After a couple of disappointing weeks the coaches worked their magic and NYM came out transformed against METNY D2 winners Bayonne last weekend. Capitalizing on Bayonne errors and playing some decent rugby of their own NYM took home the bacon 39-10. The B-side followed up with a rousing victory by 27-14 (unconfirmed). Sean Danahy reports...

After coming off a tough weekend in the Four Leafs tournament, New York Manhattan RFC was in dire need of a unified effort on the pitch and it turned out to be the kind of day you live for as a rugby player. With some new selections taking A-side starting spots, and a few shifts in field positions, the boys took to the field with a best foot forward mentality. With the wind at their back at the waterfront facilities in Bayonne the NYM forwards set the tone early and met Bayonne’s large and hard running pack at or behind their gain line. The NYM pack held to the team’s strategy and kept the ball in the forwards with paced punches and controlled pick and go’s playing into the strength of the opposition and still making yards.

This set up an ideal platform for distribution to a back line that played with tremendous synergy throughout the afternoon. With forwards defending well against counter rucking from Bayonne, there was clean distribution of the ball followed by effective and unselfish play throughout the backline, center Ryan McGarrity had a number of well timed off loads setting up significant territorial advancemes and a number of assists for tries. We even witnessed a well executed grubber on the wing that advanced NYM’s field position a sound 60 meters from … (wait for it)… Dave Moylan! Throughout the first half we also saw some excellent tactical kicking from one of our favorite NYM newcomers at number 10, Dylan Garner (the Welshman with a constantly budding mustache and sheepish grin). Dylan also set up the first points of the game with a penalty just outside the opostion’s 22 meter line around the three minute mark and was successful on numerous conversions and penalties on the day.

Tone set early, wind at their backs, controlling the tempo and continuity of play, NYM held the game strictly on their terms throughout the first half, (despite a hilariously hollered sentiment from fullback Richard Richardson of “Can we get some water?!?!?! Come on lads, turn it on on the side!”). The backline put on significant pressure defensively closing the gap quickly on Bayonne’s distribution, two tries on the day scored by center, captain, and Enzyte Bob stunt double, Matt Venzin on break away runs from intercepted passes. Tough play was seen throughout by the forwards, notably Mike Bury and Andre LaMorgia at prop, Angel Rodriguez at flanker, and Nick “Nice Shoes Brah” Baker at hooker. Many players saw a new on field position throughout both the backs and forwards and the change yielded solid results and efforts by all, evidence of well thought out selection tactics from the coaching staff and more importantly excellent attendance at training by the club members.

The second half saw a bit of trouble with the high ball as the wind played a big role in the day’s kicking game but NYM held on adding a hard run try from Richard Richardson and the second of Venzin’s mid air pilfering break away tries to secure a much needed club win.

NYM 39 - 10 Bayonne

Starting Side: 1. Andre La Morgia, 2. Nick Baker, 3. Mike Bury, 4. Trevor Cassidy, 5. Dan Layfield, 6. Angel Rodriguez, 7. AJ Cush-Fautley, 8. Brian Piantedosi, 9. James Dawson, 10. Dylan Garner, 11. Pierre Papillon, 12. Ryan McGarrity, 13. Matt Venzin (c), 14. Dave Moylan, 15. Rich Richardson.

Man of the Match: Forwards - Mike Bury, Backs - Matt Venzin

The B-side also came out on top with two tries from newcomer second row and Georgetown grad Tom Verghese, and another from French flyhalf Pierre "Floats Like a Butterfly" Papillon, who really showed that they can bare it all on the field.

NYM 27 - 14 Bayonne (unconfirmed)

Man of the Match: Fowards - Tom Verghese, Backs - Pierre Papillon 

Many thanks to Bayonne for an excellent day of rugby, generous after match social, and having a jukebox containing the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and David Allen Coe. NYM looks forward to returning the hospitality. Great fun had by all.

For the Club!

- Dictated but not written by the mouth of the south, Sean Danahy