The Rats began the tournament early, facing Burlington, the #2 seed, in a scheduled 8:45AM match that was unceremoniously pushed to 8:30AM by tournament officials.  Burlington utilized their strengths on the petite, grass-strewn field, tying the ball up in the forwards for almost the entire game.  The “Burly Girls” rucked and mauled skillfully, leaving the vastly outsized and outweighed Rat Pack at a significant disadvantage.  Though the wily Rats halted Burlington drives on several occasions, the Vermont visitors would manage to power two tries through.  Burlington’s first try came after a penalty deep in the River red zone in the first half.  Their second came as they mauled directly from a scrum, rolling their team into the River try zone for the score.  In an unfortunate draw for the Rats facing the Burlington power forwards, the match had been scheduled on the tournament’s smallest pitch.  With little room to run to the outsides, River was forced to contend with the repeated mauls and short forward punches that mark the Burly Girls’ play style.  Despite valiant efforts, they fell short in their quest for the first match, closing the game at 12-0.

After just a brief break, Charles River again took the pitch against Seacoast in their second match.  This time, the Lady Rats had more than enough to overcome their opponents.  On the strength of stellar games from Alicia Scahill (fullback) and Susan Lackey (flanker), River crashes through Seacoast, storming back after ceding the first score.  With the opportunity to run, River utilized its speed advantage for several tries.  Scahill had two tries in the game, and flanker Susan Lackey impressed with her speed on a long run for a try as well.  In the pack, the Rats drive back Seacoast scrums and stole several lineouts.  In their trademark “fifteen-as-one” style, River banded together to take a 29-5 win in the second match of the tournament.

With their day 1 schedule completed early, River took the rest of the afternoon to enjoy other rugby matches at beautiful Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI.  Despite rainy conditions, most of the Rats remained ocean-side to cheer on the Charles River men, as well as other clubs that the Orange and Green have befriended.  After significant bracketing delays, the Lady Rats learned in the evening that they had earned a bid to the DII Consolation Final, against Portland.  After spending a celebratory evening on the town, clad in faux fur, the Rats prepared for the morning Consolation final.

Taking the pitch early once again, a skeleton crew of healthy Rats in a shuffled lineup kicked off against Portland at 10AM.  Portland took a very early lead, scoring on a breakaway during their first possession.  Despite the early adversity, Charles River battled without pause.  They surrendered one more try in the first half, but also managed to punch in a score of their own.  The play started on a very strong ruck from Kara McAuliffe, who secured ball possession for River.  Moving the ball inside the Portland 22-meter mark, the Rats transitioned the ball through several phases, then from scrumhalf Geni Beninati and out to the backs.  Sarah “Bee” Wetherbee punched the ball through the defense, sliding in to the Portland try zone for the score.  As time passed, the game became increasingly tense.  Fortunately, the Rats managed to stay relatively cool in the face of questionable on-field antics, including taunting, post-whistle shoving and deliberate contact, and one thrown punch.  The shortened roster and early starts wore on the Rats, though, as they ceded two additional breakaways for scores in the second half.  River threatened on two other occasions, but were unfortunately unable to finish their drives.  At the referee’s final whistle, Portland had taken the match 26-5.  Overall, the Rats were happy with the win, having played a closer game than was indicated by the score.  With the loss, Charles River also took 4^th place in Division II.  Having risen from Division III the previous fall, the Rats celebrated the middle-of-the-pack finish, in a new bracket in which they could easily have been the bottom seed.

As the season closed, the Lady Rats celebrated another successful year with a well-balanced crew of enthusiastic players.  While maintaining a strong on-field presence against some very challenging competitors, the Orange and Green also remain a tight-knit group who take pride in their sense of humor and dynamic social personae.  The Lady Rats would like to thank their coaches, Bob Ryman and Brian Lottridge, for their dedication and unwavering enthusiasm during the year.   They thank all of the fans, including the Charles River Men’s Club, who supported them during their matches this year.  A special Rat salute goes to Captains Jehanne “Juggs” Junguenet and Maegan Hoover, for fearlessly leading the Orange and Green through all adverse situations with poise, grace, and humor.  River would also like to acknowledge the executive board, headed by President Whitney McCoy, for their tireless work with all of the fundraising, organizing, scheduling, dotting (i)s, crossing (t)s and recordkeeping required on the business end of running the club.  Without these women, there can be no Charles River Women’s Rugby.

The Rats will return to action this summer at Cape Cod 7s, and will co-host the Gate City 7s tournament on August 10^th with the men’s side.  They wish all fans and friends a healthy and relaxing summer.  UP RIVER!

A rolling stone gathers no moss.  A rolling river, however, can swallow entire banks.  Building on momentum from last week’s emotional win over Hartford, Charles River traveled to Albany to face the Knickerbockers.  In an explosion of offense unprecedented this season, the Lady Rats unleashed seven tries, ringing a resounding win against the home team, 39-7.  River’s back line erupted.  Outside Center Sarah “Bee” Wetherbee scored three tries on the afternoon, Wing Katy Wilks earned two tries, and Alex Schmidt and Geni Beninati each touched down once.  Despite the final score, it wasn’t until a frightening moment banded River together that the Lady Rats rallied to produce the prolific offense.  Forwards’ captain Jehanne Junguenet suffered a neck and back injury midway through the first half, which resulted in a long stoppage and required medical assistance.  (Junguenet has since recovered, never having lost her trademark sense of humor for a single second during the incident.)  At the time of the stoppage, Albany had scored the match’s only try and converted the kick after.  Trailing 7-0, River vowed to continue the match in honor of their injured teammate.

Having reined the ball in to the pack for the beginning of the first half, forwards on both sides battled back and forth early.  Props Kate Adams and Whitney McCoy were workhorses for River up front.  The ever-versatile Junguenet tried her hand at second row, alongside regular lock Jess Packard.  Jehanne stepped up in the absence of several players for River, until she was injured.  The equally versatile veteran Linda Morris stepped in to second row in her absence, and River didn’t miss a beat.  Morris, an invaluable contributor to the club, and one who has willingly played multiple positions this season, was awarded the Forwards’ Woman of the Match for the day.  Jen Garner also played very well, hooking the ball advantageously for River before she too displayed her versatility, moving around in the pack as newcomer Megan Tenca relieved her.

Scrumhalf Geni Beninati got the wheels turning for Charles River, before swapping spots with veteran Rat #9 Erin Gillespie at the half.  Gillespie, renowned for her ability to dig a clean ball from traffic, gave the Orange and Green some extra time for configuration and loose play.  River’s first score came on a run up the middle by Sarah “Bee” Wetherbee, with the Rats down 7-0.  Though Charles River narrowly missed the kick, keeping the score at 7-5, the match’s momentum began to shift.

Captain Maegan Hoover dazzled at flyhalf, making crisp passes and running evasively before unfortunately she too was injured in the second half.  Founding Rat Alex Schmidt played a phenomenal game, pinpointing kicks for which Albany had no answer.  One of those kicks resulted in a try for River, when a fortuitous vertical bounce placed the ball into the hands of River’s #13, springing her for a breakaway.  Schmidt would score a try of her own in the second half, advantageously tucking the ball for a run after replacing Hoover at #10.  The versatile veteran also kicked penalties and post-try points, making her instrumental in the victory.  The captains recognized Schmidt’s magnificent performance, bestowing the Backs’ Woman of the Match award on her at the postgame social.

Albany’s flyhalf had motioned to run a few times in the first half, but open-side flanker Susan Lackey shut the door, pulling down the #10 in blue before she could spring loose.  With the increased ball movement in the second half, Wing Katy Wilks shone.  Wilks had countless ferocious runs up the sidelines, two of which resulted in tries.  The veteran #11 so impressed Albany that they named her the Player of the Game for the opposing squad, citing that she had “pretty much destroyed” their back line defense.  The center combo of Jamie Carrillo and Sarah “Bee” Wetherbee crashed with success all match long; the new combination is becoming increasingly dynamic as they adapt to one another’s play.  Speedy back Alicia Scahill impressed both on the wing and then at fullback, when she transitioned there in the second half after several Rat injuries.  Despite the plentiful shuffling throughout the Charles River lineup, the Lady Rats achieved cohesion and displayed resilience during the match.  They took the game handily, defeating the home team 39-7.At the post-game social in downtown Albany, Schmidt, Wilks, and Morris were recognized for their prodigious efforts during the match.

Charles River owes special and gracious thanks to Albany, for hosting them for the game, the social, and for an evening inter-club celebration.  The Rats extend deep gratitude to Knickerbocker Caitlin Casey McGrath, and to her husband Brian, for hosting them at their home.  River would also like to thank the fans that traveled to support them during the game.

The Lady Rats will be back in action tomorrow in a cross-city rivalry with Boston Women’s Rugby.  Kickoff is scheduled for 11AM at Moakley Park in South Boston.

August 10, 2013

Raising money for the Lt. Scott F. Milley Ranger Foundation

Its Official the Nashua Tournament is on!

Contact our Charles River rep Rick Fribeg to sign your team up.

Donations in the name of our fallen hero can be made here.

NASHUA, NH – Charles River Rugby Football Club and the Show Ponies RFC announced today that the inaugural Gate City 7s rugby tournament will be held Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Mine Falls Park in Nashua, NH.

Conceived by the Show Ponies, a University of New Hampshire Alumni social squad made up of former players who get together for a handful of events each year, the tournament will serve as a fundraiser.

With the help of Charles River RFC, a Division II men’s club and Division II women’s club out of Boston, the Gate City 7s event has been sanctioned by the New England Rugby Football Union and will host up to 32 teams and offer both men’s and women’s divisions.

Rugby 7s is a fast paced, high scoring game played with exactly the same rules and on the same playing fields as the traditional 15-a-side version, just with fewer players and shorter halves. The sport has been gaining popularity ever since the International Olympic Committee announced that Rugby 7s will be added to 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

1st Entry:

Each Additional Entry

While the sporting community was wounded, though, the sporting would help heal.  At the Boston Bruins game two days later, fans belted the national anthem, taking the lead from Rene Rancourt in a moving roar of solidarity.  Profound moments of silence and photo montages debuted at the Garden and Fenway, while supporters left sneakers, signs, flowers, and finisher medals at the bombing sites.  After the suspects were killed and apprehended, members of state and local law enforcement and members of the BAA were honored by the Boston Bruins “Shirts Off Our Backs” ceremony, which normally thanks season ticket holders.  The Red Sox’s David “Big Papi” Ortiz spoke passionately before a full crowd at Fenway, dropping an expletive that even the FCC could not bear to fine.  “This is our f*%$ing city!” he declared during the nationally-televised pregame ceremonies.  Visiting professional athletes sported blue and yellow ribbons and “Boston Strong” patches.  Even the rival New York Yankees played “Sweet Caroline” at Yankee Stadium, though the Sox were not visiting.

The sporting community has united—as “One Boston”, and even, however temporarily, as one nation.  From underneath this shadow, with nearly two-thirds of the club emerging from Greater Boston’s shelter-in-place ordinance only hours before, Charles River Women’s Rugby traveled to Hartford for a cathartic match against the Wild Roses.  The Rats had a bit more than usual to start the match, perhaps internalizing the kinetic energy resultant from the week’s emotional rollercoaster.  Before the match, veteran Alex Schmidt, one of the club’s founding members, led the Orange and Green in a special pre-game cheer.  Prefacing their usual “Up River!” by singing final measures of the national anthem, “…and the home of the brave”, the Lady Rats huddled in solidarity and embraced, grateful that none of their own had been among those catastrophically injured on the 15^th.

On the pitch, the match quickly became business as usual.  The emotions of competition supplanted those of duress; the joy of athletics displaced the stress of tragedy.  The two sides battled back and forth in the first half, each coming to within meters of scoring but neither able to capitalize.  River’s forwards were excellent in the match.  The Rat Pack scrummed with skill and poise, keeping nearly all of their put-ins and stealing several from Hartford.  Anne “Wales” Beaumont and Kara McAuliffe both played tremendous games, leading with aggression and practicing very strong rucking and ball carrying.  Flanking the pack, Erin Gillespie and Susan Lackey laid crushing hits on the Roses, consistently pushing rucks and pressuring the Hartford Flyhalf and ball carriers.  Jen Garner started at #2, and managed to steal several of Hartford’s put-ins in scrum play.  Megan Tenca, who relieved her, maintained the momentum.  Ball movement was excellent for Charles River, whose forwards and backs worked seamlessly, perhaps for the first time all season.  On the strength of power carries from Lock Jess Packard and timely and skillful offloads of props Jehanne “Juggs” Junguenet and Whitney McCoy, River’s backs were able to spring loose for several sizeable gains.  Rookie Jamie Carrillo, inserting comfortably into the Inside Center position, crashed nicely for the Rats.  Defensively, River combined to rein in a talented Hartford fullback, collapsing several developing opportunities.  In the first half, the Rats held their breath as Hartford elected to kick for points on a penalty inside the 22-meter mark.  The kick sailed wide.  At the end of the half, River had a penalty opportunity of their own.  Electing not to kick, the Orange and Green attempted to drive into the try zone, but were denied by the Roses’ defense.

With the sides deadlocked at halftime, River dug deep.  Both camps traded gains and losses, kicks and chases, and several penalty opportunities.  The Rat Pack capitalized on nearly every open opportunity, working extremely well with young scrumhalf Geni Beninati.  Beninati and commanding veteran Alex Schmidt at Flyhalf built a well-oiled fulcrum between the pack and the backs.  In the second half, the Charles River backs shined.  The deadlock was finally broken when Flyhalf Alex Schmidt kept the ball after a split play, running through a gap in the defense.  As she encountered pressure, she dished to Outside Center Sarah “Bee” Wetherbee, who covered the rest of the ground for the score.  Schmidt returned to lace the two-point conversion, and River leapt ahead.

Hartford surged after the River try, making several streaking gains.  Fullback Alicia Scahill did an excellent job shutting down her counterpart on the Roses, who was a very strong runner.  She countered with runs of her own, including one brief burst that resulted in the second and final try of the contest.  Scahill ran in close support of Wing Katy Wilks, who had overmatched her counterpart on Hartford throughout the game.  Wilks blew past several defenders, impressively advancing nearly 60 meters before dishing to Scahill to finish it off for the score.  River would maintain the 12-0 lead for the duration of the match.  Rookie Kate Condon, making her Charles River debut, also made several key advances on the outside.  With all players contributing, and all cylinders firing, River maintained the pace of the match for the final fifteen minutes.

When the referee’s final whistle sounded, the Lady Rats cheered an emotional victory, achieved through the cohesion of all sixteen active players united under the colors of Boston’s Charles River.  Enjoying their respite from the chaos of the week, the ladies celebrated a successful match with the Hartford Roses.  Charles River captains Junguenet and Maegan Hoover, sidelined with an injury this week, honored scrumhalf Geni Beninati and Wing Katy Wilks for their exceptional play during the match.  The Roses awarded Sarah “Bee” Wetherbee with their Visitors’ Player of the Game award.

Charles River would like to thank the Hartford Wild Roses for hosting them for a wonderful match this week.  “It’s only a game”, posits the familiar phrase, but this particular game provided a welcome outlet, and an opportunity to unite.  The legacy of Charles River Women’s Rugby in Boston is one of cohesion, of sorority in sport.  With this spirit, the club extends deep sympathies to the families of those lost or injured during the Boston Marathon, and expresses solidarity with those members of the Boston sporting community who were, and continue to be, affected by the events.  The Lady Rats look forward to seeing survivors recover, triumph and return to run again.  We are One Boston; and we are Boston Strong.

Charles River RFC v. Boston Maccabi RFC Match Report

April 13^th, 2013, 12pm

 Moakley Field, Boston, MA

Rats Match

Match Details: Nearly every game during this Spring Season and last Fall Season for the Charles River Rats has a common theme. The Rats start the game sluggish, evident by defensive errors and poor forward support, and concede multiple tries in the first ten minutes. Afterwards, the Rats get angry, shore up their defense and make smart passes. However, the early deficit presents an obstacle that the Rats cannot overcome. This week’s match against the up-start Boston Maccabi RFC followed the common theme to a tee.

The Maccabi stole the opening kickoff and marched through the Rats’ muddy territory thanks to their forwards’ powerful ball-carrying and solid ruck support. As the Maccabi powered through the Rats, they found a hole on the weak (their left) side and dashed for an early try. After a close conversion, the Maccabi lead 7-0. During their next possession, the Maccabi’s forwards exploited “Channel 1” mistakes by the Rats, which put even more pressure for the Rats’ backs to prevent scoring opportunities. The Rats do not make the necessary tackles to halt the Maccabi’s charge to the try zone, increasing the Maccabi’s lead, 14-0.

One of the highlights in the early portion of the match for the Rats, were the set pieces (scrums and line-outs) by the forwards. The scrums were powered by newcomers (Wentworth alums) Mike “Mes” Morrison and Spencer Seiferth. Despite their claims of being rusty, Morrison and Seiferth provided enough push in the scrums to evenly contest with the Maccabi. However, as the game progressed, the Maccabi stole a couple of scrums due to widespread fatigue by the forward pack, after some second-half adjustments, the Rats regained their solid platform, however the adjustments came little late for the Rats’ benefit as the Maccabi scored off of a stolen scrum towards the end of the first half[2], extending their lead, 19-0. Jerry Kenneally did manage to put the Rats on the scoreboard before halftime thanks to a penalty kick, making the halftime score 19-3.

During halftime, Head Coach Paul Clemens cursed out his team for their poor tackling, lack of hustle and poor rugby decisions. It was exactly what the Rats needed to hear (especially Wes Page, who showed more aggressiveness in the scrums for the 2^nd half). Also, helping the Rats’ cause were some key substitutions that provided fresh legs. The Rats played a more controlled game, using more forward picks and crashes to drive the Maccabi’s defense back. Within five minutes of the second half, a Maccabi player received a yellow card, giving the Rats a man advantage. It seemed the Rats would take immediate advantage of their situation as Kenneally broke the Maccabi’s line and was primed to score, however he was tackled a meter away from the try line and since he outran his support, he made a desperate attempt to score, but the referee called a penalty for “playing the ball on the ground.” After the Maccabi used the penalty to gain field position, the Rats picked up another yellow card from the same player[3], which ensured that the Rats would play the remaining 30 minutes with 14 players.

Instead of giving up, the Rats sacked up and scored, thanks to an Andrew Jackson run, which made the score 19-8. The Maccabi extended their lead when an uneasy line-out forced a bad pass in the backline, which was recovered for a try, making the score 26-8. The Rats closed the game by scoring two tries, one by Andy Dolan, another by Mike Morrison as time expired.

FINAL SCORE: Rats 20, Boston Maccabi 26

Men of the Match[4]

• Backs: Andy Dolan. A huge reason for the Rats’ late rally was the elusive and punishing running displayed by Andy Dolan. The former Club President displayed such toughness and aggression that other players had no choice but to follow suit, which come handy when the Rats had to play to a man down for the last 28 minutes of the game.
• Forwards: Alec “Ox” Tolivaisa[5]. Ox was one of the few players who played hard and hustled for the entire 80 minutes.

Honorable Mentions: “Black” Grant McAuslan, “President” Mike Fair, Jeff Garner, “Keyless” Jerry Calixte

Orange Whips Match

Match Details: The Whips won their third consecutive game, as they prevailed over the Maccabi’s B-Side, thanks to an outstanding effort from many of the Charles River Old Boys and Rookies. The Whips controlled scrums (thanks to Pete Arsenault, Garrett Quinn and Phil Adams), made brilliant passes (thanks to Stu Dunster and Mike Fair), broke tackles (thanks to Andrew Jackson, Andy Dolan and Scott Weish) and performed clutch tackling (thanks to Silas Leavitt and Jerry Calixte).

Andy Dolan was a nightmare for the Maccabi’s backline as he broke numerous tackle and scored two tries. Also scoring a try for the Whips was Scott Weish. Stu Dunster added a conversion kick for the Whips.

FINAL SCORE: Orange Whips 17, Boston Maccabi 7

Honorable Mentions: Silas Leavitt, Stu Dunster, Andrew Jackson, Scott Weish, Phil Adams

Rats Scoring Table

Season Results

Next Week

The Rats have a bye week; however, Jerry Kenneally, Grant McAuslan, Corey Lang and Alec Tolivaisa[6] will be playing in the Division II NERFU All-Star game in Worcester, MA.

The Rats return to action on April 27^th, against our archrivals, Old Gold RFC at Moakley Park.

April 6^th, 2013, 12:00pm

 Moakley Park, South Boston, MA

Rats Match

Match Details: The Charles River Rats earned their first victory of 2013, as they humbled the Framingham Exiles, 41-12. The Rats controlled the game early thanks to dominate scrumming, crisp passing and aggressive ball carrying.

During the first minute of the game, Corey Lang threw a beautiful pass to Jerry Kennelly, whom popped the ball to Grant McAuslan which led to a breakaway try, giving the Rats a 5-0 lead. Framingham was determined not to get blown out, evident by their excellent counter rucking and mauling. However, they could not capitalize on the Rats’ mistakes because they were constantly dropping the ball and giving up unforced turnovers. The Rats scored another try, thanks to a great pass from Lang to Kennelly, extending the Rats lead, 12-0. However, the try came at a great expense as Captain Ricky Friberg injured his ankle which forced him out of the game. The Exiles proceeded to play their best rugby as a beautiful counter-ruck lead to a try, cutting the Rats’ lead 12-5. The ensuing kickoff resulted in breakaway from the Exiles as they found a hole in the Rats’ pursuit. The Rats did chase down the ball carrier; however the Rats could not stop the Exiles from crossing the try line again, as they tied the score. Instead feeling discouraged, the Rats got angry and used the ball handling skills that have been taught at practice to fluster the Exiles’ defense. After the kickoff, Ray Camahort displayed his trademark power running, drawing multiple tacklers, which opened up a hole for Kennelly to exploit to give the Rats the lead, 19-12. The two squads proceeded to trade field position for the rest of the first half, until Camahort broke a tackle and dashed 80 meters for a try as the half expired, extending the Rats’ lead, 24-12.

During the first 15 minutes of the second half, the Exiles were primed to score as they drove the ball down to the five-meter line, however they could not score any points due to their inability to catch passes and the efficient tackling of the backline. The Rats penetrated the Exiles’ territory and added three points to their lead thanks to a Kennelly penalty kick. Five minutes later, McAuslan stole another line-out from the Exiles, which provided another scoring opportunity to Kennelly, extending the lead further, 34-12. With 8 minutes remaining, the Rats were 12 meters away from scoring another try, when the Exiles were guilty for putting their hands in the ruck. Sensing the Exiles’ confusion, a Rats forward “quick tapped” the ball, then passed it to an on-coming Wes Page, whom got the ball two meters away from scoring. After two more phases, the Exiles were again guilty of hands in the ruck on the try line, which prompted the referee to award a penalty try to the Rats. Page was the last player to touch the ball for the Rats, which gives him credit for the try, the first of his Charles River career.

One of many reasons the Rats prevailed was the significant improvement of the forwards’ pack. After a terrible showing against North Shore, the forwards stepped up (especially locks Dave Bloom and Mark Cassidy) and dominated the Exiles in the scrums as they did not lose any of their scrums. The success stemmed from a few tweaks by Head Coach Paul Clemens and the extra time in practice that the forwards took to clean up their scrumming form.

FINAL SCORE: Rats 41, Framingham 12 

Men of the Match[2] 

Backs: Corey Lang. For 70 minutes, the Rats had to play without their captain and half-fly, Ricky Friberg. Most teams would have gone into an offensive funk without their primary play setter; however, most teams do not have Corey Lang. With his guidance, the backs played spectacular rugby evident by their crisp plays, tough defense and their lack of “knock-ons.” In fact, during the first half, the Rats only had one knock-on. With 12 minutes left, in the game, Lang again had to switch position (to scrum-half) as Mike Fair[3] earned a yellow card. Despite the man advantage, the Exiles still could not break the Rats’ defensive line.

Forwards: Chris Gardner. Despite his rookie experience, Chris Gardner has shown great aggressiveness and tenacity with regards to his rucking and ball handling. Also, Gardner won the Rats’ March Madness pool, despite watching zero college basketball games this year.

Honorable Mentions: Grant McAuslan, Jerry Kenneally, Dave Bloom, Wes Page, Stuart Dunster, Mike Fair

Orange Whips Match

Match Details: Thanks to key tries by Dave Bloom and W.E. David Halbert, the Whips prevailed over the Exiles’ B-side, 12-10. The Whips were fortunate to come away with a victory as an Exile wing broke the line and dashed for a go-ahead try. However, the player dropped the ball as he entered the try zone, preserving the victory for the Whips.

FINAL SCORE: Whips 12, Framingham 10

Rats Scoring Table

Next Week

The Rats host Boston Maccabi RFC this Saturday at Moakley Park. Time TBA.

The retired Timex watch slogan saw its reincarnation last Saturday, on the backs of a Charles River Lady Rat team that never quit in the face of adversity.  Traveling to Sudbury with a severely depleted lineup, the Orange and Green challenged a renowned Beantown squad, clawing their way through the match with poise and heart.  Despite being handily outscored, the Rats never let down, halting a Beantown try even in the final seconds.

The Rats fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss, but remain optimistic as they continue to restructure their play under head coach Bob Ryman in 2012-2013.  River rallied around its veteran core, relying on the emotional steadfastness of players like Jehanne Junguenet, Kara McAuliffe, Anne “Wales” Beaumont and Alex Schmidt.  All four played strong games, the former three leading the Rat Pack with determination, and the latter consistently releasing pressure with well-placed kicks.  Prop Julie “Traut” Trautwein played a very strong game, handling her Beantown counterparts in the pack with precision and power.  Trautwein would be recognized for her work with a Star of the Game award from Captains Junguenet and Maegan Hoover.  Alicia Scahill impressed on the wing for Charles River, shutting down her larger counterpart on Beantown several times, while also creating space to run.  Scahill made several breaks on the outside, but unfortunately, River was unable to capitalize on her efforts.

Beantown’s marked size and manpower advantage returned large dividends for the home team.  Sadly, Charles River lost another of its already depleted lineup when flanker Karen Smith suffered a season-ending injury in the second half.  Having already inserted a forward to its back line, Charles River still exercised stoic determination.  The Rats fought bitterly, scrapping in scrums and reining in the middle Beantown’s back line for much of the match.  Despite being vastly outweighed in the forwards, the Rat Pack held its own in scrumdowns.  The plucky play and quick thinking of Captain Jehanne Junguenet drew Beantown’s attention, as they named the veteran as their Visitor’s Player of the Game.  The versatile Junguenet, normally a prop, displayed striking agility at #8, breaking away on several nifty pick-and-gos and coordinating well with scrumhalf Geni Beninati.

Despite the heavy loss to the premier Beantown club, Coach Bob Ryman praised his club’s determination and cohesion.  After the match, the captains recognized Scahill and Trautwein, while Beantown praised Junguenet’s play.  The Rats cheered their efforts, having scuffled to the very end. Charles River would like to thank Beantown and Sudbury High School for hosting the match.  The Lady Rats return to action tomorrow, when they travel to Worcester to face the Shamrocks.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30PM.

Charles River v. North Shore Match Report

March 30^th, 2013, Dilboy Stadium Somerville, MA

A-Side Match

The Charles River Rats kicked off their 40^th season against North Shore RFC. Despite a great second-half effort, the Rats could not overcome an early 15-0 deficit, as they fell to North Shore, 22-7. Due to field permits, the A-Side Match consisted of two 30-minute periods, which did not give the Rats the necessary amount of time to stage a comeback. North Shore scored their first try thanks to an errant pass inside the Rats’ 10-meter line, which North Shore converted into a try, giving them an early 5-0. The Rats looked poised to respond to the North Shore’s score thanks to a stolen kickoff by Jerry Kenneally, however the Rats could not capitalize as they conceded too many penalties, which allowed North Shore to march down the pitch. Another penalty inside the Rats’ 10-meter line allowed North Shore to score their second try, extending their lead to 12-0. The Rats stole the kickoff again, however due to bad scrumming; the Rats could not have controlled possessions. Another penalty gave North Shore a chance to extend their lead, which they after converting on a penalty kick, making the score, 15-0. As time expired North Shore was regained possession inside the Rats’ 5-meter line and their scrum half found a hole in the Rats’ defense, however thanks to a held-up ball in the try zone, North Shore was unable to extend their lead.

The Rats defense improved in the 2^nd half thanks to key substitutions and better tackling. Ten minutes into the period, North Shore was primed to score another try due their inside center finding a hole in the Rats’ defense, however Corey Lang made a try-saving tackle and forced a knock-on. The ensuing scrum set the stage for the Rats’ play of the game. After a shaking scrum, Ricky Friberg had too much pressure to successful kick the ball away, so he passed the ball to Jerry Kenneally, who broke the North Shore line and raced 50 meters downfield with Friberg and Corey Lang in support, after an offload to Friberg, the North Shore pursuers where guilt of a penalty inside the 10-meter line. Friberg decide to execute a “quick-tap” at the penalty mark due to a numbers advantage on the wide side, as Friberg attempted to pass to Kenneally, a North Shore player intentionally knocked the ball on, prompting the referee to award a penalty try to Charles River, cutting the scoring gap, 17-7. A big reason for the improved Rats’ defense was the scarcity of penalties they conceded. In the 1^st half, the Rats gave up 10 penalties; in the 2^nd half the Rats only give North Shore one penalty opportunity.  Late in the second half, North Shore finally broke the Rats’ defensive line thanks to an overload, as they scored an insurance try.

FINAL SCORE: NORTH SHORE RFC 22; CHARLES RIVER RFC 7

Man of the Match: Mike Fair. Thanks to his aggressive play and smart defense, Mike Fair was the biggest reason why the Rats clamped down on defense in the second half. He also had the hit of the game when he literally picked up a ball carrier and drove him back five meters.

Honorable Mentions: Dana Etherington, Ricky Friberg, Alex Swayne and Ray Camahort

B-Side Match

Thanks to some Old Boys (Frank and Dan Lewis), some eager rookies (Alex Swayne, Mark
Cassidy, Chris Garnder and Silas Leavitt) and an aggressive defensive effort, the Orange Whips prevailed over the North Shore’s B-side. W.E. David Halbert, Dominic Ferrante and Alex Swayne scored tries for the Orange Whips.

FINAL SCORE: CHARLES RIVER RFC 17, NORTH SHORE RFC 5

Man of the Match: Andrew Jackson. J-Hole was responsible for setting Halbert’s try and provided great defensive intensity for the Orange Whips. Since he is on the sober train, he did not par-take in the Man of the Match boat race, however Jerry Kenneally took his place and the Rats once again won the boat race.

Honorable Mentions: “Keyless” Jerry Calixte, W.E. David Halbert, Dave McVey

Scoring Table

The Rats showed strong promise in their opening contest, having practiced only twice, and featuring several new faces in their starting lineup.  The Rat Pack scrummed well, gaining energy and momentum as they coalesced over the course of the match.  The energetic flankers of the Lady Rats, Susan Lackey and Kara McAuliffe, were formidable foes against the North Shore flyhalf and loose forwards.  Each had several runs, including a try assist by McAuliffe.  8-Man Christina “C” Andronico melded strategy with speed, punching in one of River’s three tries.  Jen Garner played a noteworthy match, filling big shoes in the wake of the retirement of one of River’s key forwards.  She hooked very well until an injury forced her from the game.  Debuting for Charles River in her stead, Hooker Megan Tenca made her foray into women’s club rugby after retiring from the Holy Cross Crusaders.  Newcomer Jamie Carrillo started at Outside Center; Carrillo ran well, punching several carries through the defense.  The ever-steady 2^nd row combination of Anne “Wales” Beaumont and Jess Packard helped River maintain ball possession through its carries.  Beaumont would also assist on River’s second try, after she plowed through several North Shore defenders before dishing to Wing Katy Wilks running in support.  Wilks drove the ball into the corner of the try zone for the score.

Despite maintaining the lion’s share of possession time, particularly in the second half, Charles River fell victim to several North Shore runs, having some trouble adjusting away from breakdowns.  Charles River was also heavily penalized during the match, not yet having settled into clean, mid-season form.  Despite the untimely possession losses, fullback Alex Schmidt policed the back of the line extremely well.  In loose play, she ably chased down and returned most of North Shore’s frequent kicks.  Schmidt would earn a Woman of the Match nod, as North Shore’s selection for their visitors.  Other Stars of the Game, named by Captains Junguenet and Maegan Hoover, were Garner, at #2, and Carrillo, at #13.

Charles River handily tipped the scoreboard in B-side play.  Having lacked many subs in the A-side, River shuffled its lineup to diversify for the second game.  Afforded some additional room to run, Maegan Hoover unleashed, touching down four tries and putting her evasive running on full display.  She would earn North Shore’s Player of the Game award for the B-side.  Carrillo, moving to Inside Center, touched down her first score as a Charles River Rat.  Sabrina Neuman stepped in at lock in the pack, while veteran rugger Karen Smith returned to Prop after a lengthy absence due to an injury.  Smith impressed in her return, earning the Star of the Game from Charles River’s Captains.  Veteran Linda Morris, an able Flanker, generously took a turn at Wing after an injury challenged a River back line already lacking any available substitutes.  Flanker Kara McAuliffe relieved Morris on the outside for the final fifteen minutes.  All told, River played a second side with much promise, displaying skill from newcomers like Alex Zadel, playing in her sophomore season with the Rats, alongside its balanced veteran talent.

Charles River would like to thank North Shore for hosting them for a competitive match, and for the post-game social.  River also thanks the fans that traveled to catch the match.  The Lady Rats will take on local rival Beantown this Sunday, April 7^th, as they travel to Sudbury for the 11AM kickoff.

Join Charles River Rugby for our second annual St. Patrick’s Day Party on Saturday March, 16th 2013.  Featuring the Six Nations Rugby match between England vs. Wales, this year’s party will be even better than last years. We’ll have a photo booth to commemorate your St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans, great raffles and door prizes, and of course a great rugby match

This is one of several great events Charles River Rugby puts on throughout the year. Our players and supporters would appreciate at $10.00 donation to help support our club and keep these events happening.

When: Saturday March 16, 2013 – 12:00 PM

     Where: The Stadium Boston