Match Report: NYM vs Media RFC, March 25th 2006

A-side L 20-5. NYM started out at a high tempo, putting together very good phases as the forwards ran hard off the rucks and created gaps behind the fringe and wider channels. Unfortunately NYM failed to capitalize and ended up handing Media some soft scores.

Place: Pier 40, New York. Weather: Nighttime, floodlit and cold. Ground: Artificial turf.

Despite the bright start NYM couldn’t close out their opportunities and allowed Media to come away from about 10 minutes of intense early pressure without conceding a point. Then, from a scrum in the middle of the field just inside the Media half, Media broke out against the run of play and scored off an 8-9-14 move that put their speedster away. The conversion was missed, as all of them would be due to the size of the pitch. NYM came back up the field though after the restart and after some neat handling Steve McLeod put a good chip in behind the defense. Olivier raced up behind the covering player who made a mistake in the try area and allowed Olivier the chance to pounce with the ref in a good position to award the try. At 5-5 NYM then allowed two more scores in the half through some weak tackling. The game-plan that had been paying some territorial dividends had been abandoned and NYM were already playing loose catch-up rugby as well as making a few rash decisions that spurned points. The gap was only 10 points though and eminently attainable if the original game-plan was reinforced. However, after the break the breakthrough that was needed was just not created and thereafter the game became a bit niggly. This coincided with the introduction of the Media replacement hooker who was generally a dirty little runt. Several decent probes into the Media half didn’t lead to scores and it was Media who eventually sealed the game with NYM allowing the winger through some more weak tackling. NYMs cause wasn’t helped by several injuries with both Chris Agnew and Steve McLeod departing early on and Cody Eckstein and Fitzy following them in the second half. Team: 1. Ben Whitney, 2. Shane O’Driscoll, 3. Chris Agnew (Ryan McElduff), 4. Scott Crafton, 5. Cody Eckstein (Matt), 6. Angus Birchall, 7. Keelan Walker (Greg Gilliam), 8. Todd Peate, 9. Ed Brydon, 10. Brian Fitzgerald (Clint Tomlinson), 11. Danny Sonon, 12. Mike Toth, 13. Olivier Loudig, 14. Steve McLeod (Marc Cristiano), 15. Brian Eastman. Man of the Match: Angus Birchall.

B-side Lost. The B-side were outpaced and generally outplayed by a strong Media B-side who went undefeated in the fall season. We also have a large number of new players, many of whom are new to the game. It was encouraging to see their commitment and enthusiasm out there. Man of the Match: John Yuhas, for chasing and tackling everything that moved in only his second rugby game. He was even moved from wing to flanker (“What’s that?”).

Thanks to Media for coming all the way from central PA, good luck in the D2 playoffs. Thanks also to all the people who made it out to support and to Charles deVerna for reffing the B game.