Stampede Trods Hard, but Finds Mountain(eers) Too Much to Surpass

Perhaps the nicest overall day of the young 2008, Saturday April 19th marked a complete day for rugby in Saratoga. Fresh off of the organized volunteer effort for the Malta Town Parks clean-up, the afternoon was capped off with a game where the Saratoga Stampede hosted the Mountaineers of Saranac Lake.

As the first game of spring, Stampede V started out as an evenly contested match. Both teams fought hard early on. Eventual man of the match, inside center, Paul Campbell, used his quick feet and sizeable frame to pound the ball inside several times in the first half. This helped the forwards, led by the young scrum half, Nick Defilipo, to keep the ball in the pack. Hard up field runs were taken by flanker, James Rigney, and bruising, thunderous trots damaged the psyche of the opposition when fellow flanker, Pete Mody led in pod play.

Even with the smashing hits, Saratoga found itself down 21-5 at halftime, with the Saranac Lake scoring done mainly on overloads on the outside. The lone Stampede score was by Rigney, who ran far along on the left side of the field for the score.

The second half showed some brilliance by the Stampede, as the back line got more involved and came up big some big plays. Campbell fought hard up the middle for a try and flyhalf, Doug McCluskey, used his golden boot to convert. Saratoga put one more score across the line, but in the end, Saranac Lake came out on top with 24-19 victory on the road.

Up next, the Stampede are scrimmaging Union college on April 26th; they shall return back home on May 3rd against the old men of the CT Greys. Be sure to visit www.saratogarugby.org for updates and changes.

Park Clean-up a Resounding Success for Saratoga Rugby

On Saturday, April 19th, members of the Saratoga Mustangs joined the Saratoga Stampede to lend a hand in the annual Malta Community Parks Clean-up. If organizers were impressed by last year's turnout, they were speechless this past weekend. Together the youth and adult rugby clubs showed up with over 50 volunteers, including players, parents, wives and children. The ruggers were able to get out and enjoy one of the first truly gorgeous spring days while helping out their local community.

In addition to the expected trash and debris, the clean-up effort brought in the odd and unusual, including automobile parts and tires, couches, and a snowmobile windshield. And what would an annual park clean-up be without the discovery of yet another appliance? Saratoga ruggers ended this year's effort by retrieving a washing machine from the "Ice Cream Trail."

Many thanks to all those ruggers, parents, and families for giving up part of their Saturday to help out the Malta Parks Clean-up effort. Our participation in events such as this goes a long way towards securing use of the playing field at Shenantaha Creek Park, and is a great boon to the public image of Saratoga Rugby.

Saratoga accepted forfeit wins from CVU for both its Boys and Girls Super A teams. This improves the Boys' record to 2-1 and the Girls' record to 3-0 in VYRA play.

The Mustangs Girls also added a home game to its schedule when it agreed to host Colchester High School at Shenentaha Creek Park in Ballston Spa on May 3rd.

Complete game schedules for the boys and girls can be found here.

Mustang Boys Trample Berzerkers

The Saturday, April 12th game, against Upper Valley (UV) was marred with administrative nightmares, long before even stepping onto the pitch. It became evident very early that the organizational ability of the opponent and their lack of communication with the games' host (Rutland, VT) was going to wear on the Saratoga players, coaching staff and supporters. After prodding and pleading by the visiting coaching staff (Saratoga), the Rutland folks altered their game schedules to fit in some playing time for the Saratoga Mustangs to play the 'hosting' UV Berzerkers.

Not knowing exactly when the welcoming whistle would be blown to get the male Mustangs on the pitch, the boys went through necessary warm-ups to retain focus and mentally prepare themselves for the short battle that lie ahead. Finally, at 2:25 pm, the Mustangs took the field. Although the opposition's coaching staff seemed to not be on the ball, it was quickly realized that their players were familiar with the game and knew the basics of how to play. Note that Saratoga furnished them with two rookie backline players who, although limited in training and experience, definitely solidified the opposition's green players.

After the opening kick-off, Saratoga found itself deep in its own zone. UV committed a penalty in a ruck which allowed Saratoga 8-man Mike Matrazzo to boot it into touch. After another UV penalty, Saratoga won their second line-out and pushed on. What became a potential play of the game for setting the tone was when hooker Bryan Emerich charged ahead within the opposing 22-meter line and plowed through several members of the defending team. Through some great rucking, the ball was passed out to inside center Bryan Little, who plowed across the try line to put Saratoga up 5-0 at the 5-minute mark. M. Matrazzo converted the try to give Saratoga a 7-0 lead.

Play went back and forth for a bit, but key runs by fullback Dylan Gandy and flyhalf Dan Godshalk, along with fantastic teamwork got Saratoga back on the board with a 12-0 lead in the 18th minute, when B. Little scored his second try of the afternoon.

UV fought back hard to prevent anymore Saratoga points, but flanker Jessie Hummer burst along the left sideline from near midfield and scored the sealing try in the 22nd minute. M. Matrazzo converted this try to give the Mustangs a 19-0 lead. Play was whistled 3 minutes later and the dominating Mustangs were victorious in the shortened game. Saratoga moves to 1-1 on the season in VYRA play.

Lady Mustangs Continue Dominance in CDYR and VYRA Play

The Saratoga Lady Mustangs continued their strong start this season with a pair of decisive victories this past weekend. Friday evening, the Mustang’s A side made the short trip down I-87 to Albany where they participated in a controlled scrimmage versus the newly-formed Albany County Lady Bulldogs. While their opponent put up a spirited effort, the hard running Mustangs got off to a quick start. After an Albany knock-on on the opening kickoff, Saratoga’s forwards showed impressive determination in their early rucking, pounding the ball down the field. Prop Nadia Alvarez (BHBL) powered over the try line to open Saratoga’s scoring. The Lady Mustangs continued to demonstrate their skill on the pitch, adding scores by hook Brianne Briggs (BHBL) and fly half Jess Kniskern (Stillwater). Alvarez topped off Saratoga’s scoring with her second try of the game. Despite trailing, Albany’s side showed incredible determination and spirit. A breakdown in Saratoga’s defensive line allowed the Albany wing to sprint down the sideline for a late Bulldog score. In the end, the Mustangs emerged victorious 20-5 against the tenacious, but inexperienced Albany squad. Nadia Alvarez was named player of the match for the Saratoga A side effort.

On Saturday, the Saratoga Lady Mustangs Super A’s made the trip to Rutland, Vermont, in anticipation of their second VYRA match against Upper Valley. The game was overshadowed by countless administrative blunders by the ‘host’ side including the failure to coordinate field availability with the Rutland Club. The Lady Mustang’s noon kickoff was delayed for over an hour and a half. Despite the frustrations, the Saratoga ladies remained focused on the task at hand. Upper Valley was able to field only four players for the match, borrowing five players from the Rutland Under 19 Girls team, and an additional six from Saratoga. Brianne Briggs, Nadia Alvarez, Sara McFadden, Olivia Guay, Julia Sell, and Paula Rehm graciously agreed to fill Upper Valley’s depleted ranks so that their teammates could get a game in. Saratoga quickly established dominance both in skill and determination. Quennah Holt (Bethlehem) opened the Mustang scoring with a tenacious run through the heart of the Berserker defense. Holt added two more scores before the day was over. Saratoga continued to pour it on, adding tries by Katie Dannenberg (BHBL), Jordan Scacchetti (BHBL), and Autumn Vanderveer (BHBL), who took a well timed pass from center Carly Baker (Averil Park) 35 meters down the sideline to the try zone. Rookies Shannon Dowdle (BHBL), Leah Gerlach (BHBL), and Jenny von Rosen (BHBL) made impressive debuts with the Super A’s. Dowdle’s jumping ability combined with well timed throws by hook Katie Dannenberg allowed the Lady Mustangs to dominate lineouts and maintain much needed possession time and again. Senior scrum half Emily Wexler continued to show tremendous development, controlling the pace of play and ensuring Saratoga's possessions culminated in positive yardage. The Mustang forwards dominated all aspects of set and open field play, controlling scrums and dominating in rucks despite serious effort on the part of Upper Valley. Line play by the Lady Mustangs led by Joann Pettis (BHBL), Baker and Holt was superb, demonstrating the remarkable strides the young Saratoga club has made since last season. The lone highlights for the Upper Valley side came from a trio of Mustangs. Sara McFadden (BHBL) thwarted one promising Saratoga drive by poaching the ball from a ruck, giving the Berserkers one of their few possessions of the day. Rookie Paula Rehm (Ballston Spa) proved a stalwart presence at the center of the Upper Valley line and Olivia Guay (BHBL) made two try-saving tackles, including a rundown of fullback Khirstian Carbonello (BHBL) at the try line following a 75 meter kick return. Quennah Holt’s three try performance earned her rugger of the match honors in the 30-0 victory over Upper Valley.

Saratoga's Record: Super A Team 2-0, A Team 2-0.

Saratoga Mustangs Thump Rutland: Take Super A & A Games to Win Season Opener

The Saratoga Mustangs Girls U-19 Rugby Club won their Vermont Youth Rugby Association debut with a hard hitting, hard running shutout victory over Rutland, 10-0.

With wind whipping across the field and snow keeping home field Shenentaha Creek Park closed, the Saratoga Mustangs hosted Rutland at SUNY Albany’s field on Saturday, April 5th. For sixty minutes, Saratoga’s "Super A" Team's spirited play results in punishing runs and tackles by forwards and backs, alike. From the opening kickoff, Saratoga showed they had something to prove. Spending most of the first half in Rutland’s half of the field, the constant pressure and quality tackles started increasing the pressure on Rutland’s back, causing sloppy passes despite some solid runs by their all-star prop and wing. The end result was the first try of the season, scored by line captain Joann Pettis (Bunt Hills).

Set pieces were also dominated by Saratoga whose hard driving scrum and strong line-outs, featuring sophomore jumper Sam Coluccio (Burnt Hills, pictured right), made capitalizing on miscues difficult for Rutland. Senior Emily Wexler’s (Burnt Hills) play at scrum-half helped lead a balanced running attack which featured pounding runs by senior captain Jess Sears (Burnt Hills, pictured above left), junior Tiffany Neach (Burnt Hills) and rookie senior second row Shelby Snyder (Scotia). This set up a triple threat backfield featuring junior fly-half Pettis, sophomore phenom Carly Baker (Averil Park), playing inside center, and the speedy senior Quennah Holt (Bethlehem) playing outside center.

Not everything went Saratoga’s way, however. Minutes into the game, senior NRU (Northeast Rugby Union) All-Star eight-man Maddy Cocca (Niskayuna) was twisted up in a tackle and suffered a broken ankle, potentially ending her senior season and devastating her team mates. Fellow loose forward, junior Eva Meier (Ballston Spa), slid over from flanker into Maddy’s role and quickly dolled out some punishing hits of her own, both off of open play and from the back of the scrum. After the game, the coaches unanimously elected Meier as the “Rugger of the Match” for the Super A's, an honor bestowed upon one player after each contest, representing the coaching staff’s selection as the best player on the pitch that day.

The second half was also hard fought and the early season’s game began to slow as fatigue and bruising set in. Consistent play from veterans such as junior second row Marianna Carta and sophomore hook Katie Dannenberg (Burnt Hills), and the foot and open field tackles of freshman fullback Khirstian Carbonello (Burnt Hills) helped continue to keep Rutland from scoring, despite a few close calls. Junior wing Autumn Vanderveer and sophomore wing Leah Gerlach (Burnt Hills) also provided stellar defense making several key tackles to thwart scoring threats from Rutland and keep the game 5-0. In the end, it was Dannenberg’s head’s up play, scooping the loose ball from the ground and driving into the try zone, that sealed the victory, bringing the score to its final 10-0 tally.

Saratoga’s flexibility allowed it to use 20 different players from it’s Super A-Side roster. Burnt Hills sophomore flanker Sarah Cranfield, and juniors Jen Rohling (scrum-half), Haley Brown (hook), and Nadia Alvarez (prop) all played significant roles in keeping Rutland on its heals and providing fresh legs at critical times. Although the season is young, it certainly looks bright for 2008!

Rookies Perform Well, Step Into Big Shoes

Saratoga Mustangs “A” team also claimed victory on the pitch versus Rutland. In a much slower paced game, predominated by rookies to the sport on both sides, Saratoga’s intensity was again predominant. Led by four junior veterans, including front rows Haley Brown and Nadia Alvarez, scrum-half Jen Rohling, and fly-half Olivia Guay (all of Burnt Hills), this game was possibly more exciting than the Super A match that concluded thirty minutes prior.

In much of the same spirit, many of the remaining new comers to Saratoga’s stable of 48 players cut their teeth against the much more established Rutland Rugby Club. The contest was hard fought, featuring a swan-dive score by freshman flanker Maranda Rotunda (Burnt Hills), but looked like it would end in a hard fought tie at 5-5. With only injury time remaining, eventual “Rugger of the Match”, freshman eight-man Melayna Weaver (Burnt Hills), under the watchful eye of her uncle and long time eight-man for the Albany Knicks, Tony Leva, picked up the ball off of the back of the scrum and pinballed her way twenty meters for the go ahead score as time expired, allowing Saratoga to snatch a 10-5 victory. This effort prompted fans to ask Mr. Leva how it felt to be the second best rugby player in his family.

Saratoga's Record: Super A Team 1-0, A Team 1-0.