April 26, 2003 - Rutland, VT

NSRFC 5 - Rutland Rats 3      

4-26-03

The Steamer's overcame their own inability to score points while winning an overwhelming amount of possession. Rutland played tough defense anchored by two South Africans who also consulted heavily with the overwhelmed and completely non-partial referee. The big lesson in this game was "don't beat yourselves" and "realize that you have to rise above atrocious and malignant officiating". As no Union referee was available, a no doubt and well meaning old boy took up the whistle... but enough of that aspect of the match... we have been victimized in the past and will no doubt experience it in the future....besides Coach Des thinks it's whining to dwell here... so

Coach - Desmond Crowley

First XV  

Big Mo - Reade - Forsythe - Liam - Swanny - Chris - Tony - Kenny 

Gus - Martin - Eric - Tebo - Brew - Dylan - Rich (Shannon, Vudu)  

Social support - (Cameltoe, K Donovan, & Toes "did you hear about my Ribs" Moloney)  

How did we play...  We controlled play in the first half and had several scoring opportunities... out tackling was good and the field coverage contained any breaks that they had... twice in the match we were in their goal zone, once driving our scrummage well in but unable to convert and again off of a lineout we drove well into their goal but again came away empty.... we were feeling the momentum and continuously had opportunities but missed the final piece to pull away from Rutland.... As we have seen in weeks past, Martin "Slash" Mahoney made a quick move beating his opposite number cutting right thru the belly of Rutlands defense to post the games' only Try. Slash, Hammer-Tebo and the rest of the backline gave away nothing to Rutland and the first half ended Five to nil. The Steamer forwards played well dominating scrums, splitting lineouts and maintaining possession of play, and seemed on the edge of breaking the game open as they repeatedly attacked Rutland's goalline...

Second half play was scrappy and shifted across midfield as Rutland appreciating being still in the game showed some life with a series of attacks that were often aided by perplexing calls from the ref... twice penalties on the verge of being awarded to us were shifted against us; a high tackle on Spinale became dangerous play when his elbow got the fellows nose, and a quick whistle after Rich had pulled a ball from a ruck changed from them diving over to penalty against us for saying "aww".... they got a penalty kick and it was 5 - 3 with 15 minutes to go... as is often the case with remembering games much is missed in reporting, many individual efforts forgotten, but suffice to say, North Shore sucked it up and played smother defense the rest of the way to save the victory. Rutlands decision to run a penalty instead of attempting a kick(corner)  was also helpful.... as some were saying a win is a win...

misc notes... Forsythe a monster scooping up loose balls... Read stole five hooks... Dylan laying the lumber on his opposite number... Rich tackling, plus several good kicks... NS playing a man down for ten mins while Kenny banished to Sin Bin... Great for our club to take the first bus trip... we had a great time at the bar ... thanks to the guys who came and supported and esp to Dave for taking one as ugly as not playing when you're salivating as much as he does... and to Slash Mahoney for coordinating the trip and taking care of business....