The day started with the NEW YORK team showing up at the field around 10:15am for their traditional pre-game "blowout". With three teams of Old Boys watching the guys and their pre-game procedures the day was already on a good platform. After the work out, the lads settled down to rest and watch the Old Boys play well. As Old Blue started to arrive it was obvious that NYRC was ready for the challenge and stayed focused and together.

September 19th, 2009 @ 1:15pm
Randall's Island South, Field 74
Weather: Sunny Field: Turf

From the opening whistle NYRC informed all that today was going to be a good day. The pressure that New York put on Old Blue forced the visitors on their back foot immediately and ultimately they commited a penalty that was converted by outstanding captain, Matt Venzin. The pressure was relentless and NYRC kept their defensive pressure on Old Blue to turn over ball after ball and force errors from our opponents. At the scrums we were pushing Old Blue off the ball and eventually the reward came with a turnover that was quickly spun out through the quick hands of AJ Cush-Fautley to speedster Donald Walters to finish the move and put NYRC ahead 8-0. The first half continued to be a defensive struggle with NY winning the battle time and time again. The pressure exuded by NYRC on the set piece also forced Old Blue to attempt to be perfect. Old Blue struggled to regain composure and eventually got penalized again for a rucking error. The resulting penalty kick from sure footed Venzin put NY up 11-0 at the half.

During the break, it was time to acknowledge our achievements, but more importantly, what was expected in the second half against a team accustomed to RSL and high level D1 play. Coach Fautley challenged the men of NYRC to go into the second half with the "confidence to achieve the win through strong defense" and not to be "arrogant because you are ahead as the opponent is strong and will bring everything to turn the game around". Soon after the break, a powerful scrum in midfield saw Stuart Lawrence pick the ball up from Number 8, pass to scrum half Ollie Vega who drew the defense to send center Matt Venzin away for a 40 meter try to put NYRC up 16-0. Stung so early Old Blue ramped up their play and came on the offensive and constantly punched players at NYRC's line. This led to NYRC committing several defensive errors for which two players sent to the bin. With Old Blue surging they managed to score an unconverted try in the left corner. With only 13 men on the field for NYRC, they regrouped and worked there way back upfield, only for a Matt Venzin penalty attempt to fall short. Old Blue brought the ball out strongly and eventually worked all the way down the field for a second unconverted try out on the left. Now only one score in front NYRC trusted their defensive procedures; attempting to force Old Blue outside and use the sidelines as extra defenders for the two men that were missing. Goal lines stands, powerful tackles and great rucking held Old Blue scoreless for the rest of the enforced sin-bin periods. As we returned to full strength, NYRC smelt the win was there and pushed Old Blue back again with 15 minutes to go. Another penalty attempt to NYRC was converted and Old Blue knew they had to score twice to win. The game was a battle from minute one and Old Blue was not done, constantly trying to create gaps that closed quickly on them. Another turnover, with no time left on the clock, presented Danny Sonon, a convert from wing to prop, with a gap 30m out that he blew through to score the final try of the day and after the Venzin conversion a final score of 26-10.
After a 15 year winning drought against Old Blue, a new spirit and commitment to team, this was an excellent result and milestone for our men.

Thanks to everyone for the incredible support and congratulations to our Developmental Squad for an excellent showing despite a tough loss.

SENIOR SQUAD

New York 26 (11-00) 10 Old Blue ‘A’

03 Min 03-00 Penalty by Matt VENZIN
08 Min 08-00 Unconverted Try by Donald WALTERS
30 Min 11-00 Penalty by Matt VENZIN
Half Time 11-00
50 Min 16-00 Unconverted Try by Matt VENZIN
62 Min 16-05 Try by OLD BLUE RFC
68 Min 16-10 Try by OLD BLUE RFC
70 Min 19-10 Penalty by Matt VENZIN
79 Min 26-10 Try by Danny SONON, Converted by Matt VENZIN
Full Time 26-10

Scorers

VENZIN, Matt 16 points (1 Try, 1 Conversion, 3 Penalties)
SONON, Danny 5 Points (1 Try)
WALTERS, Donald 5 points (1 Try)

01 SONON, Danny
02 LEE, Mick
03 TYLER, Brian
04 DANAHY, Sean
05 LAYFIELD, Danny
06 LAWRENCE, Stuart
07 CUSH-FAUTLEY, AJ
08 CAPALDI, Chris
09 VEGA, Ollie
10 IMO, Walter
11 ANTONIAN, Tim
12 VENZIN, Matt (c)
13 BOWDEN, Darcey
14 WALTERS, Donald
15 DENEHY, Badger

Alternates

O'LEARY, Chris (for Capaldi at 10 mins)
PUSEY, Nicholas (for Antoian at 50 Mins)
PEREZ-FOX, Scott (for Tyler at 50 Mins)
GRIFFITHS, Dave (Blood Sub Replacement)
BRYDON, Ed (for Vega at 73 Mins)
DIDIER, Sebastien (for Cush-Fautley at 75 Mins)
RAKOV, Nick
CECIL, Saad
VON BORSIG, Mike
DING, Tom

DEVELOPMENTAL SQUAD REPORT
By Lawrence Blaber Jr ("Junior")

From the opening kickoff it was clear that Devo was intent on emulating the feats of the Senior side. Devo came out agressive and on the attack. They hit hard and rucked ferociously to maintain ball possession and counter-rucked with the same intensity. Unfortunately, the same struggles that occurred in the Morris game in terms of properly finishing an attack reared their heads again. Devo remained parked in the Old Blue 22 for large sections of the first half, yet came away empty handed. Old Blue battled back and finally managed to scrap together a try after switching the point of attack to narrowly touch down in the corner in the 30th minute. A few minutes later tempers flared and resulted in a player from both sides being yellow carded in the 33rd minute. NYRC was not to be deterred and with 14 on 14 rugby, scrum half Mike Von Borsig attacked the left fringe of a ruck 25 meters out from goal and scampered all the way into the try zone to tie the game at 5-5. Shortly thereafter the half time whistle blew.

The Second half kicked off and began much like the first half. This match was going to be physical for the full 80 minutes. 3 minutes into the second half, both yellow carded players came out of the sin bin. After several key substitutions, the addition of the senior side players for Old Blue started to show as they rattled of 3 tries in the 15 minute span from the 48th minute to the 63rd. The try in the 63rd minute coincided with a yellow card to SH Mike Von Borsig for a professional foul inside the 5 meter line to slow down a second quick tap by Old Blue. Down a man again this late into the game the coaching staff hoped the changes made in the 60th and 65th minute would help the side absorb the blow. It appeared that the new energy was going to make a difference as Devo scored a penalty goal in the 66th minute. Unfortunately Devo was unable to push forward from there as the man down deficit showed and Old Blue punched in for a try in the 70th minute. Old Blue managed to score a final try during an unnecessary long 80+ extra time period.

Despite the loss there were good moments like a near try in the 2nd half for Tom Ding and the successful mauls from line-outs. Credit goes to the NYRC Devo side as they managed to push Old Blue B to the limit - who required the re-insertion of A-side players to take the game from NYRC. Credit also to the Devo Coaching staff for not matching Old Blue and remembering that the goal of Devo is individual player development and team depth. The growth and success of Devo leads one to believe that there is a bright future and lots of potential for the Team.DEVELOPMENTAL SQUAD

New York 08 (5-5) 38 Old Blue ‘B’

30 Min 00-50 Try by OLD BLUE RFC
39 Min 05-05 Try by Mike VON BORSIG
Half Time 05-05
48 Min 05-12 Converted try by OLD BLUE RFC
55 Min 05-19 Converted try by OLD BLUE RFC
63 Min 05-24 Try by OLD BLUE RFC
66 Min 08-24 Penalty by Gianni LOPEZ
70 Min 08-31 Converted try by OLD BLUE RFC
80 Min 08-38 Converted try by OLD BLUE RFC
Full Time 05-38

Scorers
VON BORSIG, Mike 5 points (1 Try)
LOPEZ, Gianni 3 points (1 Penalty)

01 GRIFFITHS, David
02 DING, Tom
03 DUNNE, Tim
04 RAKOV, Nick
05 REMMEL, Larry
06 O'BRIEN, John
07 LANZARA, Josh
08 CHACON, Mike
09 Von BORSIG, Mike (c)
10 PUSEY, Nicholas
11 CECIL, Saad
12 JULIANO, Ryan
13 McCUE, Ryan
14 STERLING, Andrew
15 DOMINGUEZ, Willie

- Reserves-Played for NYRC -
40' LOPEZ, Gianni, for PUSEY,
50' AYRES, Pete, for CECIL; MEZO, Andrew, for DUNNE; PEREZ-FOX, Scott, for REMMEL,
65' SCHMALTZ, John, for GRIFFITHS; LOGUERCIO, Luca, for STERLING