Mustang Boys Gain First Ever Victory over Rutland

After having an unexpected weekend off last week (4/18/09), the Saratoga Mustang Boy U19's headed to Rutland, VT for an 11:00 am kickoff on Saturday, April 25th. The travel, though, was a little more lean than the coaching staff expected as only 19 boys made the commute. Of those 19, one Mustang, Connor Young (BHBL, 11th), was simply going up to support his team when the coaching staff requested he be ready for game play based emergent needs (special thanks to Connor's dad for 'speeding' through Burnt Hills and Glenville to get his kit to the carpool!).
The match started with the boys seeking retribution for last year's VYRA playoff beating. This focus took over the Mustangs from the outset of the match as they received the initial kick-off and played solid rugby from the start. At the 13th minute, ingenius play by the Mustang scrummie (Matt Bynon, BHBL, 11th) yielded the first points of the day as he dove across the try line for a 5-0 lead. After Rutland fought back and pushed the wing, the Mustangs corrected issues with the back line cheating in and finally started playing smart defensive back line play.
This change allowed the Mustangs to stop the fighting Roosters and turn the ball back into Mustang hands. At the 25th minute, good back play yielded field captain and outside center Greg Manning (BHBL, 11th) the opportunity to over power the opposite line and touch the ball down beyond the try line again. 8-man and forwards' captain Mike Matrazzo (BHBL, 12th) then converted the try for a 12-0 lead.
Using momentum, the Mustangs received the kick-off and marched right back down the field and at the 29th minute, Bynon scored again for Mustangs. Then, right before the whistle for halftime, fly-half, Ryan Jones (Saratoga, 11th) chipped the ball to the wing and charging wing, Mike Gonzalez (Saratoga, 11th) caught the ball on the bounce and scored the fourth try of match on what was most likely the best offensive play of the young season.
During halftime, Manning warned his team to keep their composure and ensure pressure is applied, as Rutland will come out firing. Manning was right as Rutland scored and converted within the first five minutes of the second half. Shortly after, though, Matrazzo scored and converted and Bynon scored again, yielding the Mustangs a 34-7 lead. After flanker Chris Heckman (Ballston Spa, 10th) came out of the game due to injury, the Roosters pushed through and scored another try in their comeback attempt.
This was thwarted, though, by solid play by the remaining starters and reserve Young, who was thriving at flanker, after being proficient really only at second row during training and previous matches. It was in fact, plays like Young's key tackles and hard, short runs, that defined the success of the Saratoga forwards on the day. This success put Matrazzo back into position for another fantastic run late in the match as he capped the scoring with his second try of the match and a 39-12 final score.
In the end, the coaching staff identified co-men of the match as Bynon (scrum-half) and second row, Tyler Krupa (BHBL, 11th). Bynon's quick thinking on penalty plays and command as the 'general' on the field gave Saratoga great scoring opportunities through out the match, including three of his own. Krupa's unselfish, blue-collar like play had him at nearly every breakdown and coming up in proper defensive position 'posting' throughout the match. Although the staff has been driving for everyone to play in this way, Krupa exemplified the strategy throughout and was a key element in the team's success on Saturday.
Saratoga hosts Mad River next Saturday, May 2nd, at noon in the Shenantaha Creek Park in Malta, NY.