Albany Rugby Pre-season Recap

 

 

Great Danes Pre-Season Recap

Albany started pre-season mini camp on 8/21/14 with two a days Thursday and Friday before taking on Syracuse U in a scrimmage at Dick Green Field in Albany, NY.  30+ players went through camp and put in a decent showing vs SU but early mistakes cost the Danes.  SU would score three quick tries before Albany got there feet under them and started to attack.  Albany managed two scores.  All skill levels played on the day and proved to be a good outing for both teams.

Brown U in Providence, RI has become an annual Labor Day Saturday trip.  The Danes came out strong and were able to get the ball wide to exploit space on the wings.  Albany’s backs would control the contest with the forwards providing a good platform to attack from.  Albany got scores from Henriquez[2], Pesce, Kimmons and Saleem for a 29-13 victory.  This was the first victory against Brown for the Danes since the series started in 2011. 

Albany then made the long trip to Long Island to face Stony Brook on the first game played on their new pitch.  Stony Brook is a well prepared team with some big backs that put enormous pressure on the Albany defense couple that with a abbreviated pre-game it spelled disaster in the first.  Numerous offensive miscues caused limited possession which SBU used to go up 20-0 at the half.  Albany got going from the opening kick off of the second half and dominated possession and momentum.  Albany would get scores from Saleem, Wolf, Henriquez and Maxwell.  Jackson would add 2 conversions.  Albany had the ball numerous times in the last 5 minutes but could not get that final scoring opportunity. 

The Danes travel to defending ECRC Champions, Middlebury College this Saturday for a 1:00PM kick off.  Middlebury is always a very prepared team and very difficult to play on the road.  Albany finishes off there four game road trip with a Friday night contest in Springfield, Ma against last season’s ECRC runner- up, AIC.