Rugby Alumni Weekend, 5/1 +5/2 /09

It all started in 1974 and is going as strong as ever. The names have changed but the grit and attitude remains. That is rigbt, no mellow shit has been a way of life for UAlbany Rugby for 35 years now. It all comes together this weekend with the annual Rugby Weekend.

Friday starts with golf at Evergreen Country Club at 10:00am. A vast array of rugby alums take a swipe at this gentlemen's game that for most is a walk ruined. The few capable duffers keep the average score for the day below 150. Many a UAlbany Rugger has succomed to the Beast that lurks in the swamp next to the island green.

Friday night - we toast the town at the Across the Street Pub. Adult beverages food and general hootanany will take place. 1970's era scrumhalf Andy Lee and Eightman Wences Rodriguez will be the third and fourth members to the UAlbany Rugby Hall of Fame. Wences was a straight forward, pancake em, runner who was down right unstoppable inside the 22. Andy Lee put the Shake in shake in bake and the razzle in razzle dazzle .

Saturday the weekend culminates in the 2:00pm feature match of the UAlbany Legends vs. the Great Danes. The Danes "B"lack side takes on Paul Smith's College in the first match at 1:00pm. The boys will boys [alumni] will head back to the Across the Street Pub for some post game analysis.

Danes Rally Past UMass, 23-15

The Danes, playing their first "A" side game at home rallied to defeat UMass, 23-15. Both sides had to contend with sweltering mid-summer type heat on a field that is in dire need of rain. UMass scored first out of a cloud of dust when they attacked the center of UAlbany's defense and spun in to the wing who made a nice break to score in the corner. Albany mounted some offensive surges but could not muster any continuity. 7-0 at the half.

After and inspired disertation by ast coach Pete "Ziggy" Zilgme, Albany played with emotion and purpose for the final 40 minutes. Albany mixed fine inside play by the forwards and were able to spin the ball wide to the backs which started to open up space for Albany to attack. Fullback Alex Wilman dashed down the right side for a big score. Jake Touhey made a crafty move off ruck ball some 5 meters out to add a score and co-captain Jack Riessman slotted a 22 meter penalty goal to seal the victory.

Albany takes on Paul Smith College Alumni and the UAlbany Legends next Saturday starting at 1:00pm.

Danes Go 1-1 on Gettin' After It In D.C. Tour

The Danes made the long trip to College Park, MD Friday for a weekend stint at University of Maryland's College Park campus. The Danes started of the day on UM's Fraternity Row Field against the host University of Maryland. The Danes struck first when center Mike Cyr darted through space some 15 meters out to score a Jack Riessman converted try. The Danes would use excellent defense to keep UM scoreless but could not mount any kind of consistent offensive attack. UM was winning the set piece game and controlling tempo despite going against a big head wind.The second half saw UM use the set piece advantage to commit to playing the ball wide to their speedy wings or using the wind advantage to keep Albany on their back foot. These tactics proved to work magic for UM as they reeled off four scores against a spread Albany defense. Albany put up a late surge but was unable to punch it in as UM cleared poached ball deep inside their own territory to seal the victory.

Both sides then took their “B”s across the street to UM’s beautiful regulation rugby pitch on the school’s Engineering Fields for the seconds match. The UM Seconds proved to be the squad with better form beating the tourists 37-0. Much of the scoring came on the outside Vs. the Dane’s inexperienced back three. Lessons were learned from the contest which would provide dividends later in the day.

Albany’s First XV would face America East rival, University of Maryland at Baltimore County [UMBC] in the second game on the Engineering Field. It was a contrast in styles with Albany relying on a strong game of crashing forwards while UMBC looked to use the speedy backs to counter Albany. Albany posted the only points of the half when prop Justin D’Addario scored from pick up ball off of an Albany ruck, 5-0 at the half.

Second half was a see saw battle with UMBC scoring on the wing and Albany’s fly half Jeff Lahens converted try off a crash ball. Scrum half Jake Touhey, with less that 8 minutes remaining, took a quick tap aand hit space for a dive into the try zone to put Albany up for good, 17-12.

Albany “B” learned from earlier mistakes to tie UMBC “B” 7-7 in the last game of the day. Inside center Collin DuSell scored on a 40 meter scamper up the middle to score just to the right of the posts. Albany’s back 3 clamped down on defense and held UMBC to 7 points.

Sunday, after much needed rest from Saturday’s heat, the Danes took off for the 20 minute bus ride to Washington, D.C. for sightseeing. Memorials, museums, monuments and exhibits were all visited as the Albany tourist tried to catch as much of the city as possible in the 5 hours allotted. The weary travelers would board the bus and not reach home until 12:30am as the bus encountered the famed I-95 gridlock. The Danes, satisfied from a successful tour look to keep momentum against a tough NERFU opponent in the University of Massachusetts this Saturday at noon.

Round 2: Danes All "B"lacks Side Wins

The Danes All "B"lacks used consistent froward play with som opportunistic half back play to top the visiting Albany Law School's second XV 24-12. Albany freshman winger James Gandia broke across the line for 2 scores. Hooker Matt Shea, scrum half Andy LaVallie, and Hooker CaseyBerry all scored for UA. UA's fitness showed as there forwards were able to control the breakdowns even after losing the set pieces to a much bigger Law side. UA' Ryan Sweet slotted a conversion and penalty kick to add to the scoring.

The game, for UA was a tune up for the second side as they full squad heads to Maryland to take on the University of Maryland and George Mason University. Check back here for live on the road photos from the "Gettin After It In DC 2009 Tour"

"B"lacks Level Law, 34-3

The UAlbany All "B"lacks took it to Albany Law "B" 34-3 on the eve of spring break on the Danes home pitch. The Danes used their more agile pack to spread the field against an extremely large Law side. Anthony Russo [8] started the scoring barrage for the Danes when he did an 8 pick up and knifed his way through the Law defense. Albany fullback Alex Wilman would then score in the corner to put the Danes up 12-0.

Law then picked up the heat and took advantage of UAlbany penalties to keep the ball in their attacking side. However UAlbany's stingy defense would hold Law to 3 points on 1 of 2 attempts at goal.

Second half action saw the UAlbany attack space in the Law back field for a number of breakaways. James Richards, Jake Touhey, were but a few of the scorers for UAlbany in the half.

The Danes have a seven day break in the action and will return to form with the UAlbany Thirds take on Law "B" for round two of the two part series as a warm up for their Washington DC trip to play UMaryland and George Mason University.

Danes Dumped on Vassar's Farm

The Danes traveled to Vassar College to play on Vassar's Beautiful pitch on "The Farm" and were defeated 18-10. The Danes started off quick and got on the board first when scrum half Cono Cirone quick tapped a penalty in which inside centere Mike Cyr crashed through the Vassar line from 15 meters out to score under the posts. Co-captain John Riessman added the conversion. From that point on Albany struggled the rest of the half despite a huge wind at their backs. Albany's zealous attack from the seven inexperieced first side players resulted in 10+ penalties in the half which kept the Danes struggling to get across the half way line.

Vassar winger Omar Fayyaz put through a penalty kick to get the home side on the board. Vassar would follow up with a score by Adam Steel who would score in the corner after a back row move off the scrum. Albany would fight back with solid movements by the forwards who wer able to control some rucks and frustrate the Vassar forwards into a couple of penalties. John Riessman took advantage of the final penalty of the half to convet a 22 meter penalty kick at half time. to put the Albany up 10-8.

Albany settled down after some adjsutments at half time. Albany had some strong play but mistakes and playing into the strong wind kept the Danes at bay. Vassar took advantage of the wind by clearing the ball and playing the field posistion game. Vassar's Tom Szymanski scored an insurance try when he powered up the middle for a score.

The Albany "B"lacks powered over Vassar's second XV. The "B"s had a number of typical first side players on the side and were no match for Vassar's lack of depth. James Wrynn, Anthony Russo ran rough shot while full back Alex Wilman added big strikes from the 15. Albany would tally 52 to Vassar's 7.

The Danes "B"lacks take on Albany Law Tuesday , April 7th at 5:00pm. The "B"lacks look to build on Saturday's strong showing.