Knicks defeat Boston Irish to go 2-0

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