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Oct 6th v CNU

We seized this match with verocity and determination I have not witnessed in a long time. Our retention and attack was slow in the beginning but our defense was committed, organized, and agressive in the early stages. We never allowed them to cross the gain line without lots of pressure. Alex Comisky was in their faces over and over. Fine cover defense from Patrick and Mark, to name a few. Our scrmmagging was domininant in defense and we stole their ball. John is a colossus in the lineouts. The backline looked confident as Alex succeeded in consistently getting the backs moving forward with pace. Our Mikes at the centers ran hard and were steady with the ball in hand. Joey at wing covered out kicks with predatory glee and was superb with the tackles. We need to find more space for Joey---I am confident he will be a dominant finisher with the right opportunities. Kyle scored a beauty of a power try in close. We really just did the things that we know and the victory followed. We are still, surrendering too many penalties but we improved greatly as the match progressed. Where do we go from here? Our continuity with the ball is inconsistent--I see flaws in the way we support the ball carrier in the close contact stuff. For example, we allowed our catcher on the kick offs to become isolated---we allowed our runners with the ball to extend beyond our support. The rucking got better and better but we still need, at least, one player accompanying our ball carrier as he enters contact for the off load or the pick and drive. Our ball retention consistency with close support PRIOR to contact will zoom. Patrick and Mark were the hammers in defense. Patrick scored a try off a penalty mark.

Special acknowlegement to the club mates that supported the Club this weekend but were not selected---your day will come--we need you. And special thanks for keeping cool heads combined with deadly rugby intent during our match with CNU.

This match was close;the result could have gone either way, somehow we prevailed and won. Even competition is good because it usually reveals the best and the worst rugby we are capable of. We needed this match and we had the character, particulary , in the dying minutes to defend like our lives depended on it to secure the victory.

Our scrummaging was effective; we really were able to push them off the ball anytime we put our minds to do it. Our defensive lineouts were awesome. John with support from Alex and Matt foiled lots of their lineouts giving us plently of precious possession. Mark touched down a try culminating off a couple of violent driving mauls and rucks off a penalty play. Our second try came off a backline move to the right that was slowed but we popped the ball to Carson going at full pace to the corner. Carson glided in to the right corner untouched. A beauty of a try. Our last try came off a brilliant and atmospheric backline move deep in our half. Loose ball through the hands and Pickford burns one into the left corner after a 40 meter run. Our scrummaging, lineouts, and backline flair was outstanding---so why in the hell was this match so close in the end?

Penalties! We gave up too many penalties. The VCU fly had a deadly foot and he punished us with his penalty goals. Stay on your feet and ruck hard---take no shortcuts and we will avoid the refs whistle. How did VCU score their early try? Our backline defense was organized and our tackling was okay but our tackle line was transpiring on our side of the gain line! We must tackle our opponents on their side of the gain line! All we have to do is pressure up a bit more---never allow a backline to attack or wait behind our gain line to make contact. It's an old receipe for defeat.

Our cover defense saved our ass more than once. Phil, Carson, Rus, Pickford, to name a few made outstanding open field tackles after VCU broke through.

Overall, a satisfying victory, lots of will, and character was displayed today. Well done, Tribe

Was this a try v VCU? Click on the picture and see for yourself.

Well , boys, another blow out racking up over 60 points on W & L. Lots of tries, Toby with a hat trick. Its good to win. Let us remind ourselves, however, that victories like this are valued but a mismatch is a mismatch and seldom provide a yardstick for improvement. Our biggest challanges this fall are still in front of us.

Sept 21 v Richmond and Sept 22 v Hampton Sidney

This was a trully pleasant weekend grabbing two victories Sat and Sun. The Richmond match started a bit slow with ball handling errors and frustrating inconsistency with our lineouts. No matter we overcame our shortcomings and dominated the second half. Cominsky and Carson, in particular, looked impressive with the ball and under pressure. Mark at #8 continues to show promise and improvement with every minute that he plays rugby. Matt and Kyle at prop were the anchors to our solid scrummaging. It's good to win--

Our match v Hampton Sidney was a blow out. Pickford scored 5 tries at outside center. I know---I have said enough. Well done, Gentlemen.

**This commentary is a summary of observations from Nate, Rick, and Larry and edited by Cary

We lost comprehesively to our league foe today. Defeats like this are bitterly disappointing for all of us and its nearly impossible to discuss a match like this without negative crap. So, today, I choose to step over the crap. We will deal with our shortcomings at training. I did hear some favorable observtions, however. Kyle scored a try! Matt came on at tighthead and really settled our scrummaging down in the second half. Mark, at #8, shows lots of promise and range over the pitch. Pickford had some nice runs in the second half at outside center. Russ is the best ball fetching scrummy we have had in ages pound for pound. John at lock is getting better and better and plays a cerebral kind of game. Phil is steady and consistent at the other lock. Nate showed cool and mature judgement under lots of pressure today.

"We survive to play again."

This narrative is derived from a phone conversation Captain Alex Stathes had with Cary and is told from the Captain's perspective.

We traveled to Blacksburg with 35 motivated players today, and although, we dropped both matches, the competition was not without some bright spots. Our scrummaging was effective and a source of strength for us; and we stole their put in on a few eight man shoves. Lineouts were consistnet and we were able to drive and maul off the re-start. Our new flanker, Russ, was everywhere in defense and in support. Nick looked violent, as usual. Dave came on at hooker and was impressive in his first match showing agression in defense and in support. Toby was cool with ball in hand and showed outstanding "ball sense" in attack.

We had a few disappointing calls from the ref, but we cannot blame the officiating for our need to improve on a few things. We have proved our strength in the above areas but we are not maximizing the elements of our strength with greater respect for territorial advantage. If we cannot run through the defense, we must go over them with well placed tactical kicks. Our phase ball support was average, as well, but we will improve on that.

In conclusion, I ask that the backline feel free to exercise more options with their kicking and respect all the advantages that come with territory. Inside the 22, the pack is a holy terror and I want the backs to get us there!

The B side showed outstanding effort. Joey at center tackled everything in sight! Paul at flanker was a standout.

We play to win, but if we cannot win, we learn, gain wisdom, regroup, prepare, resolve to conquer.

Respectfully, Alex Stathes

Overall a dominating performance against a CNU team that looked significantly improved from last semester. Tackling and discipline suffered somewhat in the first part of the first half, letting one in for an easy try unter the posts from a penalty. Fundamentals were also lacking as we seemed to be unable to keep possession, settle down and play our brand of forward crashing play. The backline experienced some early jitters a well, with lack of coordinated defense and stray passes

By the end of the first half, however, we had settled into the game. Soltess's entry into the game had an immediate effect bringing the intensity level up several notches as he tackled and rucked like an animal and was rewarded with a forcful try off the weak side of a loose ruck. The Second half saw only Tribe domination, in possesion, scrummaging, and field position. We kept possession and the tries flowed. Back play improved greatly with Madearis, Best, Carson, and Sandel putting in stellar performances. From the forwards inspired individual play from O'Brien, Jacobs, and Brophy. Our two rookie forwards John and Adam looked good in the scrums and in loose play. Our props were rock solid in the scrums but need to cover the field better. We, also, don't need to committ all our forwards to the rucks if they are already won! We have some powerful runners and need to take advantage of them by cycling the ball more. Passing in the forwards could be improved as well. Lineouts were slightly dicey and should be worked on more in practice, althugh Adam's long ball to O'Brien out the back were great. We should be able to lift a second jumper and win consistently. All in all a great win boys. The Backline looks 100% improved from the early days of last semester. Wer're playing with confidence and it shows. Let't work hard for VMI and I hope to join you back at practice next week. Final score WM 32 CNU 14

Respectfully submitted,
Bob Zullo

***for alumni and others that don't know, Bob Zullo, is our senior hooker with international rugby experience and leads the club in matches played over the last four years.

March 16th v CNU

Thank you Bob Zullo for your insightfull commentary yet I cannot resist some commentary as well. This was a trully satisfying victory. We stuck to our style of play with patience and ever building intensity; we finished the match in total dominance and control.

The first half of this match was even in many ways. CNU had a mobile and agressive defense in the centers and demonstrated a flair for striking with strong runners. CNU, also, demonstrated some ball killing tactics with the loose ball, yet, we remained disciplined and continued to punish them with powerfull rucking that eventually paid off in the second half---the CNU forwards had had enough by the second half.

I am going to refrain from naming individuals; there was outstanding effort with all our mates and this was a team victory with the touchdowns distributed amongst the players and were the result of outstanding team ball retention in close contact.

You can be proud of this effort yet let us remind ourselves that our victory is not accidental but the result of hard work, committment,desire for excellence, and outstanding leadership.

Respectfully,
Cary Kennedy

Feb 23rd 2002 v Penn. State

We responded to this important fixture with a resounding victory---recording 24 points to nil. Mike scored a predatory try in the left corner off a Penn State miscue with the ball. Matt thundered in off loose play from about 15 meters and Patrick racked up a deuce laced with full speed committment and will to score. Carson added two conversions with outstanding kicking form.

The match started with both sides sharing blows but no clear dominance was established by either side. Penn State seemed to have a bit of an edge with the scrummaging and ruck ball and , although, our backline defense was a bit late in realighment our pursuit was so quick in response that Penn State had difficulty in converting their possession into territory or points. Patrick was relentless and Scott Madaeris's defensive cover was awsome and intimidating. Our tackling was eager but could have been lower and more powerful.

By the second half, our forwards began to impose a strangle hold on the scrummaging and recylced ball; we seemed to get stronger as the match progressed. Penn State frantically substituded fresh troops to no avail---we never let up!

The ball handling in the backline was exceptional and Mike Pickford launched Scott into the thick of the Penn State defense with deep powerful runs that broke their spirit and confidence to stop us. Madaeris was a powerhouse. We now need to look for more opportunities to attack on our feet , ball in hand, off Scott's power runs.

Penn State tried desperatly to elevate their game in the second half but we seemed to rise up to all their challanges---Penn State had a flurry of successful rucks midfield--Pickford made three consecutive low punishing tackles off each ruck! What a huge demonstration of effort and courage!

We should have cleared the ball into touch behind our 22 more often---we were lucky and escaped harm--avoid trying to attack behind our 22---honor the value of territory! We can be devastating inside their 22; lets save our reserves when real scoring opportunities present themselves.

This was trully a gratifying win against a college club with imppecable tradition and national honors--yes it was their B side---but you can be rest assured that this still remains a stunning victory for the Tribe and an a deep disappointment for the Nittany Lions----well done, Gentlemen.

Special thanks to our teammates that were unable to play or were not selected---your participation at training and support on the touchline provides us with the edge and competitive atmosphere that creates a winning atmosphere---you, too, will have your day!

Picture taken just after the final whistle v Penn St.