Green Horde Reaching Out to Help Hospitalized Cleveland Kids

The holidays just ended but there is time to give to those who really need it. There are a vast number of children who are in the Cleveland Clinic’s Children’s Ward who were not as fortunate as the rest of us this holiday season. Claddagh and the Green Horde want to help them out, and they need all the help they can get!

On January 18, 2012 items will be collected at Claddagh in Lyndhurst for the team to distribute to the children that Friday.

Whoever comes in on that Wednesday from 5:30pm until closing and brings a toy with them we will give them 15% off their total food bill.

The hospital is looking for a number of items, including:

• For Infant/Toddler: 
  

  This is just one bag of toys ready to be donated to the children at the Cleveland Clinic.

  • Musical toys
  • Light up toys
  • Stacking toys
  • Mobiles (must be plastic, no cloth parts)
  • Activity gyms
  • Glider/Rocking Chairs (all wood, no fabric)
  • Lullaby and soft music tapes and CDs
  • Crib Mirrors
  • Texture balls
  • Shape sorters
  • Rattles/Teethers
  • Bumbo seats

• For Preschool Age Kids:
  • Little Tike and Fisher Price “Little People” (structures, cars, planes, furniture, people and animals)
  • Sound books
  • Play food and dishes
  • Toy musical instruments
  • Wooden Puzzles
  • Pop-up books
  • Light up and Musical Toys
  • Trains (compatible with Brio Tracks)
  • Go Fish
  • Old Maid
  • Memory Games
  • Doctor Play Kits

• For School-Age/Adolescent Kids:
  • Etch-A-Sketches
  • Sports balls/cards
  • Athletic clothing/tickets/memorabilia
  • Advanced arts and crafts kits (latch hook, stitching, bead kits, wood crafts, etc.)
  • Nerf basketballs
  • Lotion/Aromatherapy
  • New fingernail polish

• Electronics:
  • CDs – Popular/current artists
    

    Bags of toys waiting to be distributed to kids at the Cleveland Clinic

  • Portable/personal CD players
  • Small boomboxes (w/ CD and tape players)
  • Portable DVD players
  • DVDs
  • Laptops
  • I Touch or I Pad

• Games:
  • Guess Who
  • Yahtzee
  • Apples to Apples
  • Clue Jr.
  • Uno
  • Puzzles (100 piece and smaller)
  • Boggle
  • Boggle Jr.
  • Connect Four
  • Sorry
  • Scattergories
  • Scattergories, Jr.
  • Scrabble
  • Scrabble Jr.
  • Rack-O
  • Phase 10
  • Skip-bo
  • Monopoly
  • Monopoly, Jr.
  • Hangman
  • Trouble
  • Operation
  • Dice
  • Sudoku books
  • Word search books
  • Crossword books
• Art & Craft Supplies:
• • Coloring books
  • Colored sand
  • Sand Art kits
  • Clothespins
  • Magnetic tape
  • Sun catchers and sun catcher paint
  • Foam art
  • Velvet (fuzzy) posters
  • Sticker scenes
  • Crayons
  • Washable Markers
  • Stickers
  • Beads & elastic string
  • Play-dough
  • Individual craft kits
  • Model kits
  • Bead/jewelry kits
  • Science kits
  • Sketch pads
  • Finger paint paper
  • Pom poms
  • Glue dots
  • Coloring posters
  • Tissue paper
  • Paint brushes (skinny and wide handles)
  • Chalk
  • Notebooks/Journals
  • Scrapbooking supplies
  • Felt
  • Craft Glue
  • Paint-by-number
  • Glitter Glue pens
  • Glue Sticks
  • Feathers
  • Construction paper
  • Tacky (craft) glue
  • Jewelry-making kits
  • Watercolor paints
  • Model Magic- white
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Kids Scissors
  • Ziploc bags (snack, sandwich, quart, gallon)

• Additional items to consider are:(The items below are used for distraction and therapeutic purposes by Child Life Specialists during tests and procedures.)
  • Play medical kits
  • “I Spy” books
  • Touchable Bubbles
  • Bubbles
  • Kaleidoscopes
  • Party blowers
  • Water tubes
  • Pinwheels
  • Glitter Wands
  • Sound & music books
  • Music cds – relaxation
  • Light-up Spinners

• Any small dollar store-type items that would be used to give patients as a reward after procedures, completing sticker charts, etc.:
  • Fun pads
  •  Hair accessories
  •  Note pads
  •  Hot wheels
  •  Stickers
  •  Key chains
  •  Temporary tattoos
  •  Pencils
  •  Rings/bracelets

 

Cleveland As A Rugby Powerhouse: Campus Tackled

When it comes to cities with access universities, Cleveland and its suburbs are at a distinct advantage. Not  only are there a number of universities in the city itself – mainly Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University – along with some of the colleges and universities that dot the Eastern suburbs – John Carroll University and Notre Dame College just to name two. These universities are prime pickings for athletes that can help bolster a rugby club and take it from a one-side organization to one that can send squads to multiple venues on a given weekend.

Similarly to high schools, colleges and universities are crawling with athletes. Also like high schools, not everybody is going to be a stud. That star quarterback from a small high school may not get a second glance on a college campus. That star mid-fielder who lettered all four years in high school may have to sit while some phenom exchange student dazzles spectators and embarrasses opponents. This is a harsh truth about college that lands so many high school superstars on the bench for the bulk of their college careers. They go to all the practices – two-a-days, early mornings, late nights, everything – only to be a breathing mannequin or a star water-fetcher when game time comes.

Other times, high school athletes stay of the sporting scene for other reasons. Perhaps they no longer want to deal with the rigors of an intense practice schedule on top of their college courses. They put in all the work from childhood through high school but they just want to have a more relaxed college career.

The case could also be that the college a student chooses just doesn’t have the sport he or she loves.

If athletes do not join sports programs on their college’s campus, they either make an early retirement from the activity they previously dedicated so much time and effort towards or take their talents to the intramural leagues, telling themselves that beating out frat boys for free t-shirts is a suitable replacement for actual glory. Both are sad ends for any legitimate athlete.

The excess of athletes on college campuses can be prime pickings for rugby teams. Athletes, no matter what their sport of choice is, are driven by competition and the urge to stay active. The hardest thing for an athlete to do is retire, to sit still and watch as what they worked so hard to build fades away. It is incumbent upon rugby teams in cities by universities – cities like Cleveland – to ensure that this does not happen.

Considering the number of universities, and therefore antsy athletes, Cleveland has an enormous pool from which to draw when courting these players to become future ruggers. In order to do so, recruiters need to address the issues facing the average athlete coming into college: the inequitable balance between practice time and playing time, rigorous nature of the schedule and the lack of diversity in sports on a college’s campus.

Sweat Equity: The best way to draw a disenfranchised college athlete – or any athlete for that matter – is to reward them for their effort. Even if it is just a half, or even half of a half, playing time is the best way to show a new player her or she is appreciated and to allow them to prove themselves. The key to this is fairness, though. If there are two new players with similar work loads and schedules, and one player attends more practices than the other, the player who attends more practices – based on fairness – should be given the nod when it comes selection time. Even if the one who comes less of the time is a superior athlete, the one that attends more practices should receive more of a look. This is because the one who is at practice more knows the gameplan and his or her teammates better. A rugby club needs to field 15 teammates to every game, not 14 teammates and an athlete. Ensuring fairness and equity into the practice time-game time equation will ensure that this is always the case.

Be Easy… If You Want: As competition between teams in the mainstream sports gets notched up more and more, the lengths players must go to in order to measure up also become more intense. This means more two-a-days in blistering heat, early-morning swims, late-night ice sessions, sacrificing social lives, drastic weight changes on top of other unsavory and unreasonable requirements. When it comes to rugby, especially men’s teams, this is not the case. Most clubs practice twice or three times a week and entrust their players to take extra steps into their own hands. Due to differing work schedules and lifestyles, players often need to arrive late to or leave early from practices – and they are not punished for doing so. This shows rugby’s pliability and flexibility as well as the team’s willingness to work with its players. This is one aspect of a rugby club that truly sets it apart from any other sport.

Adaptation: Most athletes in college have, at best, heard of rugby but have never thought about playing for whatever reason. Their apprehension to starting up the sport is the belief that they might not succeed. Failure is a great deterrent to trying something new. That’s why connections need to be made between rugby and other sports that are more popular. Ex-football players and wrestlers already have a leg up on the tackling aspect of the game, while soccer players would have an advantage in the fields of agility and conditioning. It won’t always be easy to connect rugby to a sport a student has already played, though; but this is the diligence a club and its recruiters must do. Even if it is just that rugby is a sport, a connection must be made in order to instill in the potential player’s mind that they can be successful in their rugby endeavors.

Doing all these are important to recruiting college student to make a men’s rugby club successful and competitive on a number of levels. What’s most important, though is to appeal to the future and where rugby can take its players. As a future-minded person, placing big goals and possibilities in the future and framing them with rugby can be a great vehicle to get a former high school all-star to try on the short shorts, put on some cleats and try a weird English sport where the players pass backwards.Who knows? The next convert could easily become the next Eagle.

A rugby club can only do so much on its own. It’s not much, though. A club needs a community in order to survive.

Next: It Takes A Village…

 

Cleveland as a rugby powerhouse: School Days

School Days:

Rugby needs to have roots in the schools. Put rugby in front of children early their imaginations can be captured and – assuming there is support from parents, coaches and teachers – students will start to see themselves as the next Todd Clever rather than Bret Favre. Catching and hooking players early is also key as far as time is concerned. When students get into their high school years, preparation for college has already kicked into full gear so the prospect of learning a brand new sport  just does not seem like a feasible option. Early introduction of the sport also lets parents see the sport and get warmed up to it. They see that rugby is not a bunch of savages in short shorts and start to see that it is less dangerous than most other sports and that there are rules to keep it that way. Also, with the plethora of videos about rugby popping up on the Internet on a regular basis, the exposure learning process can got faster than ever.

Where in Cleveland can these youth programs take root.

1. YMCA and YWCA - These organizations regularly offer routine fitness and athletic endeavors for children. If the proper people were approached with the proper information, it stands to reason that they would have no issue with incorporating Rookie Rugby into their rotation.
2. Boys and Girls Club - Show these people how rugby aligns with their beliefs, values and goals on top of it being a vehicle to keep children off the streets and a gateway to college and they should have no issue with bringing rugby to the children they serve.

Just as important as getting a strong foot hold in the youth of the Cleveland area is to strengthen the hold on high schools while trying to expand. Strengthen the bond between the men’s teams and high school teams by getting involved with the high school teams. This can be something as simple as helping out with their practices or having social events specifically designed to include them. That way they see that not only is there a team but it’s a team that wants them around. For the ones who go off to college, they have someone to come back to. For those who stay local or don’t go to college right away, they can transition seamlessly into  the fold of the team.

The tricky part is getting interest and word to spread. As always, the key is getting rugby in front of the students in order to get them interested. Traditional methods often work best. Covering the school’s hallways, publications, bulletin boards and athletic facilities with paper fliers talking about the sport, the opportunities available and general information that would be helpful to know. Showing students rugby can also instantly entrance them and get them interested in trying out the sport. This could be as direct as performing an exhibition or a clinic after school hours or during the halftime of a football game. Holding a major event or tournament on school grounds during the summer months could be an indirect way of getting the games in front of potential players. As always, the Internet can and should be used as a tool when getting rugby into the hearts and minds of young potential players and their parents. Sites like Rugby Dump, Paki’s Corner and certain channels on YouTube are good introductions for potential players so they can start to see what rugby looks like when it is all put together. The USA, Midwest and Ohio rugby sites could be used as education and introduction sites for parents.

An information session could go a long way to ease any apprehensions, uneasiness and questions parents and students have about rugby. First, introduce the sport and its information to the group at large. Then take the parents into one room and keep the students in a different room. This way the parents can get the information they need and have their questions answered and the students can get introduced to the sport in a way that encourages them to look deeper into the sport and its subtler nuances.

Above is a fairly comprehensive game plan for how to spread rugby to the potential players that lie in Cleveland’s youth. More important than what is implemented is how it is implemented. Rugby, even though it is growing by leaps and bounds, is not at a point in people’s minds and general popularity for the most part where it can go head-to-head with the mainstream sports. What this means is that rather than trying to steal players from football, wrestling and other sports, we offer up rugby as another athletic pursuit to “keep them busy” and hook them from there. This means working with athletic directors that may not be very sympathetic to our cause. Getting to the players we need will require some jumping through hoops, but jumping through the hoops now should be more than worth it in the future when the students begin to fill the ranks and clubs begin to gain favor with the staff and administration.

In order for rugby in Cleveland to graduate to the next level. Recruitment efforts must graduate as well.

Part 2: Campus Tackled…

 

Could Cleveland be rugby powerhouse of the future?

When people think of strong cities in the Midwest for rugby, thoughts turn immediately towards Chicago. After that, attentions split to Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and, possibly, Detroit. These teams are chock full of rugby opportunities for players, coaches and enthusiasts alike. This is because the cities have a number of teams at varying levels, strong high school bases and solid college sides from which to draw.

Take Chicago as an example. Their most well-known team, the Lions, has some of the best talent in the Midwest and recruit directly from colleges like Bowling Green State University – a rugby factory in it own right. For those who either can’t hack it with or don’t want to play with the Lions, there are a myriad of options before them. They could play with the Chicago Griffins, the Chicago  Riot or, if their lifestyle should allow, the Chicago Blaze. Though some teams are going to rise above the others, none of these teams are slouches.

Chicago also has a leg up on most of the Midwest in when they begin introducing rugby to their children and the varying levels at which they can play. When looking at the Illinois Youth Rugby Association Web site, students can start playing in middle school and can compete in one of three tiers once they enter high school. The most important aspect of this that they introduce rugby to students in middle school, when students are starting to make up their minds about their long-term sporting commitments and can devote more time to learning rugby. The multiple tiers of high school play ensure that there is a place for every player to have a place and get some time. Whether the tiers are made up based upon regions or skill levels, this setup provides more opportunities for player development and recruitment – which only benefits Chicago’s rugby scene as a whole in the future.

Using Chicago as a model, it stands to reason that Cleveland can become another rugby jewel in the Midwest, a transformation that would benefit the city and its teams in unimaginable ways. Granted, the formula would have to be tweaked, but the product would be much the same. Where to start, though. Where to start…

Part 1: School Days…

 

Schedule Shaping Up for Winter and Spring

ESRFC logo

As the start of the new year approaches, it is time to look forward to the future. Here’s a list of what the Green Horde has on its social and competitive schedules so far:

• Jan. 20 – Visit to Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital 1:00pm – 3:00pm (Thank you Dom and JV for stepping up to volunteer to help distribute the toys first. We need two more.)
• Mar. 16 and 17 – Savannah Tournament
• Mar. 31 – High School Rugby Festival at SPIRE
• Apr. 7- TBA (Erie or South Pitt) at Home
• Apr. 14 – Scioto Valley at Home
• Apr. 21- BG Away
• Apr. 28 and 29 – Playoffs
• May 5 – Canton Away
• May 12 and 13 – Nationals
• May 19 – TBA (Pitt of day off)
• May 26 – TBA (Cleveland Cup)
• Jun 2 and 3 – Final Four or Cleveland Cup

It is a busy schedule so far but there is more to come. Be on the look out for more hospital visit dates, toy collection events, another high school skills clinic and other social events.

It’s shaping up to be a big year and a busy year for the Green Horde. Be on the look out for new developments, updates and maybe a new Web site.

 

And the winner is…

ESRFC logo

On Saturday December 3, 2011 the Cleveland ESRFC family descended upon Claddagh Irish Pub in Lyndhurst’s ever-classy Legacy Village for its annual awards banquet.

The restaurant and bar played host to over 50 East side players, family and general supporters who all but took over two entire sections of the venue.

Those in attendance socialized and were treated to a slideshow that featured shots from games that had taken place earlier in the year, including the Rock n Roll 7s Tournament. Photos were graciously provided by Hannah Derrickson and Harry Visser. A video is available as well. Claddagh provided those gathered with food and spirits – Guinness on tap and tickets for just about anything behind the bar – for the night. When everybody decided to calm down and sit down the business of the night began.

President, Mike Ciccolini, Vice President George Jeney and Mark Match Secretary Viviani presented the winners with their awards, as voted by their teammates:

• Rookie of the Year – Gary Springer
• Most Improved – John Bowens
• Most Valuable Member – Mark Derrickson (for the 10th time)
• Most Valuable Player – Billy Regam

The team is proud to have these people as members of our club and honored to know and play with them – and all our members past and present.

Thank you to Claddagh and the all our supporters. We look forward to seeing you all out during our coming year.

 

Field of Play: A Matter of Standards

ESRFC logo

It’s probably very safe to assume that very few rugby players in the Midwest, especially in the lower divisions, have played on a regulation rugby pitch. This is to be expected because there are very few rugby complexes in the US or sports complexes equipped to hold a rugby pitch to begin with.

There is, though, a big difference between a field that is a little too short or a tad too thin. There is even a case to be made for fields that are not the most level or well manicured patches of earth in existence. These allowances have their limits, though.

Land is not cheap, especially in this climate of worthless 40IKs and $5.00 gallons of gas (All rights to that saying reserved for Roger Mazzarella), but if teams are going to invest the money they have in a location they should at least find themselves a decent piece of land. Neglecting to do so is a detriment to the game in a number of facets and irresponsible.

First, if a field is not level to an extreme degree it is hazardous to the well-being of players who are going to be competing on it. Take, for instance, the line-out. If one team is on a higher patch of land than the other they are at a clear advantage; but more than that, if the jumper comes down funny on the unlevel turf at the very least that’s a hurt ankle. At worst, the downed player could get trampled. Also, if a player is running the ball and does not see a sudden drop in elevation he or she could bring their weight down ont their wrong and severely injure their foot.*

Second, finding a field that is somewhat out in the open is important to have as well. If the only field that is available is in a fenced-in area then that is fine. There is a big difference between setting a field inside a park and shoving it onto a plot of land sized for use by children. The issue comes into play here when the fence interferes with play. There’s a field in Pennsylvania where the fence surrounding the pitch juts out into one of the try zones. Not only does this make for an awkward try zone considering the field’s boundaries extend past the point of the fence, but it is a serious health hazard to the players competing on the field. hay bales in front of a metal post can only do so much.

Also, shoving a field into a park surrounded by busy city streets creates a dangerous atmosphere. Not only is there the possibility of debris on the field, but when every kick goes into the street it puts players in danger of getting hit by cars. Nobody wants to lose a rookie that way.

Once a team finds a field, outfitting it with the proper amenities is a must. This doesn’t mean a team needs to shell out thousands of dollars for the finest of IRB USA Rugbyregulation goal posts, flags, cones and pads, but it also doesn’t mean to half-ass your field set-up. Times are tough and wallets are notoriously light but there are cheap and effective alternatives available at most stores.

Need flags to mark the lines? Dicks Sporting Goods has sets for sale online. Need cones? They’ve got that too. Field paint can be found at just about any paint shop.

Cones, flags and paint are cheap and easy fixes, though. Goal posts are bigger more complicated issues. There is virtually no way to purchase a cheap set, so teams often turn to creating their own. Everything from PVC pipe to metal pipes have been used to construct uprights and crossbars on rugby fields. Those, if done right and with care, will more than do the trick. The key is that is should be done right. This means care should be taken to ensure that:

1. the pipes are straight
2. the pipes are the proper height
3. the crossbars should be level with one another
4. the goal posts are proper dimensions
5. the crossbars are straight
6. the goal posts are sturdy

The goal posts are the most important part of a club having a legitimate field and, on the same token, a legitimate team. This is because these elements of the pitch play a pivotal and direct role in scoring points during a game. Plus, if the posts are not as strong as they would be they could fall down and seriously hurt the players and referee on the pitch.

Having, essentially, a bullshit, half-assed rugby pitch is a detriment to everybody involved with the sport. It sends the message to outsiders that a crap field with goal posts that have caution tape for crossbars is passable by our standards. It shows incoming rookies that are new to the sport that they have just gotten involved with a program and a sport that has low standards and expectations from its players. It shows people who the ruggers at that pitch doesn’t take themselves, their club or their sport seriously.

Midwest Rugby Union

Perhaps it would help to have people inspect fields clubs play on. Perhaps referees could do note it as they officiate a match. It would add more responsibilities to the already big job that comes with being an official, but it would only be a benefit to the sport of rugby as a whole. Standards help people have an idea of what level they need to reach. Setting standards higher, even at the lower divisions, will raise the bar for everybody and give the sport, its clubs and its players a newer, better look.

*I know that rugby is a rough sport and that every player that signs up for it does so knowing the inherent risks involved, but why take any chances and create more opportunities for injuries to happen?

 

Green Horde comes up trumps against Rovers, short against Erie

ESRFC logo

Last week the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Football Club played, arguably, one of the most important games of the season outside of Midwest. They took on their cross-town rivals, the Cleveland Rovers. All week, emotions ran high and supporters came out in force to support the starting 15. With the practice field filling up the days leading up to practice, the Green Horde was able to put together a game plan to all but assure a victory.

When Saturday rolled around the Green horde family showed in force, crowding the sidelines of the field constructed in Forest Hills Park in Cleveland Heights. Not to be outdone in the realm of sideline support, the Rovers brought out the best the West side had to offer to support their side.

The game went back and forth for the entire 80 minutes. Both teams took shots at the other’s defenses, trying anything and everything they could to put up points. Despite the Green Horde’s kicker having a rough day and the referee letting the Rovers turn a bad take on a penalty and a knocked ball into a try, the Green Horde brought home a 20 – 17 victory. The  complete write-up can be seen here.

The Green Horde was spurred on to victory against the Rovers, carrie don the back of inspired plays by Mark Viviani, Billy Regan and the team’s Captain Mike Belanich. Unfortunately, the flashes of brilliance brought on by these men wasn’t enough to propel the Green Horde to victory as they headed across state lines to attempt a clean sweep of  their Pennsylvania competition.

The best word to describe the bulk of play from the Cleveland side is: uncharacteristic. Normally spot-on tacklers were running high and getting palmed off like rank amateurs. Cool heads erupted as trash talk from the opposition squad came to a head with cheap play outlandish calls made by the referee.

Still, the usual flashes of brilliance were there as the East side squad’s heroes came to the team’s rescue only to have Mike Belianich’s try not be counted because the referee was out of position. At the end of the day the ESRFC suffered a controversial and crushing loss that resulted in them surrendering first place to Akron, who toppled th Rovers that same weekend.

This weekend’s match against newcomers Steel Valley will be the true measure of how greatly the loss to Erie has affected the Green Horde. If they are intent upon rebounding, it will show in their play and most likely result in an unpleasant Saturday for the Youngstown team. Should they come out with lack-luster play and their heads hung low, the result could be very different.

The game kicks off at 1:00pm at Forest Hill Park in Cleveland Heights.

 

ESRFC Puts Hurt on Two PA Squads

South Pitt Hooligans logo

ESRFC logo

The Green Horde faced, and successfully put down, two tough Pennsylvania teams in the past two weeks – and as always they did so in dominating fashion.

First, the ESRFC crossed the border – and a bridge or two – into enemy territory to tak on the South Pitt Hooligans. The two teams faced off against one another at the home pitch of the Pittsburgh Harlequins, the city’s only Division I mens rugby club.

The two teams were competitive against one another the entire match. When one side would score the other would fire back. There were a number of occasions where the South Pitt squad would show flashes of brilliance against their out-of-town competitors and force the Green Horde to stay on their toes. The two team’s packs bashed into each other, trying to wear each other and make breaks for most of the game but once the Green horde moved its more mobile pack members into the back line the tide turned decisively in the favor of the Cleveland side. From that point forward if Cleveland’s centers weren’t doing damage to the South Pitt line it was one of the wing forwards or their squirrely hooker, Mark Viviani.

Final score: ESRFC – 32, South Pitt – 18

Note: Thanks to the Pitt City guys for allowing some of the Green Horde members to stay at their social after stumbling upon Rugger’s Bar uninvited.

 The story when the Green Horde hosted the Westmoreland Highlanders on Sept. 24. This game was one of goods and bads.

GOODS:

1. The Green Horde got to play on an actual good field. Due to lingering field issues, the ESRFC hosted the Highlanders at GaReat Sports Complex out in Geneva. Fortunately, the visitors were not shaken by the last-minute and constant changes to the day’s venue. Even for those who are too delicate to play on turf, it was nice to play on a field that had the proper dimensions to field two full rugby sides and was actually level.
2. The Green Horde notched up a ridiculous score of 102 – 7. Technically, since George Jeney - who was on loan to the Highlanders – scored the opponent’s only try, the Green Horde socked away a total of 107 points on the day. The huge score line ensured that almost everybody was able to get in on the act of scoring. Mike Ciccolini and newcomer Pat Barrett got hat tricks on the day, breaking the Westmoreland line at will. Mike Belanich led off the scoring for the Cleveland pack on the ground while Adam Wheaton took kicks, only missing two the entire day.
3. Everybody got a chance to play. Sometimes getting rookies and dedicated elders playing time is difficult. This day that was not an issue. Some – George Jeney, Thiago Borges, Steve Anthony, Harry Visser to name a few – split time for the bad guys to help fill in their side. Every rookie in attendance got significant time on the clock and their contributions were greatly appreciated.
4. The Highlanders played and partied well. Despite the day not going their way on the field and having a far drive, the Highlanders made the drive to Downtown Willoughby and had some refreshments with the Green Horde following the game. The social was a win for everybody involved.

BAD:

1. The ESRFC only got the points for the forfeit. Unfortunately, the Highlanders came with such depleted numbers that they did not meet minimum requirements to field a team do they had to forfeit.

 

 

Eastern Suburbs Found Lacking in Akron Opener

ESRFC logo

When the dust settled in Akron on Sept. 10, 2011 the Cleveland Eastern Suburbs Rugby Football Club was on top of Akron 33 – 27. While this result puts an early win in the scorecard of the Green Horde, the victory was far from a clean one and a far cry from the kind of wins the East Side team has put together in recent competitions.

In recent meetings between the two clubs, Cleveland had trounced Akron by incredible margins. Last week’s close score could be credited to a number of factors. Speculators will suggest whether Akron have gotten that good or if Cleveland is on the down swing. What si for sure, though, is that the Green Horde seemed somewhat unprepared and undisciplined for a tough team and an imperfect referee.

Akron pushed the physical pace of the game as they always did, bringing hard hits at every breakdown and phase of the match. This aggression allowed Akron to do something that few teams had even been able to do: challenge, and in some cases, shut down the Green Horde at the set pieces. Mike Belanich did his best in the line-outs and did what he does best, making getting the ball difficult for Akron. It was not the easy dominating job that is usually was, though. Rather than merely foiling their plans in the air, many times it came down to doing the hard dirty work on the ground to ensure that Akron did not score. Akron also made times difficult for the ESRFC in the scrums. Though the Green Horde’s big men wheeled and pushed Akron’s pack at will, it was Akron’s scrumhalf that made life difficult for the Green Horde on the offensive side of the ball. His tenacity made sure that getting the ball from srumhalf John Bowens to flyhalf Billy Regan would not be an easy task. On a number of occasions 8 man Justin Rutledge had to make get the ball to his no. 9 so he could make a clear pass. The story was much the same in the rucks, except for the fact that Akron was able to contest and turnover ball. Needless to say, this wore down the ESRFC’s men a great deal.

The trouble with Akron’s aggression came when the southern side’s flyhalf continually performed illegal and dangerous tackles. The dangerous play coupled with the Cleveland side’s fatigue led to unnecessary penalties and scoring opportunities for the opposition. Two of these penalties were compounded when members of the Cleveland side yelled at the referee for his decision-making and his apparent inability to make proper penalizing calls against the home team. The Green Horde was also assessed a penalty, which could have easily been a card,  for stamping late in the game. This came after the team had fought their way deep into Akron’s territory and been awarded two penalty advantages. The decision to step on the opposing player killing the ball cost the Green Horde at least five points and could have put a man in the bin.

The good guys – the ESRFC - came out on top, though; and they left Akron with a victory and the knowledge that this season is not going to go as easily as past seasons. Aside from the more physical aspects of the game, the ESRFC realized they needed work on fitness and discipline as well. They take on South Pitt on Sept. 17. Video highlights of that game will be available along with the match coverage.

The B side put on a good showing against Akron, though their hosts came up trumps against them on this occasion. The meeting between the two sides was still a positive one for the Green Horde, though. It got rookies Ted Kozlov, a former Marine and absolute newcomer to rugby, and Sebastian DiRienzo, who has played for a year and is being looked at by national coaches, a chance to get some touches on the ball. Both men ran straight and true breaking tackles, securing scrums and demolishing rucks. Thanks go out to Mark Derrickson, Mike Ciccolini, Goerge Jeney, Rich Day and the other players who took the field with the B side and our rookies to show Akron the toughness they will have to deal with in the future.

The score so far:

The Score So Far - Week One of 2011 Fall