VYRA Playoffs up in Air after Mustang Defeat

Important playoff implications were on the line in Saturday's games as the Saratoga Mustangs hosted Essex Rugby at Shenantaha Creek Park in Malta, NY. With only a handful of games left in the VYRA season, Saratoga needed the victory to solidify a spot to host the midweek semi-final match, slated for May 28th. As the week went on, the Saratoga Mustang Boys knew of what they needed to accomplish and worked hard towards that goal.
With a regulars missing from action due to injury, the Mustang Super A's took the field just a bit before 2:00 pm. It wasn't but three minutes in did Essex take advantage of a questionable no-call on a knock-on as they went up 7-0 on the hosting Mustangs. Play went back and forth as the Mustangs forwards did their best to handle the larger pack of Essex. In the fourteenth minute, however, Essex found themselves back on the board with a second try, this time unconverted.
In an effort to take back the lead, almost each Mustang tried to put the game on his shoulder as the boys would run hard towards the side in effort to break up-field. With Essex' sure tackling, though, this did not happen very often. In fact, as the second half wore on, it was evident that the Mustangs were winded and tired, from all of the east-west trailing. Although the game was hard fought, Saratoga just couldn't seem to catch a break. They crossed the line several times with the ball, but each time it was called as being held-up. This may have discouraged weaker teams, but the Mustangs kept fighting. In the end, the final score of Essex 17 - Saratoga 0 may have hurt Saratoga's chances to host a playoff game, but it definitely showed their perseverance and unwillingness to quit. Job well done.
As previously mentioned, Saratoga was hurting from the injury bug, as well as missing several individuals due to other obligations. As such, the 42-person roster was down to a mere 25 on Saturday. With numbers as they were on both sides, Essex and Saratoga opted to play 12's with a full line and unopposed, five-man scrums.
The twelve vice fifteen aside seemed to open things up, as converted 8-man Mike Matrazzo opened up the scoring in the first half. Flanker/lock Chris Heckman made a nice jaunt to put the second score on, and speedy scrum half Tyler Krastins rounded out the scoring with a try of his own. Saratoga won the time shortened game three tries to one.
Up next for Saratoga is a tournament in Springfield, MA, on Saturday, May 24th.