September 22, 2012
Albany, NY
Albany 98 - Newport 15

On a beautiful Fall day at Dick Green Field the Albany Knicks downed an undermanned Newport Rugby Club 98-15 to remain undefeated.  Newport travelled with 13 players and the 2 man disadvantage left them stretched too thin to contain the home side.  Newport showed no quit throughout the match and were rewarded with three tries for the efforts.  The Knicks ran in 16 tries on the day; converting on 9 of them.  Fullback Todd Martin scored three tries while scrumhalf Phil Ayoreh, wing Breslin, and outside center Murphy Lill each had a brace.  Flankers Cody Morton and Jason Riegart, flyhalf David O'Neill, eight man Max Schuler, and replacement prop Jeff Hensel all added solo tries to round out the scoring.  Max Schuler was awarded man of the match for his instincts in the open field and his excellent execution on the weak side. 

Albany welcomes Providence Rugby Club to Dick Green Field on Saturday, September 29 for its 4th game of the season and last home game.  Providence will undoubtedly be the club's toughest test so far before they hit the road for three straight weekends. 


A-side (Subs)
1. Nate Murphy (Jeff Hensel)
2. Sean Bayliss (Nick St. John)
3. Steve Roy (Grimm)
4. Caine LaJeunesse (Eric O'Bryan)
5. Jesse Boehme
6. Jason Riegart
7. Cody Morton
8. Max Schuler
9. Phil Ayoreh (Cono Cirone)
10. David O'Neill
11. Tom Breslin (captain)
12. Sean Mertz (Rev Protain)
13. Murph Lill
14. Scottie Bergen
15. Todd Martin

Albany's seconds then met RPI's seconds in the B match.  Albany prevailed 29-0 in what turned out to be a very competitive match.  Knick Old Boy Dmitri Zagorevski stepped up to play #9 for RPI.  Other Knicks stepping up to help the local college side included Nate Murphy, Steve Roy, & Marty White.  The young RPI team, most of them playing in only their 3rd game of rugby, showed commitment and promise and it was widely noted that the future looks bright for RPI.  Albany's point came from 5 tries; two of which were converted by quinquagenarian-to-be Charles Colley.  Flyhalf Kevin Warren, outside center Rev Protain, and flanker Ryan Sweet each had tries.  However, on debut winger Carl Frey bagged two tries in his first ever rugby match, an achievement that garner man of the match honors.

B-side (Subs)
1. Justin Snide
2. Nick St. John
3. Dave Malizia
4. Caine LaJeunesse
5. Eric O'Bryan
6. Ryan Sweet
7. Alex Brooks
8. Donnie Marion
9. Steve Arango
10. Kevin Warren
11. Marty White (Bill Zedacker) 12. Greg Berck 13. Rev Protain (Pat Newman) 14. Carl Frey 15. Charles Colley

September 15, 2012
Albany, NY
Knicks 50 - Boston Irish 17

The Albany Knicks defeated the Boston Irish Wolfhounds 50-17 at Dick Green Field to go 2-0.  The Wolfhounds are spread thin this season since they are competing in both NERFU D1 and NERFU D2 but arrived with several veteran players.  Captain Tom Breslin led all scorers with a haul on 25 points on 3 tries and 5 conversions.  The Knicks got off to a quick start when inside center Sean Mertz took a crash ball from 22m out in the 1st minute.  3 minutes later Breslin scored his first try in the right corner.  At 9 minutes Boston put their first points on the board with a penalty kick.  Breslin scored his second try 14 minutes in as the recipient of great offloading where several Knicks touched the ball en route to the try zone.  10 minutes later outside center Murphy Lill broke the line and dished to fullback Todd Martin for another 5 pointer.  Lill again broke the line at the 31 minute mark - this time finding Breslin for his third try.  29-3 to Albany at the break.  The Knicks found the try zone on the opening kick of the second half as flanker Cody Morton took the kick, split several defenders, and then found replacement scrumhalf Phil Ayoreh in space.  Ayoreh raced in untouched from 40m out.  Perhaps feeling the game was in hand, Albany lost its focus for the next 20 minutes, giving up two tries converted tries.  It seemed as though Albany could not get out of their own half when out of nowhere scrumhalf Ayoreh caught the Irish defense wrong-footed and from just inside the halfway line picked the ball up and sprinted past 4 defenders to score under the posts.  Flanker Morton finished the scoring with a try when he called for an offload in support off a messy lineout ball.  Morton's work rate was noticeable throughout the game and in the end his efforts were rewarded with Man of the Match honors.

Albany welcomes Newport Rugby Club to Dick Green Field on Saturday, September 22 for its 3rd game of the season.

A-side (Subs)
1. Nate Murphy
2. Sean Bayliss (Alex Rufer @ 70')
3. Steve Roy
4. Jesse Boehme
5. Max Schuler
6. Jason Riegart
7. Cody Morton
8. Ed Kos (Robert Grimm @ 47')
9. Cono Cirone (Phil Ayoreh @ 22')
10. David O'Neill
11. Tom Breslin (captain)
12. Sean Mertz
13. Murph Lill
14. Scottie Bergen
15. Todd Martin

Although tired from a full 80 minute match the always classy Irish honored their commitment and agreed to play a 30 minute B game.  The Hounds came out on top 14-5 using experience over youth to control the match and punish the young side.  Albany's lone try came from a breakaway by speedster Rev Protain.  Protain was tackled by a cover defender but the tackle was deemed dangerous and a penalty try was awarded in front of the post; with fullback Charles Colley easily converting.  Newcomer Eric O'Bryan (2nd row), playing in only his 3rd game of rugby, was named Man of the Match.  O'Bryan has impressed with his ability to pick up the game quickly and provide good go-forward ball. 

B-side (Subs)
1. Jeff Hensel
2. Nick St. John
3. Jeff Cosgrove
4. Alex Rufer
5. Eric O'Bryan
6. Steve Lansing
7. Tommy Fredericks (Pat Newmann @ 15')
8. Donnie Marion 9. Steve Arango 10. Kevin Warren 11. Marty White (Bill Zedacker @ 18') 12. Greg Berck 13. Rev Protain 14. Eli Brown 15. Charles Colley

September 8, 2012
Albany, NY
Albany 32 - Old Gold 0

The Albany Knicks defeated Old Gold RFC 32-0 at Dick Green Field for the first game of the NERFU D2 Fall Season.  Albany collected all 5 available points as well; running in 5 tries.  Captain Tom Breslin scored two tries, converted two tries, and hit one penalty kick to lead the team and was awarded man of the match honors for his play & overall leadership.

Breslin got the Knicks on the board at the 8 minute mark with his 1st try dotting down in the corner; kick was no good.  Scrumhalf Cono Cirone then added a 5-pointer 3 minutes later when open side Ed Kos charged down a kick from an Old Gold scrum.  The loose ball landed in the try zone where Cirone was able to scramble and beat his opposite number to touch it down; try converted.  With 5 minutes to go before the break inside center Sean Mertz was able to find the try line and give Albany some breathing room.  Try was unconverted and Albany led 17-0 at halftime.  Old Gold was unlucky to not put points on the board running some excellent line breaks.  If not for some try saving tackles and unfortunate knock ons the score at half time would have been closer.  The Knicks started the second half strong when blindside flanker Cody Morton punched one in at the 43 minute mark; securing the bonus point.  Try was converted by Breslin.  Ten minutes later Breslin slotted a penalty kick to make the score 27-0.  Albany finished the scoring with 6 minutes to go before full time when Breslin took a quick tap from 15 meters out for his second try.  Final score 32-0.

Albany welcomes the Boston Irish Wolfhounds to Dick Green Field on Saturday, September 15 for its 2nd game of the season.

A-side (Subs)
1. Steve Roy (Dave Malizia)
2. Alex Rufer (Nick St. John)
3. Robert Grimm (Max Schuler)
4. Nate Murphy
5. Jesse Boehme
6. Joe Judge (Jason Riegart)
7. Cody Morton
8. Ed Kos (Frank Adams)
9. Cono Cirone
10. David O'Neill
11. Tom Breslin (captain)
12. Sean Mertz
13. Murph Lill
14. Philip Ayoreh (Rev Protain)
15. Todd Martin  

The B side played the University at Albany in a weather shortened match and fell to the Danes 33-12.  UAlbany showed strong running coupled with great support & offloading to constantly keep the Knicks on their back foot.  UAlbany ran in tries at the 5, 14, 19, 22, & 27 minute marks while the Knicks had tries from Donnie Marion & Marty White at the 15 and 17 minute marks respectively.  Charles Colley converted on White's try.  Evergreen Marty White stood out with his energetic play and master class in open field tackling and won man of the match for his efforts.

B-side (Starting Roster & Reserves)
1. Dave Malizia
2. Nick St. John
3. Jeff Cosgrove
4. Todd Drake
5. Eric O'Bryan
6. Steve Lansing
7. Donnie Marion
8. Max Schuler
9. Ryan Sweet
10. Kevin Warren
11. Marty White
12. Greg Berck
13. Rev Protain
14. Donnie Marion
15. Charles Colley
Reserves - Jeff Cosgrove, Alex Rufer, Pat Newmann, Eli Brown, Murphy Lill