Schedule Shaping Up for Winter and Spring

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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…

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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.

 

Green Horde comes up trumps against Rovers, short against Erie

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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

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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.

 

 

Fall’s Schedule for 2011

2011 Fall Schedule

 

 

The English are coming: club braces for Wooten-Basset team’s arrival

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It’s not every day that a club from overseas visits the United States to play rugby and stay to experience a bit of what the country has to offer. All too often, the visiting nation sends their side to spank the Eagles and get out of dodge. This will not be the case the week of May 15. That’s when the Wootton-Bassett RFC land in Chicago to begin their tour of the US. The visit has been put together with the help of the ESRFC’s resident English Ambassador Frank “It’s not cheating when I do it” Black.

The touring club is scheduled to play matches against Chicago’s Condors on May 21. The teams have invited Cleveland players to come and fill out the sides. Players who decide to make the drive will spend the weekend in Chicago after the game and travel to Cleveland with the visitors and show them around the city.

Schedule for the week: Itenerary for Wootton Bassett team’s visit

The team is planning a slew of events, including – but not limited to – pub crawls, meet-and-greets and Indians games. The week’s events are highlighted by a training session on Tuesday May 24 and a special midweek test match on Thursday May 26. Kick-off for the match is at 6:30pm and will take place at the team’s home pitch at the Cuyahoga County Airport.

A social and closing ceremonies will commence after the game. The English side departs for friendlier shores that Friday.

This visit from the Wootton-Bassett club is a great honor and opportunity for the Green Horde. The visiting English players will provide a test the likes of which probably have not been seen before; not to mention, that adding an international victory would be an impressive notch on the ESRFC’s belt.

A full weather report for the week will be coming soon.

 

ESRFC wins dirty, slippery victory over Rochester

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The scene was something out of a special effects-driven disaster flick. Earlier in the day menacing clouds and rain poured down over all of Cleveland. For anybody who had been outside, it might have seemed that the weather was going to be too much for the Green Horde to take the field against the Rochester Aardvarks. Fortunately, about an hour before the game, the clouds parted. Blue skies and sunshine shone forth.

Then, the game started; and somebody somewhere must’ve said “Man this is a perfect day” because then the clouds came back and dumped all sorts of hell on the entirety of the city of Cleveland. The rain came first, then the hail, then more rain with hail and, finally the weather broke again – just in time for the game to end. Wind and the occasional thunder made the experience that much more exciting.

The horrid weather didn’t stop the Green Horde and the visiting Aardvarks from taking the field at 1:00pm that Saturday and turning it into a mud pit. Rochester left with some bumps, bruises and muddy wet jerseys. The Green Horde left with that and a victory. They took the game by a margin of 31 – 5.

The pack members started off the scoring for the Cleveland squad. Dustin Passalacqua touched down for the first try in the far corner after a heads-up play at a ruck. Passalacqua bolted down the far sideline and dove for the corner. A penalty try was awarded when the final defender failed to attempt to use his arms when trying to make a try-saving tackle. Justin Rutledge and some other pack representatives crossed over for the next scores. Not to be left out of the scoring festivities, scrumhalf John Bowens scored late in the second half, ensuring that the game was out of reach for the visiting Rochester side.

The wet and stormy conditions caused the Green Horde to change their style of play slightly and alter their pathway to their victory. With the torrential downpour, the game-ready field was turned into a pit of slick mud. This made line-outs and scrums very difficult. At points, the Cleveland players were losing footing in scrums and slipping their grip in line-outs. Scrums were reset on “better ground” by the sir, but the Green Horde had to make the tough decision not to lift in defensive line-outs. Rucks were sloppy at best, with players “falling over the ball” while trying to contest for the ball.

Once the clouds parted and the crowd emerged from under the tent on the sidelines, the second half started and the Green Horde began to change out its players to get some fresh legs on the pitch. While the new players added spark to the offense, fresh legs and slick conditions led to the Green Horde playing with 14 men. “Cheap-shot” Critter Regan came in to help out the pack only to be sent to the sin bin for illegal play around the rucks. While it was not nearly the fastest binning in ESRFC history, it was a fast send-off. Fortunately, his teammates were able to hold the line and keep Rochester to the five points they scored earlier.

Overall, it was a hard game between two good teams. There didn’t seem to be any bad blood between the teams at the game’s conclusion. The only blemish on the day – aside from the weather trying to put the kibosh on the game – was the John Carroll squad backing out at the last minute, leaving with a few Cleveland players with nothing to show for the day other than wet cleats and a cold.

The Green Horde travels to Bowling Green next. They face the no. 1-rated team in Div. I, the BGSU Falcons.

Detailed Weather Forecast for Game Day

 

ESRFC members get the spotlight

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Normally, the focus of the bulk of entries on this blog are dedicated to the current incarnation of the team and how the season is going. This entry is taking a different aim, though. While the ESRFC members on the field are making big moves, there are members who are making things happen without bashing heads with large men from around the Midwest.

John Bergfeld was honored by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission in early February. Bergfeld received the commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Other very prestigious sports figures and athletes preceded John in winning this award, including Jim Brown, Mark McCormack, Bob Feller, Richard E. Jacobs, Herbert J. Score, Joe Tait, Chuck Kyle and Bob
Kain. The award symbolizes a long career of hard work paying dividends in a big way. Bergfeld was one of many people being recognized that night, including Olivia Warhop, a swimmer and soccer player from Hathaway Brown School, who received the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Courage Award.

In early March, Chris Couburn was honored for his work at the Cleveland Clinic and setting up relationships with various medical companies in Ireland at the Irish American Archives Society’s Walks of Life Awards dinner. During his time working, Couburn contributed to the Cardiologists in Ireland that were trained at the Clinic. There were five honorees; including Judge Patricia Anne Gaughan and Sr. Mary Anne Flannery, SC. All of those highlighted throughout the night share with some kind of connection to Ireland and expressed it proudly.

Congratulations to Chris and John.

 

The Cleveland rugby social calendar

The snow is starting to melt and all the dormant rugger are starting to peek

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their heads out of their holes. The ESRFC is prepared for the seasonal thaw with a number of fun events and fundraisers to bring the team together for a good cause: raising beers while raising money.

The earliest scheduled event is the next Happy Hour special at Roc Bar. The event is planned for Saturday Feb. 19 Located on Old River Rd. on the East bank of the Flats,  Roc Bar hosts bands on an almost nightly basis and caters to a variety of tastes.

The Deal:

• $10 at the door
• Free drafts from 6:30pm – 9:00pm
• Admission into the night’s shwo following Happy Hour

There are convenient parking options in front of the bar on the street and around the area. Tere is also a lot directly next to the building. Though parking on the street is free, those coming for the event get discounted parking in the bar’s lot.

It’s that time of the season again. It’s Six Nations season. Claddagh, in Beachwood, is showing the games. Like the Roc Bar event, cover is $10. Claddagh will be providing food and drink specials for all those in attendance, including $6.99 Irish Breakfasts.

The schedule of remaining games:

• 2/26 – Italy v. Wales, 9:30am; England v. France 12:00pm
• 2/27 – Scotland v. Ireland, 10:00am
• 3/12 – Italy v. France, 9:30am; Wales v. Ireland, 12:00pm
• 3/13 – England v. Scotland, 11:00am
• 3/19 – Scotland v. Italy, 10:30am; Ireland v. England, 12:00pm; France v. Wales 3:45pm

There will also be a Big Ticket raffle at the Saturday showings. Tickets are $10 a piece and the grand prize is a 50″ flat screen TV. Those interested in purchasing at least one ticket should come to the events or contact Mikc Ciccolini via the main site.

Future events and fundraisers involving Happy Hour specials, raffles and World Cup viewing are in the works. The team hopes to raise enough money to pay for trips to Midwest, Nationals and other places, while still having a slush fund for future endeavors.

 

Cleveland Rugby Calendar: February 2011

Are you suffering from rugby withdrawal? Sick of there being a lack of rugby to play and watch during these cold winter months? Well the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Football Club intends to fix all that. There are a number of events

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coming down the pipe to wet every player and fan’s whistle.

First, for those who are desperate to throw on some cleats and get a ball in their hands, there will be an official practice Feb. 8, 2011. The practice will be at the GaReat Sports Complex in Geneva. Carpools from several locations will be provided to those who find driving to Geneva to be too much of a burden on their lives.

• Directions to GaReat Sports Complex

The first rugby-centric events for the month are kicking into full gear as well. The annual Six Nations tournament is going to be broadcast at the Claddagh in Legacy Village. The event starts Friday Feb. 4, 2011 and runs the entirety of the tournament. Specials during the event include $6.99 Irish Breakfasts during all the games. There is a $10 cover for those in attendance.

• Six Nations 2011 Tournament Info

For those who don’t necessarily want to run and jump around with rugby players or watch funny-talkers on TV, there are a few small fundraisers set for Feb. 12 and Feb 19. The events are at Roc Bar in Cleveland. The cover is #10 dollars and those in attendance get free drafts from 6:30pm until 9:00pm. Those who come to the fundraiser will also get free admission to the shows taking place the nights of the events.

Information regarding the upcoming season and more events will be posted soon. Also, check the main site and Facebook page for further updates.