Albany Falls to Long Time Rivals in Spring Opener

White Plains, NY
March 30, 2013
Albany 24 - White Plains 37

Albany traveled down to White Plains this past Saturday to play longtime rivals White Plains.  It was White Plains though who came out on top with a 37-24 win.  Albany opened up the scoring three minutes in with a Breslin penalty.  White Plains hit back though at the 10 minute mark with the first of three successive tries – off a quick tap penalty the WP # 9 got the ball to a streaking winger who dotted down in the corner.  Their 2nd try also came as the result of a quick tap penalty, with the conversion being made.  The 3rd try for the home side came from a lost scrum with the ball being worked quickly to the strong side wing.  After 30 minutes of play White Plains was up 17-3.  Albany started to claw their way back in and at 34 minutes was rewarded with their 1st try as hooker Sean Bayliss muscled over the try line with a close pick.  Breslin converted and at halftime the score was 17-10. 

White Plains struck first in the 2nd half at the 12 minute mark with their own try off a pick n go near the line.  The conversion was missed.  Four minutes later Albany flanker Cody Morton took a short pick over the line to start to bridge the gap.  Captain Breslin again made the conversion and Albany was within 5 points.  On the next possession Knicks flyhalf Scottie Bergen showed some individual brilliance when he spotted a gap and slice through the White Plains backline racing 60 meters for his 1st try of the season.  Breslin again converted and 19 minutes in Albany was up 24-22.  White Plains wasn’t rattled though and calmly mounted their own comeback and three minutes later scored what turned out to be the game winning try.  The replacement center wrong-footed his opposite number and broke through the line from 40m out.  He was left with a  2 v 1 which was executed nicely, putting his wing in for the 5 pointer.  White Plains added two more insurance tries at the 30 & 33 minute marks.  Final score was 37-24.  Scottie Bergen was named Albany Man of the Match.  Bergen played out of position and did well with the little ball that the backline saw off of set pieces.  Fullback Dorian Simes was also exceptional making meters on every ball that was kicked to him.

Albany’s 2nd side took the field against a young athletic White Plains side.  The game was won by White Plains 19-15.  Steve Arango, Dave Mink, and Dan Weingarten all scored for Albany.  Captain Steve Arango won Man of the Match honors for his on-field leadership.

It was great to see so many White Plains Old Boys and especially Jo-Jo Moore – who passed along his thanks for all the Knicks have done and also sent his best wishes along to Jonesy.  Both clubs raised $140 for Jonesy through bracelets sales.  Many old boys are planning to come up in May for the Jonesy Open.

The Knicks will be hosting both Monadnock (Keene, NH) and Berkshire on Saturday, April 6.  The A game vs. Monadnock will kick-off at 11:30am and the B game vs. Berkshire will follow immediately after at 1:00pm.  The games will be played at Kiwanis Park in Latham, NY off of Route 2, just east of the Latham Circle.

A side
1. Dave Malizia
2. Sean Bayliss
3. Jeff Cosgrove
4. Jesse Boehme
5. Jason Reigart (@ 50’ – Max Schuler)
6. Ed Kos
7. Cody Morton
8.  Brandon Bailey
9. Gordon Eddie
10. Scottie Bergen
11. Tom Breslin (Captain)
12. Sean Mertz
13. Murphy Lill
14. Steve Arango (@ 40’ Kurt Willms)
15. Dorian Simes

Scoring Summary:
Penalties – Breslin (1/1)
Conversions – Breslin (3/3)
Tries – Bayliss, Morton, Bergen

B side
1. Ethan Lusted (@30’ Dan Weingarten)
2. Alex Rufer
3. Frank Williams
4. Eric O’Bryan (@30’ Thomas Sage)
5. Max Schuler
6. Todd Drake
7. Alex Brooks
8.  Brian Killips
9. Brandon Murphy (@ 30’ Bryan Lynch)
10. Kevin Warren
11. Steve Arango
12. Kurt Willms
13. Josh Clevenger (40’ Damien Lopez)
14. Dave Mink
15. Josh Vics (moved to 9 at halftime)

Scoring Summary
Tries – Arango, Mink, Weingarten