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
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Albany v. Syracuse Chargers
Albany, NY April 14, 2012 On a beautiful April Saturday the Knicks hosted the Syracuse Chargers in a friendly at Dick Green Field. Syracuse used this match to prepare for their upcoming USA Rugby Division III Sweet 16 game in Pittsburgh, PA later this Spring. It took about 20 minutes for Albany to find their groove as they found themselves down 13-10. Silly penalties inside the Albany 40m line were easily converted by the Syracuse pivot but a try by Brandon Bailey and conversion & penalty kick converted by captain Tom Breslin kept Albany in the game early on. After settling in the Knicks began working their game plan and started seeing results. The game plan of aggressive pick & goes coupled with quick ball to the back line; along with crafty tactical kicking from flyhalf David O'Neill and wing Breslin worked well on the day. Albany was able to control the remainder of the match and ran in 9 more unanswered tries. Additional points came from the boot of Tom Breslin who slotted 6 of 10 conversions and 3 penalty kicks. David O'Neill was awarded Man of the Match for his skillful distribution & tactical kicking. Albany Knicks 71 Syracuse Chargers 13 A side: Malizia, Rufer, Murphy, O'Brien, Boehme, Lynch, Kos, Bailey, Cirone, O'Neill, Breslin, Morton, Pardo, Bergen, Martin. Subs - Roy (Malizia), Grimm, (Rufer), Ayoreh (Martin), Reigart (Lynch), Mertz (Pardo), Kuzia (Kos), Protain (Cirone) Albany - tries: Bailey, Pardo, Bergen, O'Neill, Morton (2), Breslin, Ayoreh, Mertz, Protain. Conversions: Breslin (6). Penalty kicks: Breslin (3) Man of the Match - David O'Neill Referee - Fred Greenaway The B side then took the field against a spirited UAlbany team. Knicks wing Sean Mertz put down a marker as to why he should be on the starting 15, and with that fire, could not be denied as he crossed the try line 4 times; for his effort he was awarded Man of the Match. Additional tries came from inside center Rev Protain and eightman Joe Judge. Albany Knicks 38 UAlbany 10 Albany - tries: Protain, Mertz (4), Judge. Conversions: Colley (4) Man of the Match - Sean Mertz Referee - JoAnne Kos B side: Roy, Rufer, Clapp, Kuzia, Drake, Pozzouli, Brooks, Judge, Burns, Colley, White, Protain, Halligan, Mertz, Warren. Subs - Rich O'Brien, L. Jones, Zedacker, Pillsworth, Reigart The Knicks will look to remain unbeaten at home next Saturday, April 21, as they host the Union Mudturtles (New Jersey) in another Spring friendly. Danbury, CT
March 31, 2012 The Albany Knicks fell to the Danbury Mad Hatters 15-10 in a well played, hard fought match that saw defense rule the day. Albany started the scoring with a penalty kick from captain Tom Breslin before giving up an unconverted try to Danbury after 20 minutes of intense pressure that saw several goal line stands. Danbury's tactic was to crash their forwards off the base of the ruck and then use the big outside center to test the backline. The back row combination of Lynch (not DL1 or DL2), Kos, and Bailey made several key tackles during this stretch. Later in the 1st half a key turnover created by Cody Morton resulted in the ball being spun wide to the backline; eventually finding its way into Scottie Bergen's hands. Bergen broke a tackle from 40m out and then daftly side stepped 2 cover defenders to dot down under the posts. The try was converted by Breslin. Halftime score 10-5 to Albany.The 2nd half saw Albany fail to capitalize on a few scoring chances that could have put the game away. Danbury however took advantage of a weak side overload and regained the lead with a converted try. Down by two, Albany had a chance to retake the lead but a difficult PK drifted wide of the post. With approximately 10 minutes to play Danbury extended their lead to 15-10 with a PK in front of the posts from 35m out. Albany continued to pressure knowing a try was the only way to win and with no time left was awarded a penalty which was tapped and taken down field. However, support was slow to arrive at the breakdown and the ball carrier was penalized for holding on. Danbury was happy to kick to touch to end the match. Ed Kos was named Man of the Match for his outstanding open side play. A side: Malizia, Rufer, Murphy, Scaglione, Boehme, Lynch, Kos, Bailey, Cirone, O'Neill, Martin, Morton, Breslin, Mertz, Bergen. Subs - Ayoreh (Cirone), Roy (Malizia), Grimm, (Rufer) The B side took the field with several 1st side players having to step up and play a 2nd match. Albany was ahead 8-5 (unconverted try by Marty White and PK from Charles Colley) with ten minutes to play in the shortened match before a turnover on the restart led to Danbury scoring and converting to win 12-7. Alex Brooks was named Man of the Match. Brooks was sure handed in the lineout and poached several balls at the breakdown giving Albany possession at key moments.B -side: Roy, Rufer, Malizia, Scaglione, Murphy, Roy, Pozzouli, Brooks, Reigart, Ayoreh, Colley, White, O'Neill, Halligan, Protain, Bergen. Subs - L. Jones, Breslin Albany's next match will be its home opener Saturday, April 14th against the Syracuse Chargers at Dick Green Field. The day will begin with the Sirens hosting Burlington. Both teams are looking forward to large & supportive crowds |
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November 2013
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