The Saratoga Stampede Mens Club traveled light to the Dead Ants tournament this past weekend bringing only 12 of their own players. At the tournament the stampede were able to recruit a hooker, a second row, 2 flankers and an outside center to fill out their side. Saratogasfirst match was at 11 am against the Buffalo A-Side. Because of lack of warm up time saratoga came out cold and quickly found themselves down 7-0. The first half of play was not one of saratogas best as the found themselves down 27-0 as the halftime whistle blew. Saratoga came out ready to play in the second half but could only muster up one try and a missed conversion, but their defense was much better as they only gave up 7 points in the second half to buffalo. Final score- Buffalo 34- Saratoga 5. Saratogas only score was punched in by the recruited outside center.
Saratogas second game started at 1 pm, and was against the Colonials. Now warmed up after their first game, saratoga came out fast in the 2nd half with a sprint the the try zone by outside center Ryan Ramano for the first try of the match (conversion good). Saratoga took an early Lead 7-0. The Colonials did not hesitate to answer right back punching in a try of their own but failing ti make the conversion leaving the score at saratoga 7- Colonials 5 at the half. The 2nd have much like the first half started off fast for the stampede with a few downfield kicks. One of which was scooped up by wing Nick DeFilippo and touched down just over the line for saratogas second try of the match (conversion failed). Saratoga now found themselves up 12-5.Nearing the end of the match and needing a try and a conversion to tie the game, the colonials found themselves with the ball inside Saratogas 22. The colonials wanted to get the ball out to the wing but that didn't happen when fullback Bryan Sawyer swooped in and intercepted the ball between the inside and outside canters and was off 80+ meters for the score (coversion failed) and that was the last play of the game. Final score saratoga 17- The Colonials 5.
After a short break between games, Saratoga went into their third match of the day. Saratoga needed to win this match in order to qualify for the consolation match. Saratoga was matched against the hosts of the tournament, the Genesee Creamers. The Creamers came out ready to play, and to show everyone why this is their tournament with an early score (conversion good), saratoga was down 7-0 early, but they wouldn't let the Creamers off that easy, as the came back with a try of their own by outside center Ryan Ramono his second of the day ( conversion good). After about 17 minutes of play Saratoga found themselves down 22-7, with a penalty inside the Creamers 22, Scrumhalf Mike(Phish) taped the ball and quickly got it out to Flyhalf Doug Mcklusky, who faked the pass to the inside center and took it in for the try himself ( conversion failed). The halftime score was Genesee 22- Saratoga 12. In the Second half Saratoga wasn't able to pull together enough offense to get back in the game with only one more try scored by scrumhalf Mike(phish), and the Creamers adding 2 more tries and one conversion kick to make the final score Genesee 35- Saratoga 17. Saratoga would finish 1-2 on the day and not qualify for the consolation match.
16 June 2008
09 June 2008
Saratoga Mustangs Girls Come Up One Try Short, Lose to Adirondack in State Championship
In a battle that was described as the best match of the day by onlookers and other coaches alike, the Saratoga Mustangs Girls Super A's took on the Adirondack Barkeaters in the Vermont State U-19 Rugby Championship. In a rematch against the only team that beat Saratoga this spring, it was looking to be an excellent game of rugby against two clubs that always play hard hitting and aggressive rugby and whose games have been decided by one score on every occasion during season play.
Saratoga found itself with the early lead, the first time that it has had the position against the more established Adirondack club, after eventual Rugger of the Match (and according to NERFU select side coach, Kevin O'Brien, Rugger of the Tournament), Joya Clark (Scotia-Glenville) scooped up a kick and blazed down the sideline for a score. She also nailed the conversion to give Saratoga an early 7-0 lead. Adirondack was able to use its sizable line to pound the ball back at Saratoga, and relied on its size advantage to work its way deep in Saratoga territory and answer with a try of its own. By fifteen minutes into the game, the score was knotted at 7-7. That is where it would remain for the next 45 minutes of back and forth running, tackling, and kicking, with neither team able to convert on opportunities.
Eventually, Adirondack began taking control of lineouts and mounted a serious offensive threat within Saratoga's 22 meter line. For 15 minutes, Saratoga's defense turned Adirondack away and turned them away, with solid tackles by Leah Gerlach (Burnt Hills) Carly Baker (Averill Park), and Sam Coluccio (Burnt Hills). They were able to relatively silence the usual dominance of Adirondack's centers by getting after them quickly. The true spectacle of the day was Clark, however. The sophomore fullback's sweeping defense crushed would be scorers time and time again, as she ran relentlessly wherever the ball was, plugging holes with ferocious hitting and saving three tries at the line by stopping girls cold. Eventually, however, unable to win lineouts after clearance kicks, Adiriondack was able to get a clear overload and get the ball over the line with under ten minutes to play. After a successful conversion, Adirondack lead 14-7.
Saratoga was not done, however. After regaining possession deep in Adirondack territory, Saratoga was able to move the ball down the middle of the field. Despite Adirondack's spitited defense, Saratoga inched closer to the goal line and the tying score with each run. As time was closing, the Mustangs knew that they had to keep the ball in play so the clock would continue (in rugby, once time expires, the game continues until a stoppage in play such as the ball going out of bounds). It was at this point that Saratoga committed an error that cost them the game. After trying to set up a crash run that would open its line for an overload, Saratoga was called for a penalty for diving over the ruck. This handed the ball to Adirondack, who promptly booted the ball out of bounds as time expired. Saratoga found itself just short of the tying score, dropping the game 14-7.
Saratoga was honored after the match at the awards ceremony, bringing home its second piece of hardware in consecutive weekends as it claimed the Runners-Up Cup for the Vermont State Championship, finishing second. Saratoga closed out is season with a 6-1 regular season, 7-2 overall with a +131 point differential, outscoring opponents 176-45.
Saratoga found itself with the early lead, the first time that it has had the position against the more established Adirondack club, after eventual Rugger of the Match (and according to NERFU select side coach, Kevin O'Brien, Rugger of the Tournament), Joya Clark (Scotia-Glenville) scooped up a kick and blazed down the sideline for a score. She also nailed the conversion to give Saratoga an early 7-0 lead. Adirondack was able to use its sizable line to pound the ball back at Saratoga, and relied on its size advantage to work its way deep in Saratoga territory and answer with a try of its own. By fifteen minutes into the game, the score was knotted at 7-7. That is where it would remain for the next 45 minutes of back and forth running, tackling, and kicking, with neither team able to convert on opportunities.
Eventually, Adirondack began taking control of lineouts and mounted a serious offensive threat within Saratoga's 22 meter line. For 15 minutes, Saratoga's defense turned Adirondack away and turned them away, with solid tackles by Leah Gerlach (Burnt Hills) Carly Baker (Averill Park), and Sam Coluccio (Burnt Hills). They were able to relatively silence the usual dominance of Adirondack's centers by getting after them quickly. The true spectacle of the day was Clark, however. The sophomore fullback's sweeping defense crushed would be scorers time and time again, as she ran relentlessly wherever the ball was, plugging holes with ferocious hitting and saving three tries at the line by stopping girls cold. Eventually, however, unable to win lineouts after clearance kicks, Adiriondack was able to get a clear overload and get the ball over the line with under ten minutes to play. After a successful conversion, Adirondack lead 14-7.
Saratoga was not done, however. After regaining possession deep in Adirondack territory, Saratoga was able to move the ball down the middle of the field. Despite Adirondack's spitited defense, Saratoga inched closer to the goal line and the tying score with each run. As time was closing, the Mustangs knew that they had to keep the ball in play so the clock would continue (in rugby, once time expires, the game continues until a stoppage in play such as the ball going out of bounds). It was at this point that Saratoga committed an error that cost them the game. After trying to set up a crash run that would open its line for an overload, Saratoga was called for a penalty for diving over the ruck. This handed the ball to Adirondack, who promptly booted the ball out of bounds as time expired. Saratoga found itself just short of the tying score, dropping the game 14-7.
Saratoga was honored after the match at the awards ceremony, bringing home its second piece of hardware in consecutive weekends as it claimed the Runners-Up Cup for the Vermont State Championship, finishing second. Saratoga closed out is season with a 6-1 regular season, 7-2 overall with a +131 point differential, outscoring opponents 176-45.
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