This past weekend, the few, the proud, the players without plans, or the players who wanted to play and those that said they would if they were needed, took to Randalls Island to participate in the 3rd Biennial Bingham Cup...

Don’t know what the Bingham cup is??? Turn to page 60 in the New York Press (ok maybe I’m biased because I know the writer, but after you read the article, you can flip the page and see four NYer’s lovely smiles on a bar Ad!!yay!) or just know that it is a memorial tournament for Mark Bingham, a passenger on United Flight 93.

So, picked top for their bracket out of NY and Scotsdale, AZ Women, the NY women, who were actually named, ILOVEKUCH took to the field. Starting with many out of position, which included Cristina “Sure I’ll prop” Junquera debuting in the front row, Annie “No really I played lock and eight” Collier in the back row, Maura “But I moved to fullback for a reason” Weikman starting at ten and Katie “Fat guy in a little shirt” MacCallum at outside center.

For the First game…nothing was going to go past these girls. Sure they started with 14 and Kate “I’m moving away too” Hobbs was stuck at wing, but they took it in stride. Maura made dashing runs through the ENTIRE other team to score two breakaway tries. And despite her overrun of a key play Mac showed her benefit by slotting one in also. Collier, despite her practice at 8, took a few on the run and also received a terrific heads up bounce pass from Weikman to take it in under the posts. Collier would also give a knee to Marion “Two halves are better than one” ‘s head so that glue was needed somewhere in the immediate future….no, I mean NOW it’s really in two halves!!! Lara Vivolo strided in for one and well…NY ran a lot, scored a lot, they didn’t, we won, the ground was hard and full of glass and stones…yeah…

BUT…the men’s teams were great. Many came to cheer the NY women on, even more stopped to say hi and ask questions about where we were from. Lunch was served by the tournament people to the NY tent, in the form of Subway sandwiches, did I mention every team got a tent?

And so, after staying their ground of not mixing players for the next game, they faced Scotsdale again for the cup. However, Scotsdale had picked up a Philly and DC player, not to mention others.

In this game NY would pick up two players, move Annie to lock and Hobbs to eight, and they would have a cheering section, which included John Truehart…what could be better?? Well, perhaps I should tell you Eva played wing, and well that Parks was there on the sideline cheering???

At the front row meeting, the ref showed a little of what was to be expected in the game as she announced that everyone should listen to her CREDENCE…I’m sorry…what? As in Clearwater Rival…righhhhhtt….And the game would be no better. Apparently the rules section of the ref course needs to be a little more clear, as there was a free for all on most things, except some penalties which AZ committed, which got called on NY.

NY would get scored on, by allowing runs and failed tackles, which started from turnover ball. But we would get one back as Bussman would set Mac up for a under gap and NY would gain some ground. It was clear the AZ backline was easily pressured and many dropped ball led for free play.

However in a very similar situation NY would take one again and again Scotsdale would be up, having made both of their kicks..
But, with some great high kicks by 15 out of 10 flyhalf, Maura, NY gained some ground and stayed in the AZ end. With some turnover and quick ball by Sarah “No really I have a bump on my head” Litt, it was apparent that they were getting no help from the Ref so things were about to get ugly…

Under pressure, Maura Weikman passed to Katie “I slap in your general direction” MacCallum, who ran through the (can I say the entire) AZ pack, and full back and wing and ….got tripped but not before landing in the try zone with ball in hand, to gain a little more ground for NY.

But the final piece would come as NY was knocking again on the AZ door, wanting blood for the bad calls that were going on, and game play that seemed to be slowing down. Jenna “It’s my party and I’ll score if I want to” Bussman would call for it weak from Slitt, and run, like the buss that she is, around and through the defense to score in the corner to make it 15-14.

The final minutes would be spent with NY making numerous tackles, keeping AZ at the fifty, and preventing breakaway and heads up running. Dubray and collier were on fire, as well as hard rucking by Junq, Hobbs and the firecracker, MJ. Rosie ran great support and made awesome tackles, and our pick up players we happy to play with us. Audie, made Annie happy by slowing down her fast and hard hook, while Eva, whose first game back after foot issues, showed she’ll still fight tooth and nail for the Orange and blue.

After all was said and done, Mark Bingham’s mom presented ILOVEKUCH with the first women’s Bingham Cup and many a picture were taken. After a call from Slitt for help to fold the jerseys, all the men from the ajoining tent came in support, it was awesome!!! A couple players even interviewed with a NY based PBS show and then off were the NY women.

While the field and competition aspects of the tournament left a lot to be desired, the environment, friendliness and camaraderie made it all worth it. Thank you to those who played and those that made it out to support. Thank you to IGRAB and the Gotham Knights…and if anyone wants a quote to think on after the weekend…let me know..I’ve got a winner!