NYM finished their season with a game in New Jersey at the Bayonne Bombers. A healthy rivalry is developing between the two clubs, especially with Bayonne competing in D1. NYM allowed Bayonne too much space in the A game to their detriment but avenged the loss in the B game.

Match Report: New York-Manhattan “A” vs Bayonne Bombers “A”

May 20^th 2006, Bayonne, NJ. Kick-off 1pm

Score: NYM 36 - Bayonne Bombers 40

ON a windy, but sunny, day on the Bayonne shore NYM started their match against the Bombers brightly, although Matt Smith couldn’t capitalize on an early penalty attempt hooking it wide right. NYM then contrived to let Bayonne into the game, which became an open affair with Bayonne exploiting space through the backs and the blindside - their number 8 in particular showing good pace off the scrum and a dummy to beat Rich at the back. NYM came back each time though good forward work. The half finished with both sides locked at 26-26 and four tries apiece. Matt Beckley scored two for NYM with bullocking runs of penalty moves while Olivier Loudig and Ben Whitney each got one.

The second half tightened up a bit with NYM piling on the pressure through long kicks using the strong wind down to the left corner. However, cardinally, we were unable to turn that pressure into points. A similar move down the blindside from a scrum again allowed the Bayonne number 8 to create a try from first phase ball. NYM calmly worked their way back into Bayonne territory and stayed there. From a short lineout it was taken into contact open and then immediately sent back the way it came for Birdie to dummy and go over under the posts. Matt Smith converted and then hit a penalty to give NYM the lead at 36 - 33. NYMs scramble defense kept Bayonne out when they looked to break through the backs and the lead should have been stretched more except Matt Smith was denied a try despite grounding the ball well over the goalline. Bayonne kept at it though and their scrum-half found a gaping hole to run through and dot down by the posts for a converted try and the game. NYM could have won this game had they concentrated more on defense and made more of the first up tackles. Too many holes were found by the Bayonne runners. However, luck was also against NYM with Matt Smith having a try denied and two chances for penalty tries in the first half were turned down; one where Fitzy was pulled back chasing a kick through and another where their inside center slapped a pass down with our outside backs having a clear run to the line. Nevertheless, it gave the city slickers a well needed reality check for some good hard work over the summer.

Team: 1. Ben Whitney, 2. Pete Galen, 3. Matt Beckley, 4. Scott Crafton, 5. Chris Hufferdine, 6. Michael Toth, 7. John Yuhas, 8. Gabriel Fuoco, 9. Ed Brydon, 10. Matt Smith, 11. Danny Sonon, 12. Brian Fitzgerald (captain), 13. Duncan Heilbronn, 14. Olivier Loudig, 15. Richard Richardson.

Match Report: New York-Manhattan “B” vs Bayonne Bombers “B”

Score: NYM 17 – Bayonne Bombers 12

A number of players had to double up since we were light on numbers for they day, but not quite as light as Bayonne. With tired legs mingling with the fresh ones this provided for a scrappy game. Bayonne’s center, he played wing in the A game, showed some good pace again. However it was NYM who opened the scoring with prop Brian Tyler working off ruck ball to rumble over the line for his first NYM try. Matt Smith converted, and added a penalty a little later. In the second half NYM kept the pressure on, although Bayonne did come back with a couple of tries of their own. AJ Faultley was doing a manful job against a winger roughly twice his size but it was a sweet break and solo effort from the man inside him, Danny Sonon, which gave the game to NYM. He showed the fullback both the outside and inside before rounding the poor flummoxed fellow on the outside to score under the posts. So the season actually ended on a win!

Team: 1. Dave Levine, 2. Pete Galen, 3. Brian Tyler, 4. Scott Crafton, 5. Chris Hufferdine, 6. Cody Eckstein, 7. Nick Mastrogeorgiou, 8. Gabriel Fuoco, 9. Brian Eastman, 10. Matt Smith, 11. AJ Fautley, 12. Duncan Heilbronn, 13. Danny Sonon, 14. Ali Okur, 15. Luca Loguercio.

Men of the Matches: In both games this went to guys, guys, guys who have put their heart and soul into their respective teams this year, leading from the front – Fitzy and The Greek.