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NYS U19 All-Star Wrapup
NYS U19 All-Star Wrapup - Jun 24, 2010
U19s Place Improve to Third-Place Finish at Potomac Challenge Cup
NYS U19 All-Star Wrapup
Pittsburgh, PA – The NYS Rugby Conference Boys U19 All-Stars claimed a third place finish at the Potomac Challenge Cup Tournament held this past weekend at Founders Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
The U19’s returned to Pittsburgh eager to improve on last year’s 6th place finish and opened against a team that defeated them last year, the Potomac RFU. The teams traded big hits and long runs in the first half but neither team was able to break thru on the scoreboard. NYS took a 6-0 lead late into the second half led by the strong goal kicking of fullback Ryan Brennan.
The upper deck of the clubhouse was packed with fans from both teams and the atmosphere was electric as the two teams took each other’s best shots with NYS punching the ball up the middle and Potomac looking to move wide. Potomac’s wide game found an overlap and they sent their wing clear for a late try. Potomac’s conversion left NYS looking at a 1 point deficit 7-6.
With the clock under 2 minutes, NYS was awarded a penalty for hands in just inside of midfield. Brennan and captain Kevin McCorry asked to kick for points. The crowd was absolutely silent as Brennan teed up what looked to be NYS’s last best chance. The decision proved to be the right one as Brennan’s kick was spot-on from 45 meters out and the NYS crowd erupted. Potomac would not see the ball again as NYS’s forwards gathered up the subsequent kickoff and never relinquished possession.
The U19’s second pool match was against Ohio North. Kicking off under threatening skies, Ohio caught NYS napping with two early tries that were the direct result of poor tackling. After digging themselves a 12-0 hole, NYS clawed their way back by focusing on support up the middle. Flyhalf Connor Hoover finished off a series of quick rucks by slipping thru a gap for NYS’s first try. Brennan’s conversion cut the Ohio lead to 12-7 at the half.
The weather was quickly deteriorating as the second half began with NYS trying to push the tempo of the match. NYS took the opening kickoff and hammered their way down the field keeping the ball in close. The tactic paid off when prop Alex Brussard barreling over after 3 rucks from a quick tap. Brennan’s kick gave NYS a narrow 2 point lead as thunder began to rumble down the Allegheny valley.
In a controversial decision, the touch judge signaled to the referee that he saw lightning, but the referee allowed the match to continue on. Ohio North gathered in an errant NYS pass and raced in for a converted try to retake the lead 19-14. At that point the referee called the match due to weather declared the score.
Despite the opportunity to win their pool outright, the U19’s claimed a berth in Sunday’s championship round by finishing second in their pool and having the best point for/against differential among the three second place teams. Sunday’s matches began with the U19’s taking on North Carolina U19. Carolina raced out to an early 10-0 lead on the strong open field play of their backline.
NYS answered right back on a penalty kick from Brennan and a try from fly half Connor Hoover who finished a strong passing that began near midfield. Brennan converted to knot the match at 10. Unfortunately, that would be as close as NYS would get as the NC backline displayed their skill the rest of the way. Numerous NYS advances into NC territory were stopped by penalties or handling miscues and the Carolina backs made NYS pay with several unanswered tries.
To their credit, NYS continued to play strong forward rugby and had the edge in set pieces and the rucks, but too many mistakes meant that NC would move on to the finals, leaving NYS with a 3rd place finish.
Canandaigua prop Tom Tyler was named to the All-Tournament team for his great all-around play in the scrums and in the loose. “Last year we came here and finished 6th and our guys saw the next level. This weekend we reached that level and saw the next one. We can’t wait for next year’s tournament” said U19 Head Coach Mark Kielbasa.
The U19 All-Stars will compete again July 7th against Consett (UK) RFC at Aardvark Park in Rochester, NY.
NYSRC Boys U19 All-Stars
Edem Asamoah-Wade / Center / School Without Walls
Ryan Brennan / Fullback / Hamburg
Alex Brussard / Prop / St. Bonaventure
Anthony Christopher / Wing, center / Geneseo
Kyle Corbett / Prop / Brockport
Matt Dungan / Lock, prop, 8 / Niagara
Jon Garbin / Lock, flanker / St. Bonaventure
Drew Holdnack / Flanker, center / Orchard Park
Connor Hoover / Center, FH, SH / Penn State
Alex Jordan / Flanker, 8 / Orchard Park
Brandon Kirk / Flanker, hooker / Kenmore East
Kevin McCorry / Scrumhalf / St. Bonaventure
Tyler Norris / Center, wing / University at Buffalo
Chris Riedel / Center / Geneseo
Koree Riley / Eight, flanker / School Without Walls
Lee Schuster / Wing / Canisius College
Matt Thompson / Flyhalf / Brockport
Tom Tyler / Prop / Canandaigua
Justin Walker / Hooker / Canandaigua
Ryan Williams / Lock / Monroe CC
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Posted Until Jul 31, 2010
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