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Fall 2007

'Gate Boots Danes, 29-27

By John Lubowsky
ALBANY,NY--Colgate University defeated UAlbany in a New York State Rugby Conference match up to determine the Empire East Championship, 29-27. Colgate used a strong first half to control tempo with strategic kicks and conservative forward play. ‘Gate would rack up 28 first half rucks to Albany’s 11 and ride the foot of winger who scored a game high total of 19 points ( 5 penalty kicks and 2 conversions). Albany’s first half trys came from lock James Wrynn and flyhalf Philip Ayoreh.
The second half saw Albany flip the offensive momentum creating 21 rucks to “Gates 4. Penalties once again proved to be Albany’s nemesis, 19 for the game resulting in 9 points in the second half and 15 total for the opposition. Albany has given up an average of 19 penalties in the last three games. Albany coach John Durant commented “Colgate really stuck to their game plan and carried it out. Our discipline on offense and defense was lacking, proved by the 19 penalties and our inability to create any prolonged pressure on them.”
Colgate now advances to play St. Bonaventure for the Conference Championship. Albany is done for the season and will look to regroup for a run next year. Albany will lose 8 players in the top pool of 25 and is heavily laden with underclassman on the developmental squad who are poised to move up in ’08.

Vassar Rugby Wins Capital Game Over Albany, 44-19

By Tony Brown
ALBANY, NY (October 16, 2007) -- Albany, New York is the capital city of the state and the Vassar men traveled there to take on the State University of New York at Albany. The home team is currently 7-0-2 and very likely headed to the playoffs so this would prove a stern test for the Brewers. In the opening minute Vassar fell behind 7-0 and a very fired up home team could have been forgiven for thinking that they would soon be 8-0-2. But the Vassar men had not sacrificed their fall break to spoil their unbeaten record.
Vassar College Men 44 v SUNY - Albany Men 19 Tries: Omar Fayyaz (1), Kaedin Jemiolo (1), Nick Mason (1), Chris Magnani (1), Luke Parker (1), Garrett King (2), Rupert Johnson (1). Cons: Garrett Montgomery (2).
Just 60 seconds into the game the Vassar team was standing behind their try line watching a conversion sail through the posts and they were down 7-0. Captain Garrett King admonished his team for losing the first ruck and conceding the try. The try by Albany was quite simple as they won their scrum just 5 yards out and the number 8 [Dave Santander] ran through to score under the posts.Vassar re-started and Albany kicked deep. It was a good ploy for the sun was directly in the eyes of the Vassar fullback Stefan Schwartz. He managed to gather the ball and Vassar scrambled back to help out. Albany picked and drove close to the ruck and was strong in the tackle, which made life difficult for Vassar. But the Brewers started to put some phases together and worked their way down the field. Albany kicked to clear their lines but the ball did not find touch and covering right wing Omar Fayyaz took off and went around the defense on the left touch line to score and level the match at 7-7. The remainder of the first half saw Vassar win a host of rucks producing very fast ball and it meant that the Albany defense could never get set. Chris Magnani delivered the ball swiftly and the forwards hardly took a backward step. Garrett King, Rupert Johnson, and Luke Parker ran hard and timed their runs well. Kaedin Jemiolo and Nick Mason scored good tries, the former in support of King, and soon it was 17-7. There were other good signs as the scrum started to drive Albany back. Rubesin stole a couple against the head and even if Albany got the ball it was under intense pressure as the Vassar eight rumbled forward. Nick Mason was taking his lineout ball and Vassar was playing with confidence. Chris Magnani went left following a Rubesin steal at a scrum and it was 22-7. The Brewers scored one more try in the first half as King went over and with Montgomery's second successful conversion it was 34-7. Albany punched forward and from a ruck close to the Vassar line they scored so the teams turned around at 34-14.
The second half saw the teams play a much more even affair. Albany scored first making it 34-19 but Vassar replied with 2 tries and the game finished 44-19. Rupert Johnson and King scored the Vassar points as the Brewers rung the changes. Omar Fayyaz moved to flyhalf and later Conor Boylan went to scrumhalf. All the subs got a run out and the team still kept its shape. The changes meant that the finishing was less apparent but the Brewers never looked overly stretched. This Sunday, Vassar face division leaders Columbia in New York City. This was a good warm-up but the Brewers should not be reading their own press. They will need a huge team performance if they are to defeat the Lyons and take the division.

Albany Socks St Lawrence,24-10

By John Lubowsky Albany, NY - The Danes improved their record to 4-1-2 (3-0-2 nysrc)by beating St Lawrence in an New York State Rugby Conference Empire East contest, 24-10. The win moves the Danes within 2 points in the standings behind Colgate who has one loss in league play. Colgate travels to Albany this coming Saturday for the division showdown.
Albany started strong when center Joe Reeves sliced through the St Lawrence defense for a score which was converted by fullback Kevin Ryan. St Lawrence would answer some 10 minutes later when their scrumhalf dove in off of a loose ruck.
The Second half was all Albany. Twp scores by Albany flyhalf Philip Ayoreh sandwiched around a St Lawrence penalty kick kept the Danes in front. Prop Casey Leahy would add another try to seal the victory.

Albany Topples Utica,13-10

By John Lubowsky Albany, NY - The Danes improved their fall 2007 record to 3-1-2 by defeating the newly established men's club out of Utica, NY. Utica agreed to play on Albany's bye week in league play. Albany's first XV controlled the first of 3 halves played scoring 10 points. Albany would then sub in the remainder of their 3 sides. Albany got some much needed work as they look to make a hard push for the playoffs.
Albany will face St Lawrence Univeristy this Saturday on homecoming weekend. Albany is currently in second place behind Colgate U which they host on Saturday 10/20/07

Albany 2nd XV Falls to So. VT

Adam White (Bennigton Banner) BENNINGTON — With darkness descending and time running out during the second half of Wednesday's college rugby match at the Beech Street pitch, Southern Vermont College's Andy Macnaughton knew that victory was slipping away from the Mountaineers.
So the junior flyhalf seized it back with a pair of bold calls that each led directly to a try, and sparked SVC to a 27-17 victory over visiting U-Albany. The first was a tap-and-go try that Macnaughton handled himself off a 22-meter drop kick, and the second was a split-back weakside play off a scrumdown near center-pitch that isolated the near wing for a track-meet try down the sideline.
The Great Danes took a 10-5 lead some 10 minutes into the second half off a 40-meter breakaway try by flanker Andre Toppin. Albany went for points on a penalty immediately thereafter, and when the kick sailed wide right Macnaughton alerted his backs to sprint up on the ensuing 22-meter drop. "We're going to take it and go," MacNaughton said.
The SVC leader put the ball through the mark and was off, angling a grub kick through the Great Dane backline, sprinting onto it and sending a fly-hack another 30 meters down the field and into the try zone. Macnaughton then finished off the play by diving on the ball to score, locking the contest at 10-10.
But the visitors answered back some six minutes later, as fullback Matt Cawlard fielded a kick in his own half and, under pressure from two charging Mountaineer backs, sent his own kick lofting toward the near sideline. The SVC forwards in the vicinity had trouble picking up the ball's flight in the darkening sky, and Cawlard was able to corral it on the bounce and take it in for the go-ahead try.
But Albany's celebration was short-lived, as the ensuing kick was fielded by SVC and Macnaughton burst off the initial ruck, faking a scissor with one center before spinning the ball out to the other, Dan Sturrock. The Mountaineer sophomore beat Cawlard around the corner and sprinted the distance to the try line, sliding in to once again deadlock the match.
The game-winning try came less than two minutes later, when Macnaughton split his backs on a scrum-center and the play went weak-side, setting up winger Erik Tosto with a footrace down the near sideline that ended with the SVC freshman touching down the go-ahead try.
"Scoring a try is all about the little things," said Mountaineer back Stephen Nappi, who sat out the game with a broken nose and a hand injury. "To be there to touch it down, you have to recognize what's going on and do all the right things." Southern Vermont got an insurance try from second-row Keith Upham, who bulldozed through a pair of would-be tacklers along the far sideline and raced in as game time expired. That brought SVC to its final 27-17 tally.
Scoring was opened with seven minutes gone in the first half by Macnaughton, who dished to winger Bruce Nappi near the attacking 22 and stayed with the play on the sophomore's inside. Nappi sucked in the last two defenders and then smartly passed back in to Macnaughton, who sprinted out around the corner and carried the ball in to give the Mountaineers a 5-0 lead. Albany tied things up with 4:00 to go before halftime, as prop Justin D'Addora punched in a close-quarters try to make it 5-all.

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Spring 2007

Danes place 2nd at Watkins Tournament

By John Lubowsky Albany, NY - The Danes placed 2nd in Albany Law School's Watkins Tournament. The Danes beat rival Siena College, 7-5, on a last second conversion by Lock Alex Hulme. The Danes then beat Albany Law Alum and Albany Law to advance to the finals against Cortland-Homer. The older more experienced CH controlled the game from the start cruizing to a lopsided victory. The Danes "B"side beat RPI "A" and lost to Cortalnd- Homer.

Danes 3- Middlebury College 46

By John Lubowsky Schenectady,NY - The Danes ran out of mojo vs USA Rugby #7 ranked D2 team, Middlebury College, 46-3. Middlebury got off to a strong start, despite having the game delayed and venue change from UAlbany to Union College when Middlebury #10 to crash ball off a ruck to plunge in for the try. Middlebury used a flawless attack with many dummys in the backs and dumps to the forwards. The constant pressure forced Albany into 14 penalties. Albany closed the half with a penalty kick from Gordie Barr.
Middlebury wore out the Danes mid way through the half, punching in a couple more scores. Middlebury travels to Florida this weekend for USA Rugby's elite 8. Albany Asst Coach stated "Middlebury is the real deal. They play the game the way it's meant to be played and the score did not indicate how well Albany played." Coach Durant added"It's great for us to play a team of this caliber. They are at a level we are striving to reach and for our guys to see the way Middlebury plays the game reiterates what our coaching staff is teaching. I feel the team will take the lessons learned from today and apply them in the future". Albany takes on Saratoga Rugby Club in the first round of the Albany Law Watkins Tournament this Saturday at Lincoln Park in Albany.

Danes 29- Siena 3

By John Lubowsky Albany, NY, - Albany ran it's record to 4-0 by beating rival Siena College 29-3 in a midweek contest. The Danes played a sluggish first half. #8 Boysen scored for Albany late in the half. Siena used good pressure defense to keep Albany on thier heels.
After some half time adjustments, Albany controlled the second half. Smith, Bruno and Heaney (2) all scored for Albany with Barr adding 2 conversions. Albany created 43 rucks in the 25min second half to Sienas 24 for the game.
Albany hosts nationaly ranked [7th ], Middlebury College this Saturday, 1pm kick off. Middlebury will travel to Florida the next weekend for USA Rugby's elite 8.

Danes hold off SU, 18- 10.

By John Lubowsky The Danes, playing with a split squad due to spring break, played tough and held off a strong Syracuse University side. Korn,Faherty and Boysen scored tries for Albany with Garrick adding a penalty goal.

Danes rally to top Boston U., 17 - 14.

By John Lubowsky
Maldan, MA – The Universtiy at Albany’s Rugby team defeated Boston University ,17-14, in the first game for both teams. B.U. started off the scoring with a long breakaway by lightning fast winger Joe Schmoltz. Albany countered when freshman outside center Gordie Barr scored his first collegiate try and conversion. Barr, a new addition in the spring, is also a kicker for the football team.
The second half was much like the first half except Albany was able to clamp down on the outside defensive coverage by allowing only one additional score by Scmoltz. Albany’s Bruno and Heaney would score once each to give Albany the lead for good. Albany relied on strong pack play in which they took all 12 of their scrums and took 5 of 10 BU scrums. Albany out rucked BU by a 55 to 21 margin.

Danes topple RPI, 30-0.

By John Lubowsky
Albany,NY - The Danes improved to 2-0 by beating Capital District rival RPI. Albany utilized strong pack play to attack the RPI defense. Forwards Bruno, Smith, Boysen and Leahy all scored for Albany. Mark Turner and Winger Lavaia added to out of the half back position. Albany created 45 rucks to RPI's 28. Albany took 7/7 of own scrum downs while taking 3/5 from RPI.