Hamilton, NY -

Hamilton, NY- Colgate University defeated the University at Albany 24-22 in an New York State Rugby Conference Excelsior Divsion match up this past Saturday . Colgate jumped to an early 19-0 lead in the first half. Scores were the result of a quick tap off an Albany penalty by scrum half Jeff Olsen, 2 long breaks by winger Larmouth . One try was converted. Albany managed a score by Flanker Sean Cummings late in the half to pull within 14 at halfs end.

Albany came out roaring in the second half. Totally dominating play they were able to score twice in the first 20 minutes of the half. Playing a bruising brand of 10 man rugby, the Danes would methodically ruck their way up the field using multiple phases. Lopuch and Magner scored off rolling mauls close to the line. Colgate then answered with a long breakaway try off an Albany knock on. Albany battle back to with a score in the corner by Longobardi as time ran out to put the Danes down by two. Brian Smiths long conversion attempt sailed wide to seal Albanys fate.

Albany Notes: Albany dominance in the forwards showed in that they won all of their own scrums, took 7/8 of "Gates, 15/15 our lineouts, 9/10 of "Gates. Albany successfully completed 46/50 phases. The downfall came in outside speed. Gates pitch is 74 meters wide and they were quicker to the outside than us accounting for all 4 scores. Colgates record improved to 3-1-1 Albany dropped to 3-1-1 (2-1-1league). Albany however secured a place in the playoffs, in Batavia, NY- 1027-10/28 , since 1995. Albany looks to play home this week vs. as of yet undetermined opponent due to the upcoming forfeit by URochester. Waiting for confirmation from either Siena or RPI.

E-mail Regina ( ballsout@mindspring.com ) for Albany polos and windshirts. Check out the current issue of Rugby Magazine for Saratoga Invitational write-up. The names in the article may have been changed to protect the innocent. Check out the updated website at www.ualbanyrugby.com .

10/20/01 Danes 30 - Siena College 26

Albany, NY -
Albany, NY. - The homecoming UAlbany R.F.C. defeated the Siena Saints 30 -26 in a NYS Rugby Conference cross division match up. The match was a late schedule addition after URochester was unable to compete this weekend. Albany has finished league play with a 3-1 -1 record and 5-1-1 overall.

Albany got a big boost from its revamped backline which scored 4 times and took a lot of pressure off the overworked forwards. Scores by Newcomers Eric Kulakowsky ( a former Albany D1 scholarship soccer player) and Eric Kinney led the way in the Albany victory. The "Erics" displayed the speed and ability to attack that the club has been searching for. Brian Smith made amends for last weeks poor kicking performance by adding 2 penalty kicks and converting 2 tries.

Albany Notes: Albany travels to Batavia, NY (located between Rochester and Buffalo ) for the NYSRC playoffs. The Danes will play Potsdam on Saturday. A win will advance them to the Excelsior Division finals on Sunday to play the Hobart - Colgate winner. Alumni.The Insider has come to realize that a lot of the time we do not know what the hell we are talking about. Thus we would like to update the archives. We will start with tournament and league championships. We know that we were NYS D1 champs in 1995, Seina College Tournament Champs in 1982, Albany Law Watkins Cup Champs in 1986?. Hunter College Champs 19??. Please e-mail us with correct dates and other tournaments won . Our sponsor www.Ballsout.com has Albany polos and windshirts for sale. Check em out. To view the insider on the web go to www.albanyrugby.com. The insider is located on the alumni page. Sign the guestbook - lets hear from you. The team has an "unofficial" Albany State Rugby site at http://www.eteamz.com/ARFC/ .

10/27/01 Danes 30 - SUNY Potsdam 20

Batavia, NY -
SUNY Potsdam defeated UAlbany in the first round of the NYS Rugby Conference playoffs 20-5. This was the second meeting between the two teams this year with the first ending in a 24-24 tie.

Albany was once again victimized by long scoring breaks. Potsdam scrum ½ Chris Ackley had two scores from out of his own end . Albany managed a score late in the fist half by lock John Bockwoldt to make it 10-5 at half. Albany knocked on the door numerous times in the second half but could not punch it in. Albany then resorted to desperate measures which led to Potsdam tacking on two long tries late in the match.

Albany notes. Albany showed much improvement this season after last seasons dismal 1-6 showing.
Albany will possibly travel to the NY 7s for Thanksgiving weekend. We still have plenty of polos and windshirts available at Ballsout.com. They make wonderful Christmas gifts. Treat yourself. E-mail Regina at Ballsout.

Spring 2001

Record: 1 - 6
Capitaland Rugby Classic Consolation Champs

Volume 3 Issue 6 Alumni Legends 35 - Albany 0

Volume 3 Issue 5 4/30/01 Siena 35 - Albany 14

Volume 3 Issue 4 4/23/01 Marist 47 - Albany 5

Poughkepsie, N.Y. - The Marist College Red Fox devoured the UAlbany Danes this past Saturday , 47-5, on the Marist campus. Marist utilized a well drilled attack to continually beat Albany on the outside. Marist backs scored all but two of the trys and were successful on 3 of 4 penalty attempts.

Albany, whose bodys were there but minds were left some where between NYS Thruway exit 23 and Pauleys Tavern, never responded from the opening kick off. At one point during the match an EMT was brought on to the field to test Albanys pack for a pulse. Anyway, reserve flanker Justin Tierela came in and gave the squad a lift with an early second half score off a Marist 5 meter scrum. The Justin Longobardi conversion sailed wide. Albanys play improved after the score but they could not finish on several long breaks. Albany lost the "B" match 10 - 5.

Albany Notes: Albany travels up the road to arch rival Siena College for a Wednesday afternoon match. Only two weeks until rugby weekend. Golf + beers + eats + beers + rugby = fun in Albany 2001. Www.ualbanyrugby.com (sign the guest book ) for updated info. The newly purchased "Memorial Ruck Shack", a state of the art rugby storage facility will be dedicated on Sunday after the match. A plaque on the "shack" will inscribe a dedication to Tom Scarponato and Ted Borskey . We are going to buy stuff to put in it from our sponsor -WWW.BALLSOUTRUGBY.COM. You can buy cool rugby stuff from them too. Its easy click here ---> WWW.BALLSOUTRUGBY.COM There is still time to get those new boots for rugby weekend.

Volume 3 Issue 3 4/18/01 RPI "B" 10 - Albany "A" 0

Albany,N.Y. - The R.P.I. "B" side, fresh off a strong performance at the Cherry Blossom Tournament, defeated UAlbany by a score of 10-0 in a Wednesday afternoon match at UAlbanys home pitch. Both sides played good solid rugby throughout the match with R.P.I. scoring late in the first half as a result of an Albany penalty. R.P.I. s pack did a rush off the penalty and after two phases the scored in the corner.

The second half was much like the first half. Albany was hurt this week by poor execution in with their new line out system and not being able to find touch. This enabled R.P.I. to spend much of the half in

Albanys half of the field. R.P.I. was again took advantage of a quick tap off an Albany penalty inside the 22 eventually scoring in the corner for the second unconverted try with little time remaining.

Albany Notes: Next match at Marist College this Saturday followed by another Wednesday matinee at arch rival Siena College. Look for your old can of whoop ass and make plans now for "Rugby Weekend" May 5th + 6th (always the first weekend in May). Check out the alumni website for more info and sign the guest book to let us know if you are coming. If you cant find those old rugby shorts for the alumni game and your wife threw out your boots - Check out our sponsor www.ballsoutrugby.com for all your rugby needs.

Volume 3 Issue 2 4/10/01 Union and 2001 President's Cup

Albany 20 - Union 15

President's Cup

St Michael's 10 - Albany 0

St Lawrence 10 - Albany 0

Albany, NY - The University at Albany Mens Rugby Club took the field last week for three matchs. The squad played Union College on Wednesday and won the always tough rivalry by a score of 20 -15. Albany was led by scrum half Ryan Magner who scored two trys. It was Magners first start at the position after working as the second sides hooker .

Albany lost both games they played in the Presidents Cup Tournament hosted by the Albany Rugby Alumni. Albany took the field fired up against eventual tournament runner-up St Michaels College of Vermont. Albanys physical forward play set the tone of the match from the opening kick off. Albany and St Michael forwards went toe to toe all match, however, the Albany backs inexperience proved fatal. Defensive breakdowns by the inexperience or the back three allowed two scores from high kicks by St Michaels #10. The full back position has been a problem the past two years. (The squad has gone through more fullbacks than Spinal Tap has gone through drummers) J.R. Riani made a valiant effort but there is no substitute for experience in the position that requires anticipating the oppositions tendencies. Albany 0 St Michaels 10.

St Lawrence was up next for the Albany XV. This game proved to be a carbon copy of the first match. Albanys forwards proved to be up to the task, controlling loose play and restarts. The match came down to two plays off the high ball, one leading directly to a score and one setting a score up. Albany lost the match 10-0. They were able to gain some much needed experience. Albany utilized all 26 players available for the weekend which was the first day of their Easter break.

Albany Notes: Albany would like to welcome its gold sponsor Balls Out Rugby. Albanys next match is Wednesday 4/18 vs. NYS Rugby Conference Champion R.P.I. Albanys annual rugby weekend is slated for May 5th + 6th . Andy Capp Open Golf Tournament on Saturday, reception and A.G.M. Saturday night at Smittys Pig + Pickeral and concludes Sunday with the annual match between the Legends and the undergrads - followed by a catered barbecue. Check out our new web site at: www.ualbanyrugby.com

Volume 3 Issue 1 Presason Student Voice

Taken from the February 01 issue of the Student Voice

Club of the Month by Nick LoVuolo

To enjoy a fierce and fast-paced rugby competition, you dont need to travel to England or New Zealand. You can catch all that violence right here on the UAlbany field!

Starting from a band of six guys in matching T-shirts, the University at Albany Rugby Club has increased membership and visibility, and the rugby club is now in their 27th season. Led by a core of talented and experienced veterans, the Rugby team proves to have a very promising future, boasting the brightest and most enthusiastic stars in recent years. In fact, a testament to this years performance, the UAlbany rugby team has elevated in rank, and next fall will move from Division 3 to Division 2 competition.

So long as there arent any rugby players in the room, rugby can simply be described as a hybrid of soccer and football. Wiuth fifteen players per team, you can count on lots of trash-talk, dirt-kicking, unpadded tackles in each and every match-up.

A few of these rugby roustabouts (the ones whos nicknames are fit for print) include Michael "Speedie" Rotzler, Ed "Mini-Me" Onkaspol, Larry "Fatty" Annunziato, and Matt "The Grouch" Bernstien. "Speedie" Rotzler gained his nickname for obvious reasons, but despite Onkanspols misnomer, he clearly shows the best all-around athleticism. His ball-handling skills and trademark tackles may be the fulcrum of the Rugby Clubs successful season, and his teammates favor his transcendent rise to team captain.

The rugby team really is a team. Veterans not only create new traditions, but keep old traditions alive, and instill them in the Rugby Club rookies. Players "Shoot the Boot" for every score at the post game "Drink-up". They psych themselves up with humorously obscene alcohol-incorporating songs such as "Days of the Week" and "The S+M Man". To further emphasize the idea of team, Rugby Club holds an annual Alumni Game, where all Rugby Club alumni gather for a huge competition, followed by a celebratory beer blast.

But the UAlbany Rugby Club is not all about binge drinking and sexual explicitness. Rugby Club members involve themselves with several community service events. During the Christmas Season, the entire team collects money for the regional food banks to aid the homeless during the holidays . They beat their own record last year with a whopping $1,700 donation. This make them one of the few clubs that is well known both on campus and in the Albany community.

The spring 2001 season begins on March 17th, and the Rugby Club has been weight training and endurance training all winter for it. Though a few of the veterans are disappointed that this will be their last season, it is clear the team is eager to get on the field and play ball. "Since its my last season," says flanker Joe Attonito, "I am upset that Im leaving the team, but I know I dont have to worry about the success our rookies will achieve. " Spring practices are held on the intramural field by Dutch Quad tennis courts every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 4:00PM.

The UAlbany Rugby Club is always looking for more interested students to fill their roster, and this skilled rugby team is composed of players of all shapes and sizes. Visit Rugby Club on the web at www.albany.edu/~albrfc, or e-mail Student Association Athletics Director and Rugby Hooker Jay Teneyck at marcrenton@excite.com if you want to get involved. "Give blood. Play rugby."

Click to subscribe to albanyinsider

Back to Albany Insider

Back to Albany Insider Archives