Albany Knicks defeat Union

Albany v. Union (NJ)
Albany, NY
April 21, 2012

The Albany Knicks defeated the Union Mudturtles (Union, NJ) 39-27 on Saturday, April 21 to make it 2 from 2 at home this Spring season.  Both teams agreed to modify the A game then B game format and play three 30-minute periods due to the fact that Union only traveled with 19 players. 

With the wind at their back for the 1st 30 Albany took advantage and ran out to a 18-5 lead.  Captain Tom Breslin hit two penalties kick from in front of the posts at the 6 & 16 minute marks.  Three minutes later flanker Joe Judge took a ball off the back of a well worked Albany lineout maul to dive in for the score.  Breslin missed with the tough conversion.  Union was able to break through Albany's defense with nifty offloads and strong center running to put in a try before Albany inside center Cody Morton crossed over at 27 minutes in.  Breslin converted the try and the period ended with Albany on top 18-5. 

It was Union's turn in the 2nd period to use the wind & poor discipline by Albany to grab the lead.  Union scored a converted try off a lineout maul and then followed up with a successful penalty kick.  Later on Albany's defense was caught napping as Union went weak off a ruck and ran nearly 50 meters untouched for an unconverted try.  With time winding down in the period Albany #8 Brandon Bailey was sin-binned.  The 2nd period ended with Union up 20-18. 

Albany welcomed the wind back for the 3rd period and the starters had a renewed sense of urgency as several B side players waited patiently to get in the game.  Four minutes in with Union threatening, a backline knock-on was scooped up by Albany flyhalf David O'Neill, who outpaced several Union defenders to run 85 meters for the try.  Breslin converted and Albany was back on top 25-20.  The next several minutes saw Albany playing deep in Union's half and with quick ball coming from the ruck replacement center Rev Protain slipped several tackles to dive in under the posts.  Breslin was successful with the conversion.  Union & Albany traded converted tries over the final 15 minutes to leave the final score at 39-27. 

Lock Jesse Boehme was awarded man of the match for his efforts in the lineout securing crucial key throws that directly led to 2 tries. 

Albany is idle on 4/28 but finish off the season with back to back away matches against South Shore and Northern Jersey before the finale at Newport for the NERFU Cup on May 19th & 20th. 

A side: Roy, Grimm, Malizia, Murphy, Boehme, Reigart, Judge, Bailey, Cirone, O'Neill, Bergen, Morton, Mertz, Ayoreh, Breslin. Subs - Rufer, Colley, Kuzia, Protain, Halligan, Bonventre, Pozzouli, Brooks, Eddy, Killips, White, Allen, Warren, Jones

Albany - tries: Judge, Morton, O'Neill, Protain, Bailey. Conversions: Breslin (4). Penalty kicks: Breslin (2)
Man of the Match - Jesse Boehme
Referee - Chris Lind