BU Misses Practice

Ward's Scorecard

Discussing their anticipation of a 'good practice' game with MCRC President Hammock earlier last week, former Division I club Boston University could have been guilty of trash talking - had they been more competitive with the Midd Panthers. As it was, the BU club found it about as difficult to find the goal line as some of us out-of-towners did finding the Moakley Field pitch. Which tunred out to be a rather tattered looking affair in an otherwise beautiful location. I'd have thought a school the size of BU, (what... ten times the size of Middlebury?) would have more administrative support for a rugby program than they apparently do. I guess we Midd fans are a bit spoiled coming from one of the most beautiful sited campus athletic field complexes in... the country?

Though BU played earnestly their lack of fundamental skills showed they were not quite ready for the MCRC, who for the first 20 minutes or so admittedly did have a hard time finding their way out of their own end of the pitch. Soon Midd's skill set returned though, and BU struggled the rest of the afternoon. Unable to catch Midd's fleet-footed backs, BU was scored on by seven different players, including a determined slog by Caleb Consenstein '06, bouncing off one person after another into the end-zone. (When is Caleb not determined?)
One very pretty play saw Matt Volz running nearly 3/4 of the field and lateraling to Clark Smith '06 for the final five yards to his first try of the season. The elegant Jimmy Manyuru '07 scored in a similar manner taking the last few yards after another very long run from ... Matt Volz? Not sure about that credit... In one remarkable non-scoring run, Brinck Slattery '07 carried the ball over several BU players.

Running to Daylight

Fresh from last year's Siberian layoff, Cal Garner '06 got into both the A and B match and looked pretty good I'd say. (OK, the bias shows a little...) This picture shows him tearing down the field all alone only to be smothered by three BU players a few yards shy of the goal line.

Max Levine '09 Kicks

Providing plenty of spirited play the MCRC 'Killer B's' secured a win in a back and forth battle that was quite a bit in doubt right until the end. You know... come to think of it, I am not absolutely CERTAIN the MCRC did win... but I think they did... yeah, they did.

The 'B' match was officiated by freshman dad (and current rugby player) Ike Levine (Max '09) who drove down from Poland Springs, Maine for the afternoon.
The 'Try - In Your Face' Award has to go to Nick Immonje '08. The speed, the shoes (they were not suede), the form, the perfectly executed full-body-lay-out touch down right between the posts was a thing of beauty to those few fans still around to see it. Also memorable was the enthusiastic try by sophmore wing, Lathan 'Bucky' McCall '08.

Rob and Alex Ladeau

With the bus taking a detour to the to pick up Sean Meany - ( due to sort of a concussion-thing earlier in the 'A' match, he was delivered to a nearby south Boston hospital for observation and checkup) the Midd ruggers probably didn't make it home until nearly midnight.

Some of the enthusiastic Friends of Rugby on the sidelines today:
Teak Hewitt (Colby), Elizabeth Olson (Des Jennings), Bill Wirene (Chas), Matt Volz's Aunt and cookie-toting cousins, Rob Ladeau (Alex), Dave Woodward and friend, Tyler Williams' Uncle (Tim?) and cousin Thomas, Sarah Garner and husband John Niles (who didn't see much rugby since he accompanied Darryl Etter to the hospital so Sean Meany wouldn't be by himself. Thanks again Mr. John !) Lynne and Case Garner, a wee dog with a sweater, as well as several MCRC alumni all managed on this overcast afternoon to will the rain away from both matches and send the MCRC home with it's first victory(s) of the season. Good, good.

Saturday, September 24, 2005 MCRC plays Williams College at home. There will be a 'Social Hour' following the game. See the next post on the special events we have planned.