Mustang Boys Continue Winning Ways

This past Saturday marked the debut of the Saratoga Mustang Boys U19 Team. Strange, you may say, as they are nine weeks into the season and this was their fourth match. True, but up until now, there was group effort from the forwards or the backs, but the side of 15 struggled to show the unity required for seamless team play for an entire match.

That was not the case this past Saturday. Saratoga traveled to the campus of UAlbany to take on the Albany Bulldogs - the Mustang's longest rival thus far in the five year history. The skies cleared out in the early afternoon and the sun shined down to help showcase this match-up. The coaching staff had been on the boys about setting the tone and stepping up the intensity over the past couple weeks since spring break. This last week of practice was a step in the right direction, but the path continued upon the first whistle.

Albany kicked off to the start the match just a few minutes after three. The ball was fielded by shifty fullback, Ryan Manning (10th, BHBL) who darted up the right sideline for a big gain. Strong rucking set the pace by the forwards as the gain line moved steadily up the field. At the three minute mark, it was the Mustang's shiftiest of players sneaking in for the first try of the match, as four year veteran scrumhalf, Tyler Krastins (12th, BHBL) placed the ball for 5 points. Inside center, Race Viedt (10th, BHBL) converted to put the Mustangs up 7-0.

Saratoga received the ball on kick-off and worked back down the field in similar fashion with solid phase play. Rucking over and over again got Saratoga within five meters when prop Max Alberts (11th, BHBL) shoved through for the Mustangs second score at the sixth minute mark. Less than ten minutes later, the forward play earned another score as eight man Joe Russell squeezed through traffic for five more points. After the Viedt conversion, Saratoga found itself up 19-0 just fifteen minutes in.

Saratoga began opening things up with a little lead as captain and fly-half, Chris Heckman (12th, Ballston Spa) took over with his backs. With Krastins' great out passes, Heckman led the back line with quick ball movement and key play calling as his centers ran switches down the field to make large gains. In fact, rookie outside center, Jack Guba (11th, BHBL) took advantage of spot-on passing and line running to touch the ball down twice in a matter of three minutes over half way through the first 35. Shortly thereafter, the forwards pushed through for another hard fought rucking try as prop, Shawn Whitaker, punished the opposition for five. All three were converted by Viedt and the Mustangs took a 40-0 lead to halftime.

The staff worked in all fresh legs early in the second half to keep the pressure on. Although Albany was down on the score board, they never backed off. In fact the first half ended with Albany playing a good bit in Saratoga's end. However, the Mustangs kicked off to start the second half; that was the only time they would need to for the rest of the match. Guba got his third score a few minutes in and eight man and forwards captain Robbie Marshall (12th, BHBL) worked Albany forwards over to gain a try several minutes later. With Viedt conversions on both, Saratoga had a 54-0 lead.

As mentioned, though, Albany kept fighting back and never backed down. In fact, a few bad penalties were taken by the Mustangs and Albany had a couple chances to put points up on kicks. Fortunately for the Mustangs, the wind aided them and after each kick, the score remained the same. That did not stop Albany as they kept pounding the ball in the Mustang half of the field. Mid way through the second half, Albany found themselves with a line-out on the Mustang five meter line. With their most powerful prop touting he was getting the ball and going to charge forward, the undersized Mustangs stepped up and defended their goal-line with their hearts and kept Albany off the board.

The Bulldogs kept pushing forward, but found themselves chasing a good portion of the length of the field in the 58th minute as Heckman found himself dicing through the fly-half/center gap for a 60 meter run and five more points. This, with the Viedt conversion, put the proverbial dagger in the comeback attempt on the day. Although the Bulldogs were back on the doorsteps of the Saratoga try line as time was winding down, the Mustang goal-line defense would not let the Albany forwards or the backs advance the gain line any closer as they held on to preserve the shut-out.

Final score: Saratoga 61, Albany 0. Man of the Match: Saratoga Mustangs

Please continue your support as the Mustangs travel to play the Dragons of Rensselaer this Friday, before ending at home on Sunday, May 22nd, against the Berkshire United. Parents, friends and the Saratoga Rugby Community in general are encouraged to come cheer the boys on as they continue elevating their game.