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.

 

Rock n Roll 7s taken by storm

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The day was hot and sunny, and the ground was hard as pavement – perfect conditions for the fastest tournament in Cleveland to take place. This year’s Rock n Roll 7s tournament took place at Kreuger Park in Mentor, Ohio; and with over 30 teams entered throughout a number of brackets there would be no shortage of competition.

The Green Horde’s competitive side landed in what some might see as a disappoint fourth place finish. People from the outside looking in might be wondering how a team who is hosting a tournament could come in so unprepared and only finish in fourth. What those same onlookers do not realize is that the ESRFC squad pulled itself together with little more than two solid weeks of practice and, with that little time to play together and get into shape, pushed 1823′s second side to the limit twice, beat a college side out of Michigan composed of younger players with more chemistry and put down one of the Midwest‘s best rugby schools – Bowling Green State University – in convincing fashion.

Throughout the entire tournament, the ESRFC’s squad never looked like they were out of any game. While communication and execution on defense was lacking in some scenarios, the Green Horde played with near perfect execution on offense. Mike Ciccolini and Al Caserta ran took explosive runs with the ball, either taking on defenders or passing them by with ease. Newcomers Alex Carter and Gary Springer ensured that the opposite wingers and pack members were on their toes and ensured that their side retained possession. Billy Regan was the catalyst for a large number of the team’s tries, setting up teammates for scoring opportunities or putting defenders to shame on his own.

With that being said, the question to be asked is not one of the squad’s limited achievement. The question to come out of the day is: “Why isn’t the team more active in the summer?” With such dynamic and decisive play after a few weeks of practice, a well-oiled 7s side could at the very least be competitive with the top teams in the region.

When the final game had been played, the focus was on 1823′s A side, which had taken top honors in the Men’s Qualifier bracket. This netted the Columbus squad some crucial points to go towards their Midwest tournament ambitions. 1823′s coach stirred the pot a bit when he complained toe RugbyMag.com about the lack of competition in this year’s tournament. If competition was the issue, why didn’t 1823 take their squad to the Lakefront 7s tournament? With teams like the Chicago Griffins, Chicago Lions and Indianapolis Impalas - to name a few – there would have been no shortage of competition to be had, that is if competition was really what the team was after.

When all is said and done the winners have already been crowned and, after looking at the results and considering all the facts, 1823 wasn’t even the biggest winner at the tournament. This isn’t because 1823 only had to face their B side and the Wolfhounds after receiving a BYE in the first round or that they barely pulled out their victory in the finals.

This is because the women from Lakewood made a huge, if somewhat unrecognized, statement by taking home top prize in not one but two brackets of the tournament this year. First, a team of Lakewood High School alumni came together, having little to no preparation time before the tournament to successfully take down their competition from Dayton and Scioto Valley. The younger contingent, not happy to let the older women take all the glory, shut down Mayfield’s girls in grand fashion and staved off an aggressive Parma team to secure the U-19 title.

When people think rugby powerhouses in Cleveland, Lakewood may not be the first name that comes up in that conversation. if the Lakewood women have their say that won’t be the case for long.

 

Suburbs snag top prize at Mad Anthony tournament

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The weekend of May 7 marked the 16th annual Mad Anthony’s Ale Tournament.

Erie hosted three other teams – South Pitt Hooligans, Harrisburg and the ESRFC – for a day of rugby. The ESRFC truly was the visiting squad, being the only squad crossing state lines to participate in the competition.

Not only did the Cleveland team have to drive almost two hours to the tournament, but their ranks appeared to be greatly depleted since a number of starters and familiar faces were absent from the line-up. Despite the fact that they traveled relatively lightly, the Green Horde did the best with the personnel they had and placed each player where he would be the best fit. Those careful placements helped the Green Horde secure the three victories they needed to take the tournament.

Miles Papas, Richard Day and Matt “Kangas” Capp  helped solidify the pack. Papas jumped into the line-outs – literally – and scrums as a solid jumper and lock. Papas grabbed almost every ball thrown in and stood firm in the scrums. Capp and Day were forces in open play as well as in the rucks.

Steve Anthony, Alex Carter and Brian Rankin took turns at the wing position, each adding his own touch to the position. Carter’s speed and agility made tackling him a difficult task for opposing defenders. Rather than evading would-be tacklers, Rankin and Anthony took more direct routes when running their lines.

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The familiar faces in the line-ups did their parts as usual as well.

Mark Viviani kept every opposing pack player on his toes when he wasn’t keeping the refs honest. George Jeney made penetrating runs at center and set up his partner Mike Ciccolini for a number of long runs and even a score or two.

Every victory was a team effort, but the Cleveland squad owes its 9 -7 victory to the excellent kicking job done by flyhalf Adam Friedermann who, literally, kicked the team to its narrow victory. Though he was three for four on the game, he made the kicks when they counted.

The final game pitted the Cleveland team against Harrisburg. Unlike the previous two games, this competition seemed to be an offensive shoot-out, with one team scoring only to have the other answer back with another quick score. The ESRFC managed to obtain the lead late in the game, but the margin was narrowed in the dying moments as they put in a last–ditch try. Fortunately, the ESRFC had managed to get a large enough lead to hold off the Pennsylvania team. When the final whistle blew the ESRFC was ahead.

All in all the day consisted of three hard-fought victories for the ESRFC. Every player who traveled contributed in his own way to the success – even Micah Stein who battled through an injury he sustained earlier in the week to man the neon yellow flag and be touch judge in the hot Pennsylvania sun. He truly is a hero.

Final scores:

• ESRFC – 10, South Pitt – 0
• ESRFC – 9, Erie – 7
• ESRFC – 33, Harrisburg – 29