Tournaments and Results

Savannah 2012: 

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After defeating all comers last year, the Green Horde went down with something to prove: namely that their championship run one year prior was not a fluke. Well, that didn’t quite happen; but the tournament was far from a failure.

The first game of the competition was against Toa Samoa 2. For those of you keeping score at home, this may sound a lot like the team that used cheap shots, intimidation and other under-handed tactics to squeak out a “victory” over the Green Horde last year. Well, you would be wrong. See, that was Toa Samoa. This was Toa Samoa 2. There’s a big difference.

As expected, the islanders who somehow found their way to Savannah, GA were hard-hitters, undisciplined players and high tacklers. Fullback George Jeney felt the affects of the last one in a big way after being suplexed on his neck during the game’s dying moments. Don’t worry, he got a stern talking-to by the referee. There was a lot of finger-pointing and harsh looks.

The Green Horde came out the first half in slow fashion, an unfortunate MO of the Cleveland side that has developed recently. This allowed the islanders to put in three tries and convert the kicks, netting them 21 points. Not to be shut down and shut out completely, the ESRFC’s Bryan Bowen converted a penalty for three points. Once the Cleveland team sobered up and hydrated up, they brought the fight to TS2. Mark Viviani and George Jeney pushed through the defensive lines and dotted the ball down to net five points each. Unfortunately, the kicks didn’t quite go over. At the final whistle, TS2 won over the ESRFC by a score of 21 to 13.

The scoreboard is deceiving, though. The Green Horde’s back line broke through the TS2 defenses at will, especially in the second half. The inability to close on their efforts and secure rucks killed the team’s aspirations of victory. The team held strong in all the other aspects of the game, but those two weaknesses in the Green Horde’s game, essentially, cost them the game.

The next two games showed the Green Horde’s standard dominating style, as they shut out St. Louis U. and only let up a single score against the hometown Savannah Shamrocks.*

The Green Horde’s side was supplemented by players from Bowling Green State University and Kent State University. The Falcons helped stabilize the scrums, acting as solid locks and and acting as part of a nearly unbeatable front row. The KSU players filtered in through the back line and into a flanker spot, acting as impact players who could always be counted on for a hard run or a solid tackle. KSU player Marsellis Stradford even contributed five points to the team’s final victory to close out the tournament.

Thank you for all the help guys.

*The shutout was ruined at the death due to a missed pass by late arrival Justin Rutledge. The team played to perfection despite his errors in play. 

Savannah 2011:

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Snow-covered Cleveland

Early in March of 2011, the Green Horde took a mixed side to the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Tournament. This year, the tournament took place the weekend before the holiday. Compared to Cleveland’s gray and cold snow-covered streets, Savannah was a sunny paradise. The sun came out and the temperature rose as soon as the caravan of cars reached West Virginia on the other side of the Appalachian Mountains.

The pools were stacked full of competition, with the ESRFC in the Division II bracket with the Citadel, Air Force II and Toa Samoa.

Sunny Savannah, Georgia

In order to achiever a feat that the team had never done before – namely winning the tournament – the Green Horde had to overcome representatives of the US Military and a people known for their skills on the pitch. The Rovers found themselves in Division III.

The first two opponents proved to be little challenge to the traveling Cleveland side, downing the Citadel in grand fashion and doing much of the same to Air Force II. Each time, the Green Horde’s pack

ESRFC v Citadel

stood steadfast in the set pieces and defense; and the backs attacked fast and hard, spotting and exploiting holes with precision and power. Each team was held to one score: a penalty kick and a try, respectively.

The final match proved to be the tester, though. The Samoans had played two tough, close and,

ESRFC v Air Force II

allegedly, cheap matches on Saturday against Bragg and Blackstone. Their reputation as dirty player and bad sports quickly made them the “bad guys” of the Division II bracket. Whether by hook or by crook, Toa Samoa go the victories they needed to get into the final match on Sunday.

As game time approached emotions at the field were reaching fever pitch, running higher than the temperature of the hot sun in the sky. Teams that had played consolation games earlier in the day as well as some of those organizing the tournament crowded the sidelines to cheer on the Green Horde, while the wives, children and other affiliate of the Samoan side made their allegiances felt as well.

From the first whistle it became very apparent what Toa Samoa was all about: diving over rucks, spear tackles and other forms of dangerous play. While they were hard runners and strong in the pack, their late hits on kickers, early hits on would-be attackers and assorted cheap shots overshadowed their positive points by miles upon miles. When play got tough or there were a number of simultaneous scrums, someone happened to get a soccer injury – that is a fake one. In order to make these charades look somewhat legitimate, they even had players carried off the field. This tactic came back to haunt them after sharp eyes from Randy Viviani and Leo Lovell caught two players that were “injured” coming back in to play during the second half. After a while the referee decided to send the men off.

Toa Samoa’s tricks would avail them not. Despite being behind for the bulk of the game, the Green Horde weathered the storm, utilizing superior fitness and discipline to overcome the Samoans. They scored two tries in the dying minutes of the match to bring the scores within mere points of one another. The two conversion kicks put the Green Horde ahead at the end, but the drama was far from over when the final whistle blew.

After full time it took the referee a while to calculate the scores. After conferring with the line judges, the final score came out: ESRFC – 27, Toa Samoa – 26. The sidelines were as overjoyed at the outcome as the Green Horde was, but the joy would not last for long. After shaking hands with the Green Horde – and some tense moments following that – the Samoans surrounded the referee until he changed his score. All of this went on as onlookers watched and the victorious ESRFC posed for a team photo under the goal posts. Now, despite the fact that the line judges told the main referee that the Green Horde won and the fact that a plethora of witnesses saw the match, the official record reads: ESRFC – 25, Toa Samoa – 26.

Everybody recognizes that the Green Horde won. The tournament directors know it, the teams in attendance know it and both teams playing know it. The official records don’t acknowledge it, though. In an effort to make amends for this, the Shamrocks have agreed to send us a first place trophy and take appropriate actions against Toa Samoa and the referee, so it looks like this one is going to be chalked up as a moral victory; but in this instance and after all the hard work a moral victory just won’t do.

Midwest 2011

Midwest Rugby Union

The dominant Fall the Green Horde had finished off brought them across numerous state lines to Cottage Grove, Wisconsin to compete in the Final Four of the Midwest Division III play-offs. Other teams present included the Cincinnati Kelts, Metropolis Killer Bees and Green Bay Celts.

The Green Horde piled into two vans and a pick-up truck and departed for Wisconsin. As they hit the road, spirits were high and victory was expected, though everyone knew it was not guaranteed. The squad arrived at the hotel safely, giving the team enough time to unpack and have dinner before going to bed.

The Kelts and ESRFC crossed paths in the hallways  and lobby of their hotel, but their real clash took place on the field, bright and early, on  Saturday April 30.

From the first whistle to the last, each team took points from the other. Each side’s defenses held as

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strongly as they could against their opposition’s offensive endeavors. Though the Kelts’ back line were larger than those of the Cleveland squad, it made little difference. The centers and wings routinely shut down Cincinnati’s traditional means of attack. This forced flyhalf Jeremy Hale to utilize other means, stabbing kicks through the line rather than putting them high into the strong Wisconsin wind. The tactic put the Green Horde on their heels for a bit but the back line adapted.

The pack-on-pack crime was hard-nosed and straight forward. Each squad traded off stealing ball in the set pieces. Both teams were strong in the rucks and took full advantage of any penalty options that came their way. The Kelts tried putting a nail in the ESRFC coffin by putting in their imposing flanker. The Cleveland pack was neither impressed or scared. Shortly after the large loose forward came in he went out covered in blood. What the Kelts failed to realize is that few people are badass enough to get in front of a charging Cleveland pack and come out

Cincinnati Kelts Crest

unscathed. The Kelts medical crew bandaged his wounds and put him back on the field.

The entire match was an offensive shoot-out, with neither team having a lead of more than 10 points. In the dying minutes, the Kelts were in the lead by a mere six points. All the Green Horde needed was a strong set of phases and a good set to take the match. Unfortunately, a penalty in their own territory came first. Wisely, the Kelts kicked for points. The Cincinnati squad breathed a sigh of relief and the Green Horde had their breath taken away when the ball sailed over the cross-bar and the final whistle blew.

Final score: ESRFC – 15, Cincinnati Kelts – 24

Green Bay Celts

The next day the Green Horde was unprepared for the hard game they got from the tough Green Bay Celts. The team who had taken Cincinnati – the other Kelts – to the brink was nowhere to be found. Green Bay ran up the score, seemingly doing it with relative ease. Spirits were low on the Cleveland side and heads were far from level. When the Fiasco for Fourth Place was finished, it was Green Bay that came out ahead.

Final Score: ESRFC – 10, Green Bay Celts – 31

Mad Anthony 2011

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In every sense of the word the side sent to represent the Cleveland ESRFC in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Mad Anthony Ale Tournament was a shell of the usual representative side. Most of the starters were out of the line-up for various reasons, some of the players were still nursing injuries from the previous week and anyone would assume they were going to be demoralized from the debacle at playoffs the week prior.

A one-day, four-team tournament would be a task for any traveling side, let alone one seeming to traveling so light.

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 Papa, 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.

First Place Trophy for 2011 Mad Anthony Tournament

Final scores:

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

Rock n ROll 7s – 2011:

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.

Related Articles

• ESRFC left standing when dust settles in Pittsburgh (clevelandrugby.wordpress.com)
• Pack carries ESRFC to victory, communication issues still abound (clevelandrugby.wordpress.com)
• Plummer says Samoa good test (news.theage.com.au)
• Samoa! (morganroylance.wordpress.com)