RUGBY: New York sets the pace in US Super League

The unbeaten Old Blue snuck home 25-21 against the Potomac Athletic Club on a last minute try. Down 18-21 with little more than a minute remaining, New York fielded a kick and mounted a counter attack. As the seconds ticked by Old Blue retained possession through multiple phase play and scored the match-winner near the posts. Old Blue scored four tries to PAC’s two to secure the bonus point. One of the stars for New York was Ian McCloud who scored a deuce. A disappointed Tom Lyons of PAC said his club’s inexperience was the difference, “We just weren’t desperate enough in the end.”

In Kansas City, the home team sang the blues after being outclassed 30-12 by the visiting Boston RFC. Boston crossed for five tries on the day, two by number 8 Daley, to take maximum points from the game and move into a tie for second place in the East. All of the KC Blues’ points came from the boot of Doug Brown who slotted four penalty goals.

In one of the most exciting games of the round, defending champs Life College (Atlanta) met the Chicago Lions in the windy city. On a field that became heavy late in proceedings because of rain, Life edged out the homeside 20-17, but the result could’ve gone either way. Chicago, playing its first match of the season, missed four shots at goal, one of them from right in front of the posts. In the end though the Eagles scored three tries to one, two to fullback Arnold Manier, to remain undefeated and in a tie with Boston. Life coach Mel Smith said he was expecting a tough game, “They were one of the better sides we played last year and they played a hard game, so I’m not too surprised by it.”

And finally some good news for the Washington RFC which scored its first win in more than a season by downing Philadelphia-Whitemarsh 12-10. A sloppy and churned up field in Philly meant the game was kept mostly in the forwards. Conditions weren’t conducive to running rugby and there were numerous handling errors. Washington, winless since the 1999 playoffs, scored two tries to one to carry the day.

In the Western Conference, Aspen found some sparkling form of old in spanking a hapless Old Blue-Griffins (Oakland) 72-0. The Gents ran in a total of twelve tries, including two each to Chris Martin and Cullum Hughes, to give their interim coach Ian Jones a welcome he’s not likely to forget in a hurry. Jones, a Welshman who coaches at the University of New Mexico, has stepped in for longtime mentor Brian Going who’s back in New Zealand recuperating from an accident.

The Rocky Mountains also provided the setting for the clash between Denver and San Francisco Golden Gate. In a well contested match San Francisco triumphed 33-20 to move up the points table. Star of the show was SFGG hooker Robbie Flynn who scored a hat-trick of tries, while flyhalf Grant Wells kicked three penalties and two conversions for a personal haul of 13 points. The Barbarians crossed for three tries.

And in Seattle, the visiting Dallas Harlequins notched up their first victory of the season with a 24-7 win over Old Puget Sound Beach. The Quins scored two tries to one, both to Steve Scott, while former Eagle Matt Alexander booted four penalties and a conversion for a total of 14 points.