the season. Please bring them along.

GREY LOSE SEASON OPENER TO MONMOUTH
by Mike Guzzio

I had the honor of being captain yesterday in Johnny Kerr's absence. Unfortunately, the only two jobs I was allowed to do was the coin toss and writing this news brief. We won the coin toss, so let's see how this goes.

Monmouth 40 Grey 21

I know it is cliche to say the score did not reflect the game, but in this case it's true. After hard play in the first half, led by great play from rookie sensation Andrew Scan (yes it was a father-son day for the Scan clan) the two teams were tied at half time 14-14. We actually went up in the second half before Monmouth made some long runs on some fortunate bounces and beat us by the above score. We only had 11 bodies and Monmouth was good enough to give us four able players in the backline. Andrew was the man of the match and very deserving of it as he scored two tries. Despite having one punch up artist on their team, Monmouth was a good bunch and hosted us back at their clubhouse/bar that they own. I do think this is the type of team we want to play and with our full compliment of players we could better compete and probably beat them. Hopefully we will get our chance in the fall to do so.

GREY CLAWED BY LOBSTERS

After a two-week breather, the Grey's travelling side depth chart swelled from minus four to minus three. Malcolm Davidson led the following band of hardies against the Long Island Lobsters at Freeport's Cowmeadow Park this past Saturday.

15 Roberts, 14 Harvey, 13 (LI), 12 (LI), 11 Roncaioli, 10 (LI), 9 Davidson, 1 Flynn, 2 Woodard, 3 Betz, 4 Aman, 5 Jorgensen, 6 Fotos, 7 Scandariato, 8 Seeger

Our thanks to Long Island who, like Monmouth earlier in the month, helped us make a back line. ("Where have all the centers gone; Long time passing?")

The game kicked off at 11:30 following a gathering at mid-field for the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for the fallen. LI has been unceremoniously removed from their former home ground at Eisenhower Park so this was their first outing on a short, narrow and sandy Cowmeadow Park. The Grey forwards made no complaints about the "short" and "narrow" but the "sandy" made it difficult to do much in the set scrums (although Sandy was his usual spoiling self in the front row). The game was played in two 25-minute halves in ideal rugby weather -- cool, light breeze and overcast skies. No excuses for Rooster on this day, and he didn't need them despite finding himself the last line of defense on more than one pick-and-run. The Lobsters managed six unanswered tries, no fewer than three of them on clean steals and fifty-meter breaks. The Grey managed a couple of extended attacks featuring good rolling mauls, only to be shut down by an equally determined Lobster defense.

It's hard to find a lot of good news from this outing except that we were hosted well and can count on the Lobsters venturing north in the spring. We welcomed Frank Betz -- oh boy, another forward -- and were glad to have the services of Doctor Fotos on the day. Steve Carr was with us in spirit as we found ourselves inexorably drawn to his favorite little Scottish watering hole in Mamaroneck for a quiet beverage on the trek home. Tom "Scratch" Flynn added to his considerable legacy with a display of cuemanship not likely to be repeated soon (at least we hope not).

No "Man of the Match" was awarded although special recognition goes to Ronco, Flynn, Scan and Seeger and Jorgensen, who have managed to make it to both away games this season.

GREY POST FIRST WIN OF FALL SEASON
by Tony Johnson

The Grey hosted the Village Lions on Saturday, October 13th for another chapter in the on-going challenge of the Sugar Bowl. With near perfect weather and temperatures more fitting of a summer day in San Diego, the Grey massed for the first home game of the season at the PNA park in Wallingford. Numbers were double plus those which had previously been counted at the first two away games where few Grey were available for the trips and for the commiseration following the first two losses. However, with renewed intensity and a full side and a half, the day would be one for the plus side.

Game time was delayed as many of the visiting Kings were lost in traffic but after a 40 minute postponement, the Grey supplanted the visitors numbers to begin the game. It wasn't obvious until later that this support for the Kings was not going to change and many Grey would play full games in motley gear. The Grey received for the first period and quickly made ground with strong forward play and dominating sets, stealing the first two King sets. However, and once again, penalties resulted in movement being stopped and the ball being turned over to the Kings. The Grey held the advantage in the backs too, with the surprise of the day seeing Bud Harvey as inside on the opposition's line. What didn't help was seeing Tenenbaum as standoff and Dave Yanik outside. Dave was seen checking his insurance card prior to the game to be certain that he still had adequate medical coverage in the event of a less than acceptable pass. Play went back and forth with the Grey pressing followed closely by the Grey on their heels in their own half of the field during the course of the period. The Grey did get a break close in as a pop kick was downed in the Kings zone and the resulting 5 meter scrum led to the Grey getting the ball and after a second or third phase, passing out through the backs where Grayson Gregory beat the end to touch down for the first score of the game. The conversion was missed and the Grey led 5 - 0 at the break.

Substitutions made, the second period began with less success than the first and at times was so ugly it would make a freight train back up and take a dirt road. Penalties, penalties, penalties, as if we don't know what the hell constitutes a penalty anymore. I know you can't teach an old dog new tricks but shit, when the rule says you've got to stay on your feet in rucks and you must release a tackled player once you bring him to ground - you'd think we learn after being penalized for these offense about a dozen times a game. Christ sakes, this isn't wrestling and you aren't scoring nearfall points or getting extra credit for pinning the bastard so you might as well help the rest of the team out and let the guy go, get to your feet and continue on with play. Also, when the ref blows the whistle it doesn't mean we get a five minute break to stand there in dumb struck silence mulling around the ball. It usually means we committed a penalty and we need to retreat 10 yards so as not get penalized again. No matter how many times this is mentioned prior to, during or even over several beers following the game, we still do the same stupid things each game. This will be the difference between wins and losses for many games this year so let's get it together!!!! OK?

Anyway, after several minutes into the second period the Kings were on the winning end of an overload in the backfield thanks in part to Steve Tenenbaum who scooped up a pass while looping the end to score in the corner. Kick was missed and the score was knotted at 5 apiece. Later in the half, a penalty on the Kings, guess they decided to play our level of game but to no advantage, close in their zone resulted in a penalty kick for the Grey that was successfully executed by Fred Seegar to put the Grey up 8 - 5. Period ended and so did a few Greys. During the second period the Grey lost Johnny Kerr to a blow on the noggin resulting in the switch of Joe Bordieri from fly to scrum. Johnny had to go as he was constantly insisting to the ref that he could make the putt. The last time we saw that look of utter puzzlement on Johnny's face was, er, well, Friday night at Chez Guzzio.

With further changes to the line up which was basically who is left who can play, who is playing for the Kings and who's left for us to use where, the third period commenced. Minutes into the period the Grey found themselves with a set piece on the Kings 5 meter line and with a nice forward push had Fred Seegar pick up and go weakside for the score. The conversion was close but not good and the Grey now led 13 - 5. Joe Bordieri soon followed in John Kerr's footsteps as a previous injury to his finger forced him out of the game. It seems Bordo decided to give himself a manicure with a belt sander last week and the results were a little more than anticipated. Guess that just goes to show you that you can't let electricians play with power tools. Play continued for the rest of the period mostly in the Grey 22 meter area but the Kings could not take advantage of the field position and after the two ten minute periods the game finally ended (somewhere after 3:30) with the Grey on top 13 - 5.

Not one for the film history files but definitely one for the win column. With the victory, the Grey sealed a 4 - 0 run on the Sugar Bowl and will defend its possession next spring in New York. Man of the Match was awarded to Malcolm "Gumby" Davidson for his excellent impersonation of an epileptic cadaver in an electric chair (you are still the whitest guy we know followed closely by Flynn) and as compensation for all the shit we gave him for his documentary on "playground ethics". Malcolm is also known to have thrown stones at bee hives as a kid just to see their reaction and at his last visit to a movie theater was heard yelling "FIRE" at one of the quieter moments in the movie. He is such a kook!!