The Hourglass
September 11, 2005
A Publication of the Connecticut Grey Rugby Football Club
Click Here for Back Issues of The Hourglass
RUCKIN' REGATTA
Neil Hogan and the Morris RFC Masters organized a great start to the fall season -- the 1st Annual Ruckin' Regatta -- at Morris's new Denville pitch. The day was a fundraiser in support of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the relief of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Morris Masters, the Gentlemen of New York, and the Connecticut Grey played a round robin before retiring to Neil's lakefront home for a superb cookout. Pipers entertained us and we paused to remember the fourth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Captain Lou writes:
Neil Hogan and the Morris RFC Masters organized a great start to the fall season -- the 1st Annual Ruckin' Regatta -- at Morris's new Denville pitch. The day was a fundraiser in support of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the relief of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Morris Masters, the Gentlemen of New York, and the Connecticut Grey played a round robin before retiring to Neil's lakefront home for a superb cookout. Pipers entertained us and we paused to remember the fourth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Captain Lou writes:
"Three teams rotated playing 20 minute
periods. It was well run and certainly for a great cause. Phone cards and cash
were donated and I believe Merrill Lynch will contribute matching funds. It
seemed like we were playing two home teams. We were on the Morris pitch and
the GONY played in memory of those lost four years ago. We played two periods
and were outscored four tries to one.Trunkzzz scored off a penalty. Good to
see him back on the pitch.
"GONY had some very good backs who moved the ball well. When we made a tactical error they made the most of it with a strong attack. Early in the period we had a five-meter scum but failed to finish with a try. Set scrums were excellent and we did very well winning a first phase and sometimes a second phase. We made some nice line breaks but then did not have enough support. We need to work on fitness and tackling.
"We had a few players out of position. Special thanks to Kevin McNamara, Dave Berube (the forward),and Steve Falatyn for playing in the backs. Ed Carr, Kevin Connors, and Trunkzzz played well in the forwards. Joe Bordieri, Darryl Garrison, and Bill Bishop had some great runs and open field tackles. Man of the Match to Dave Berube for hard aggressive play and setting up the try.
"Big home match this week vs. White Plains. Work on the fitness this week and let's tackle and work on finishing Saturday. We also get to play both Morris and GONY at home this season. We need to play better than last Saturday to get some victories. Please let Bill (wfbishop@fedex.com) or me (loupetruzzello10@sbcglobal.net) know by Thursday if you are available to play."
"GONY had some very good backs who moved the ball well. When we made a tactical error they made the most of it with a strong attack. Early in the period we had a five-meter scum but failed to finish with a try. Set scrums were excellent and we did very well winning a first phase and sometimes a second phase. We made some nice line breaks but then did not have enough support. We need to work on fitness and tackling.
"We had a few players out of position. Special thanks to Kevin McNamara, Dave Berube (the forward),and Steve Falatyn for playing in the backs. Ed Carr, Kevin Connors, and Trunkzzz played well in the forwards. Joe Bordieri, Darryl Garrison, and Bill Bishop had some great runs and open field tackles. Man of the Match to Dave Berube for hard aggressive play and setting up the try.
"Big home match this week vs. White Plains. Work on the fitness this week and let's tackle and work on finishing Saturday. We also get to play both Morris and GONY at home this season. We need to play better than last Saturday to get some victories. Please let Bill (wfbishop@fedex.com) or me (loupetruzzello10@sbcglobal.net) know by Thursday if you are available to play."
PKD WALKATHON
As you all know, Mike Kosilla is on schedule to donate
one of his kidneys to Tom Roncaioli at the end of this month. Ronco's
condition is called Polycystic Kidney Disease. His brother Craig, a former
Hartford Wanderer like Tommy, has drawn the local rugby community's attention
to a fundraising walkathon this Saturday. Read on.
"Fellow Ruggers Past and Present,
"Within the next month, my brother Tom (Wanderers 1980 - 1993,
Connecticut Grey 1993 - Present) will hopefully undergo a kidney transplant
at the transplant center at Hartford Hospital. He has suffered from
ever-diminished kidney function over the years because of a congenital
condition known as Polycystic Kidney Disease. HIS KIDNEY DONOR IS
ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR RUGBY FAMILY AND A CONNECTICUT GREY TEAMMATE.
What a story. My family cannot thank him enough!
"PKD is the most common congenital disease in the country and you can
find more information about the foundation at www.pkdcure.org.
It has affected the lives of seven members of my direct family and led
directly to the death of three of my aunts and uncles.
"On September 17 I will take part in a PKD walk in Farmington at the
Reservoir and would like to ask for sponsorships to honor my brother and his
donor who literally 'had his back.'
"A transplant is not a cure, and much research is being done to help
prevent this disease and change the lives of not only the affected, but
their families and the many kidney donors who make a life-altering decision
to make such a gift.
"You can also make your pledge by responding to me at caradvisor@sbcglobal.net and
sending a check to "PKD Foundation" C/O Craig Roncaioli, 326 North
Quaker Lane , West Hartford, CT 06119."
ERIN GO BRAGH (OR AT LEAST UNTIL NEXT APRIL)
Well, it looks like all the fence sitters jumped off at once! The tour party
now stands at 64, including 27 players and 10 kids ranging in age from 6 to
22. Here's the tour party as of Sunday: Bill & Marti Aman; Bill &
Ann Marie Bishop; Joe & Judy Bordieri; Jeff Bouvier; Don, Patty &
Devan Brancard; Ed & Kathy Carr; Steve Carr; Chicky & Meg Ceccerelli;
Brendan Coffey; Kevin, Vicki, Jacqueline, Matt & Brendan Connors; Rich
Coulcher; Steve Falatyn; Jim & Nancy Farrell; Kevin Flatt; Tom &
Lindsey Flynn; Bud Harvey & Pam Seilhammer; John & Dori Hughes
(friends of Ronco); Tony & Jan Johnson; Dean Jorgensen; Will Jorgensen
& Christina Amborn; John Kerr & Bert Romeo; Mike Kosilla; Matt,
Mary, Matthew & Liza Leonard; Kevin McNamara; Ed & Dorothy Robinson;
Tom Roncaioli; Mike, Barbara, Matt & Sean Rowan; Ian & Meg Sankey;
George Saul; Joe & Ann Scandariato; Fred & Marge Seeger; Bill &
Sandy Strein; Gary & Amy Tamburri; and Dave Yanik.
If you're STILL sitting on the fence, Monday would be a good time to jump,
as we'll be blocking off airline seats and hotel rooms. Contact Thurston at greylock5@prodigy.net
or 860-645-7353.
BOSTON @ 45
The Boston RFC turns 45 this year. They are celebrating the occasion over
the Columbus Day weekend. The Grey have been asked to kick off the series of
Saturday rugby matches against Boston's old boys, the Brahmins, at 11:00
o'clock. Our own Jeff Bouvier will oversee the match. We will hang around to
watch Boston take on the Boston Irish Wolfhounds. The 'A' sides will
kick off at 1:00 followed by a 'B'-side game at 2:30. Boston RFC and
the Wolfhounds are two of the best senior sides in the northeast so we
can look forward to an afternoon of outstanding rugby. We will also have the
opportunity to meet the organizer of our Dublin host, Clontarf RFC
Veterans' John Teeling, who will be visiting friends in Boston that weekend.
After the games, Boston will host a jacket-and-tie anniversary banquet at a
restaurant in Park Square. The Grey and the Wolfhounds are being encouraged
to attend. Many of the Grey have expressed an interest in making a mini-tour
of the weekend and Bill Good has promised to provide us with information
regarding accommodations at a hotel within staggering distance of
the banquet venue. Stay tuned.
