MCRC Takes Control – Whabam!

Meany Scores Try - Harasimowicz Photo

Middlebury Is Fumble-Prone Early in 38-0 Win

Ike Levine’s Insights (Thoughts from a Playa') are noted in italics in this post:

A Little History
Those of you from the old days (Pre Coach Patterson perhaps) know that Williams was once a formidable Middlebury opponent. "Whoa, close game!” is not something heard at an Eph match in a long time -which is a testament to the MCRC’s commitment to recruiting talented (mostly) rookie players to the game, improving their skills and performing brilliantly against top flight competition during the post season. They don’t just win, they improve and win. (Witness last year’s New England’s contest against the always tough Coast Guard Academy.)


Struggle for Possesion - Harasimowicz Photo

But the fact is, these days Williams doesn’t have the stuff it did back in the “pre-Ward” 90's. They are currently sharing a 0-2 start to their season with NERFU Division II cellar dwellers Western CT State College and Boston University. Says Ike, “I must admit that it was quite gratifying to listen to the William's ruggers and supporters lamenting their lot in life over getting [their] butts kicked by Middlebury.” See the current standings here.


Wirene and Yoquinto - Eyes Wide Open - Harasimowicz Photo

Photographer Ellen noted that the Williams coach expressed his displeasure at his team’s failure to arrive to the pitch on time by coaching from the opposite sideline –away from the players. Yeah… that didn’t work. Williams and the weather did offered enough of a disctraction to foster considerably sloppy play early in the match. “A wet, overcast day brought slippery fingers by the backs and forwards, especially in the first twenty minutes......four or five scoring chances were lost due to knock-ons and our Coach was certainly losing some of his hair in frustration.”


Jimmy Manyuru Line-out Body English- Harasimowicz Photo

"Once again the Matty [Volz ‘07] to Pascal [Losambe] combination lit up the match in the first half as time and again the Middlebury centers ran rampant through the defense. Unfortunately Pascal was hurt at the end of the first half and our #8 shifted to center seamlessly.”


Textbook Line Out - Harasimowicz Photo

”Coach substituted liberally throughout the match with four wings, two fullbacks, and two #8 used. Fine job by the ref made watching the match more enjoyable. Our forwards rucking was clearly more intense and focused this week. I am amazed at their commitment, focus and fitness.”


Max Levine '09 Sturggles to Advance - Harasimowicz Photo

Ruck: An Explanation of This (Not So) Confusing Technique:
When the ball is being run, a player tackled to the ground must immediately release the ball (the defender tackling the runner must release the runner after the tackle) making it available to both teams. Typically the tackled player will attempt to place the ball closest to his own supporting players. Those supporting players will make a decision to pickup the loose ball or drive over the ball and tackled player to bind together into a new ruck. The defending team will do the same thing in an attempt to push the attacking team backwards. If the ball is picked up and advanced again by either side, a maul can quickly ensue if the advance is checked by the defence and the ball does not go to the ground. Each time a successive ruck or maul is set, it is described as a phase of play. (from scrum.com)


Spencer Cox Releases - Harasimowicz Photo

”Congrats to our hooker who, on a kick and run, led both the pack and backs down the field in an outburst of speed not witnessed by this observer in twenty years. Well Done. Cheers, Ike."

Next Game:
Saturday, September 30, 2006: MCRC is HOME against the University of Vermont.
This will be an exciting game. See the success UVM is having in Division II play in the link to the NERFU standings website above. Last Spring the Panthers lost to UVM in the Williamstown Tournament.

Game Time 12:00 Noon.

MCRC Busts Loose - BU First To Fall

JJ Jude Out in Front in Pregame Haka - Harasimowicz Photo

Saturday, Sep 16, 2006, Boston:

In a show of team unity the Middlebury College Rugby Club started the 2006 season true to form. After falling behind in the first quarter 15-10 (no, that's NOT the true-to-form part) the Panthers shook off the rust of inactivity and cruised methodically to a 58-15 win over the hopeful Terriers of Boston University on the artificial turf of Nickerson Field. In my four years of watching the MCRC this is the first game played on artificial turf. And I missed it -I'll bet the players won't.

Coming off of last years’ 47-7 opening season loss, the Terriers had to be feeling confident early on. It was not to be as the Panther game we are used to seeing roared to life. Ellen Harasimowicz, Photographer and Mom of Jeff summed it up as “…classic MCRC brilliance.”

Ellen provided the following fabulous shots from the game. I hope to get some play by play from the game from some of you Reporter Parents in attendance... Ike, you have anything for me?? Ward, anybody? Hopefully game comments will be posted soon.


Cox Perfecting Terrier Hip Throw - Harasimowicz Photo

Game Comments From Ike Levine: (italicized)
"First ten minutes was sloppy and full of hesitancy but the rust wore off and the forwards picked up the pace and intensity. I believe the scrum won four balls off the tighthead, and the forwards forced three scrum rotation violations. ( As you can see, Ike knows Rugby and the colorful nomenclature...)


Volz Scores Valuable Points With Double Leg Takedown
(Matty Being Matty) - Harasimowicz Photo

"Great game by Matt Volz to keep the ball moving, fabulous defense and an uncanny knack for knowing when to duck just prior to being pummelled. [sic]"


Jeff Harasimowicz On Way to Second Try -Harasimowicz Photo

"New Offense has succeeded in getting significantly more ball to centers and wings which forces the forwards to be more active in following the ball for second and third phase rugby."

Highlight Film Needed Here...
"Speed kills: Middlebury outside center intercepts BU backline passing sequence for an uncontested 70 meter try under the posts."


Volz Outlet Pass -Harasimowica Photo

"End of game (almost) Spartacus [Craig Wilson] 15 punts the ball directly into touch, 15 rows into the seats to the Middlebury support fans section of the stadium, only to be told by the ref the match wasn't finished -we were now in injury time."


Levine Terrierized - Children Flee Scene -Harasimowicz Photo

Define "Pretzelling"
"Got to put a plug in for Max [Levine '09] [This was his] first A side match at 9, he struggled first 5-10 minutes with a major pretzelling by an offside wing forward but he discarded his head gear, got his mojo back and broke the match open during the 15-15 tie with a 50 meter run and kick that ended with a try."

"His mother opened her eyes five minutes after the play to ask "is he still alive?"

You can be sure I'll be posting more "Ike" play-by-play commentary of future MCRC matches.
Next up: MCRC at Williams College, Williamstown, MASS, Saturday 23. Check the schedule for start time.

Oh Yeah - It Begins Again

Like it does every year about this time, the 2006 Middlebury College Rugby Club Season is about to kick off... Oh Yeah.

MCRC vs. BUMR - The Sequel

The September 16 season opener finds MCRC on the road in a 6:00pm match at Boston University. A map for the field can be found here. Nickerson field is BU's main athletic facility and is shown in the upper left part of the map. NOTE: The best way to enter the field is through Walter Brown Arena, located at 285 Babcock St. Babcock is the next street after Harry Agganis Way, intersecting Commonwealth Ave. and has available parking.

Directions to Nickerson Field for MCRC vs. BU

From the West:
Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) East to Exit 18 (Cambridge-Allston). Bear right after toll towards Cambridge. Turn right on Storrow Drive. Take the first exit (Boston University) - just past the overpass. Right at stop sign on to Commonwealth Avenue. Nickerson Field is located on the right-hand side at the fifth traffic light on Harry Agganis Way.
NOTE: HARRY AGGANIS WAY IS THE WALKING ENTRANCE TO THE STADIUM - IT IS CLOSED TO AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC

From the North or South Shore:
I-93 into Boston to the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West. Exit 20 (Cambridge- Allston) and bear right after toll towards Cambridge. Turn right on Storrow Drive. Take the first exit (Boston University) - just pass the overpass. Right at stop sign on to Commonwealth Avenue. Nickerson Field is located on the right-hand side at the fifth traffic light on Harry Agganis Way.
NOTE: HARRY AGGANIS WAY IS THE WALKING ENTRANCE TO THE STADIUM - IT IS CLOSED TO AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC

Directions from Nickerson Field to the Mass. Pike:
From Nickerson Field on Harry Agganis Way, take a right onto Commonwealth Ave (outbound). At your 2nd light, take the right fork
onto Brighton Ave. At 2nd light, take a right onto Harvard Ave. Turn right onto Cambridge St (Sports Depot is across the street). Enter the Mass Pike about 1/2 mile on your right. Entrance to both North and South are available.

The team's fall 2006 schedule appears below. This year there are three 'away' games during the brief five game regular season.

Middlebury College Rugby Club 2006 Fall Schedule - Men:

• Sept. 16 - AWAY at Boston University (Game at Nickerson Field, Harry Agganis Way on the BU Campus - 6:00 pm)
• Sept. 23 - AWAY against Williams at 1 pm; (B game usually follows A game.)
• Sept. 30 - HOME against University of Vermont (returning to Division II competition this year) at 12:00 pm.
• Oct. 7 - HOME against Babson at (TBD) pm (MIDD's FALL FAMILY WEEKEND)
• Oct. 14 - AWAY against St. Mike’s at (TBD) pm

• Oct. 21 - New England Quarter Finals - H/A Location TBD (HOMECOMING Weekend)
• Oct. 28 and 29 - HOME - New England Championships - HOSTED by Middlebury College - Saturday 1:00 pm and 3:00pm semifinals
• Nov. 4 - North East Quarterfinals - H/A Location TBD
• Nov. 12 and 13 - AWAY - North East Territorial Championship - Location TBD

Oh Yeah. Go Panthers.