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.