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Morris Masters Rugby Fall 2002 Schedule

Previous Seasons:

Spring 2002

Morris RFC v Connecticut Greys RFC 10/5/2002

Lost 31-42

Tries:
Tex (2)
Game Guy (2)
Mitch Miller

Cons:
Mitch Miller (3)

A better day you couldn't have to take a roadtrip. After a smooth 2 hour ride to Wallingford Connecticut 14 stout Morris players, (a full side is 15 isn't it?), took the pitch at Praegman Park for our first ever match against the legendary Greys. It was a high scoring affair that saw Connecticut best Morris 42-31.

Everyone arrived on time and with one loaner from the other side and a few of us playing out of position the match got underway. It was clear from the outset that those boys play together quite a bit as scrumdowns and lineouts and second phase rugby looked much tighter than Morris' at the outset. The scoring was started by Connecticut with two unconverted tries. It was feast or famine for the Morris boys though, we either looked great or terrible. The side did start to settle down and we got the ball out cleanly, the centres and wings had some nice touches deep into our opponents half. Tex and then Gamer both finished off two of those nice runs with tries and Mitch was deadly with the drop kick conversions. We were unable to tackle well and The Greys always seemed to by up by at least a try. Again after some nice backline handles got us in deep our two flankers each had another try. Mitch finished off the scoring for the day with a nice kick ahead to himself, one or two handles later he again got the ball and touched one down between the posts as the whistle blew and the match ended.....our huffing flyhalf missed that last conversion but over all made three of five. All in all with no fresh legs to come in and plenty of fresh ones for our opponents we didn't do badly at all. Co men of the match go to our flankers Tex and Game Guy......Tex an extra thanks from the den mother for keeping your commitment.

The competition and camaraderie didn't end there as a post match bocce game broke out while we all enjoyed the sunshine and a few cleansing ales. Half of us then joined The Greys down at their home bar the very "homey" Old Dublin Pub for a good feed and more adult beverages.

This reporter suggests a higher participation level next fall so that we can institute a bus trip. Wives and kids can hang and we can beat these guys on their home pitch. They will be down in the spring.......this should be the start of a great home and home match schedule.

We'll see everyone on 11/2 for our 11:00 AM match against Les Vieux.

Morris RFC v Long Island RFC 9/14/2002

Won 22-12

Tries:
Andy Steinberg
Game Guy (2)

Cons:
Tony Jones (2)

Pens:
Tony Jones (1)

We had an 11:30AM kickoff this past Saturday and although at 11:00 AM there were more Long Island players present we did get two sides going at 11:45 AM. The biggest pack Morris has ever fielded,(if anyone can figure out how many stone it was let us know), took the pitch with a kludged together backline. We won all our put in's and even wheeled LI for a few more wins. Jon got excellent ball out to the backs all day. Tony Jones made is debut,(albiet a premature one), at flyhalf and Kevin Laughlin helped out at wing, (see you soon full-time Kevin?). We also had to push Tex out at the other wing, (seeing some of his replacements out there later in the match was amusing). The two teams lumbered around for the opening 15 minutes kind of getting the cobwebs out until LI kicked through deep behind our backs and used that field position to score the first try which was converted nicely. We came back later in the half off a nice break from the centre position by Mark Newton, we recycled well and the last player to arrive at the pitch and still make the opening kickoff Andy Steinberg had one of his patented fall over tries under the posts which was converted by Tony Jones. Tony also split the uprights on a penalty kick. Game Guy scooped up a loose ball evaded two or three tacklers to put one down, the conversion was missed. The first half ended 15 to 7. Long Island did not lie down, their inside centre kept crashing well over the gain line all day and his backline teammates made some nice kicks. One resulted in the ball being scooped up and a try being scored but not converted. Our backs had many breaks too with Tony, Mark and our new teamate Joop Wijdeven, (from the Netherlands), each getting the ball deep inside LI's 22 metre line. Game Guy took one of those recycled breaks sold one guy the dummy and touched down his second try which Tony converted. Final score 22-12 in favor of Morris. Thank you Tom Feury and Ralph Scoville for keep ing your word and showing up at half-time to spell some of the fellas. With injury time we wound up stretching 35 minute halves into 40's.

So it's on to Wallingford Connecticut on October 5th to take on The Connecticut Greys. Those of you who were with the program last fall know we pimped these guys at the last minute so we need to put a good side up and go and have some fun! The plan now is to have a bus provided at the best possible cost by our own Jon Epstein and go up as a team.....families are welcome too. We will be departing around 9:30 AM, most likely from Mennen. Practice your kicks as we will need someone to step up.

Contact Craig Chapman Home: 973 227 0279, Cell 201 321 3508 or John Sutherland if you need to contact the Old Boys.