Saratoga Stampede Strong in Season Opener

The first match of the Spring 2009 season saw Saratoga returning a veteran core but with new faces at several key positions. As with any season opener, there were many questions to be answered and the Stampede sought to build upon last fall's successes.

From the opening kickoff, Saratoga completely controlled the outmatched Utica Klubs, driving the ball deep into their opponent's end before turning the ball over. This change of possession, however, did little to slow Saratoga's attack as phase after phase Utica was driven backwards ever closer to their goal line. When the Utica fly half received a pass deep in his own try zone, he was harrassed by two Stampede players as he attempted to kick the ball to safety. The resulting kick hit the back of one of his teammates and fell to the ground where Stampede second row Sean Bayliss fell upon it to open the scoring.

From that point on, the floodgates were opened. Inside Center Jamie Merritt repeatedly pounded the Utica line with punishing runs and Fly Half Doug McCluskey knifed through the opposing defense with seeming ease. Rookie wing Larry Chong proved a solid addition to the team's line as he made tackle after tackle, preventing Utica from probing the Stampede's outside. The Stampede flew into ruck after ruck and kept possession deep within the Utica end of the pitch. The pack continually dominated set play in scrums and lineouts, with jumper Adam DeGeorgio throwing the opponents into confusion; and the line remained unstoppable. Saratoga continued to pour it on, with McLuskey adding two tries and Merrit contributing a third. Fullback Vernon Peek converted three kicks and added a penalty kick to give the Stampede a 24-0 halftime lead.

The second half saw more of the same as the Stampede refused to let their foot off of their opponent's throat. Rucks remained a strong point for the Stampede and newcomer Chris Lord added some punishing hits as the Stampede pack were shocked to see a wing in a ruck! A lone Utica drive midway through the half did see Saratoga back on its heals. The Klubs were able to take advantage of a couple Stampede mistakes to drive down within the five meter line. There, the Stampede's defense stiffened and Utica runners were repeatedly repulsed as they attempted to cross the try line. Finally, under constant pressure, the Utica pack knocked the ball on and Saratoga regained possession, shut-out intact.

The goal line stand saw one scary moment for the Stampede as scrum half Nick DeFilippo lay injured beneath the goal posts. Despite team captain Steve "Aussie" Ristau's calls for a stretcher, the fragile DeFilippo finally got to his feet. With their scrummie back in action, the Stampede continued the attack. After a Utica infraction, Peek let go a brilliant free kick that landed just past the Utica pack but well in front of the opposing wing. The placement of the kick caused confusion within the Klubs and DeFilippo, fresh back from death's door, scooped up the loose ball and sprinted fifty meters for a try that seemed to break any remaining spirit that Utica had. Saratoga added a final score as eventual man-of-the-match McCluskey added his third try of the game with Peek adding his fifth conversion of the day.

Final score, Saratoga 43 - Utica 0.

Utica remained unable to stop Saratoga in the teams' B-side match. The highlight of that contest being a fantastic sixty meter scamper by rookie wing Ben "Sticky Fingers" Yamane, who outraced the entire Utica team and sprinted sixty meters into the try zone, where he proceeded to drop the ball as he attempted to place it on the ground. Undeterred, Yamane added his first career score on a similar dash down the right sideline into the try zone. Veteran newcomer to the Stampede Tim Smith added a cagey score on a penalty run.

All in all, it was an excellent start to the spring season and the team looks to build upon this success going into next weekend's tournament in Potsdam, New York.