URI Sets Speed Trap

Time Runs Out on MCRC’s Final Go Of Season

Story to follow.

Photos from the URI Middlebury Match in the Northeast Territorial Union semi-final matchup 11/12/05 in Amherst Mass.

Seniors Robinson, McCormick, Williams, Etter, Hewitt, Hammock, Smith, Garner, Consenstine (Sharpe and King Missing)


Sharpe Observes Hewitt Lifting


Ball Possession Was Key


Hewitt Gives a Lift


A Little HELP Here...


Characteristically Sharpe Tackle


Play Starts With Volz Outlet to Smith


Craig Wilson tripped up By URI Player-Coach Cory Joseph

Semi-Final Game On!

Northeast Territory Union semi-final match play will be held at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst on the Athletic Fields South pitches on Mullins Way on Saturday 11/12/05.
Division I and Division II competition starts at 10:00am.

#1 Seed Middlebury faces URI at 2:00pm
CLICK HERE FOR CAMPUS MAP

MCRC Sets Course for Amherst

Tyler Williams '06 In Rigorous Ruck

Team Cruises in Autopilot Win Over Vassar 60-5
Will Face URI on Saturday 11/12 at 2:00pm

In quartefinal action against Vassar College this past Sunday the Middlebury College men's rugby team set about the business of advancing to the November 12 Northeast Region semifinals in Amherst with a decisive game plan: score early and score often.


Tommy Heitkamp '06.5 Scores First of Three Trys

With their talented and increasingly experienced roster of 'off the bench' players performing as fluidly as the starters they replaced, the team was ready to continue the pace set in their fabulous wins ten days ago in the New England championships. And they left nothing to chance.


Brewers Were Effective Early Stopping Fullback Craig Wilson '07.5


Lock 'Moose' Yoquinto '08 Engages With Eyes Wide Shut

Overall offensive strength, determined and confident play from the backs, rigorous scrumming from the front line and blanketing pressure on the Brewer running backs limited the options for the overmatched Vassar club.


Cal Garner '06 Battles For Post-Scrum Possession


Brewer With Superb Hand Strength Slows Williams '06

Early in the match Vassar seemed to rattle the MCRC game plan with effective mauling landing them close to the Middlebury goal line. But a couple of decisive plays by the Panther back line including a timely clearing kick from fullback Craig Wilson erased the early threat. After three early Panther trys the team started looking more relaxed.


Williams '06 Sets Up Next Phase As Teammates Support

Vassar managed few offensive yards in a game dominated by Middlebury's abitlity to capitalize on mistakes and apply pressure where needed. Midd's outside defensive backs continually shut down Vassar's wide runs allowing the always-reliable interior tacklers to go to work.
More to follow soon.



Northeast Territory semi-final match play will be at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst pitches on Mullins Way at the Athletic Fields South starting Saturday 11/12/05 in the morning. Middlebury's match is at 2:00pm. CLICK HERE FOR CAMPUS MAP

For another take on this game, read the comments of head coach Tony Brown of the Vassar College RFC by clicking here.

Then Bagpipes Played

A Touch of Class
With the strains of ‘Scotland the Brave’ lilting over the field, the final game of the 2005 New England Championships began Sunday, 30 October, as the lone piper stood playing between the pitch uprights. Many of us wondered if the Coast Guard had brought some mystical aid to take down this year’s deep Middlebury team. Not so.


Catching Some Air at Halftime Peter Straub Photo

So who is the piper? Josh Hendrickson ’07.5, of Middlebury College is a friend of rugby and of team members Matt Volz and Pasqual Losambe. He has been piping for about 9 years, having learned the instrument while living in Brussels, Belgium. “I just kept bugging people until they taught me how to play,” said Josh. He noted, for Sunday’s contest against Coast Guard “some guys asked me to play… so it only seemed appropriate.”


2005 N E W E N G L A N D C H A M P S ! ! Peter Straub Photo

His choice of music was easy. “Until recently ‘Scotland the Brave’ was the Scottish National Anthem and is played before every rugby match that the Scottish team plays” said Josh. “I played ‘Scotland the Brave’ once through, then threw in 'The Rowan Tree’ …because it sounds great with 'Scotland the Brave' then I played 'Scotland the Brave' again… I chose it because it seems to be the classic fight song for a rugby game played on the bagpipes.”


Opposing USCGA Captain and Volz '07 Peter Straub Photo

Josh noted he will definitely be playing again at this Sunday’s start of the Northeast Territorial quarterfinal match against Vassar College. Game time is 1:00pm at the Middlebury College pitch, 11/6/05.