NYM came out hard in the Indian Summer sun at our own Thanksgiving 7s tournament, after a relatively disappointing regular 15s season, to blow away the opposition in the Club division. Read on for more...

Led by NRU squad member Mike Toth the NYM 7s team was packed with power, pace, and footballing brains; including USA capped and NRU second row James Lik, NRU squad member and club captain Brian Fitzgerald, second row Scott Crafton, flanker Cody Eckstein, and backs Dave Elwell, Brian Eastman, Pat Schaal, Henry Williams, Danny Sonon, Ryan McGarrity and Pete Smith. First up for the team was St-Jean Barracudas from Canada. They were dispatched in the early morning 36-0 and as the day wore on the scores went up, vs Hartford Wanderers (CT, US) 34-0 and Young Guys (Canada) 39-7, so that by the end of the three group matches NYM had scored over 100 points and conceded just 7. Key to the teams success was the work-rate of everyone who played and the unselfish nature of their play. This spurred everyone on and was the best team performance from NYM I have seen. In the semi-final NYM faced the fancied DNA Warriors form Douglas RFC in Cork, Ireland. NYM were on the score-sheet quickly as, with no sweeper home, Fitzy kicked downfield and won the chase to the ball, sliding in to score in the corner. NYM continued with dominating defense and great offense, Slik making trademark thrusts to open holes. The DNA Warriors managed to notch up one score but NYM put 6 tries and 5 conversions on them to run out winners 40 points to 7 and earn a place in the final on the premier field next to Icahn Stadium.

The final was played under lights and preceeded the Womens Club final, with our own New York Women featuring, and the premier final. The only change to the starting lineup was Cody Eckstein for Scott Crafton. The rest of the starters were James Lik and Mike Toth in the scrum, Dave Elwell, Brian Eastman, Brian Fitzgerald and Pat Schaal. NYM faced a Bermuda Irish side who were bigger and had good pace behind the scrum. NYM opened with the same previously successful kick-and-chase tactic, setting up great field position. From here Dave Elwell was mauled over the line. Mister P Try then got on the scoresheet after another good kick-and-chase put the covering defernder under pressure 5m from his line. He was tackled by Fitzy and Cody followed up to try and grab the ball form the isolated defender who was holding on the ground. As the ball came free it popped out forward, denying Cody a score but the referee jogged under the posts anyway. Dave Elwell grabbed a second score with a neat goose-step to hold up the defender before putting his head down and scoring out on the right, converting his own try from the tight angle. Bermuda Irish only managed two periods of pressure in this half with long runs deep into NYM territory. However Pat Schaal had the gas to get back and cover one while Mike Toth worked his ass off to snuff out another before coming up with the ball. James Lik then made it look easy to bust through a hole and score under the posts so that NYM went into the break 28-0 up. At the break Ryan McGarrity came on for Fitzy and was immediately involved in some crushing defense. NYM then stole a ball in the tackle as BI attacked and mauled it upfield for 10 yards before getting the scrum. From the scrum theay attacked up field with Pat Schaal making another of his scintilliating runs, weaving through the defenders with ease. But the ball was brought back right to Slik who strolled through some more weak arm tackles to score, with Dave converting again. BI had more of the ball in this half and were starting to play a bit more but the NYM defense was resolute with Brian Eastman typifying the bravery. He eventually had to go off after another shuddering hit in which he came off worse. Danny Sonon replaced him and made his mark with several trademark big hits especially after the restart following another NYM try - from a lineout out right Slik gave the ball back to hooker Mike Toth who showed great strength and pace to race to the right hand corner. The only blot on Dave Elwell's copy book was to miss this conversion. NYM followed this up after the re-start with more good pressure in the BI half. They managed to isolate another ball carrier who was tackled and had to release. Ryan McGarrity pinched the ball, looked up to pop it off, and saw free space ahead so he burst through to the line for another converted try. NYM closed out the game with some more smothering defense to win 47-0. With nearly 200 points for and only 14 against this was very much a team triumph in all facets of the game and a great morale boost. All the guys played their hearts out and each player had moments of brilliance, from sweeper Pat Schaal running mesmerically, to Scotty Crafton's tireless work in support and defense. In the end the refs chose Dave Elwell as the Men's Club MVP after his eye-catching first half performance in the final. To complete a NYRC sweep of the Club divisions the NY Women, led by Maura Weikman, beat TMR in the womens final.