4/25/2009 Newport @ Springfield

Newport 40 - 8 Springfield

The game started off with a bang, Springfield picking up a quick try out wide. Newport,however, quickly responded with their own try in the ensuing kickoff when the player receiving the kickoff knocked on and player in front of him played the ball, resulting in a penalty quick tapped and run in for the score.

Springfield proved very strong in the scrummage throughout the match, but struggled to manage Newport's strength with the ball in hand.

I had some concerns with my management of foul play this game...a problem I continued to have after this game. A minor punchup happened first....I simply had a chat with the teams, told them to all calm down.

Unfortunately from there players continued to have issues, with some taking exception to marginally dangerous tackles and other of the like.

The issue culminated near the end of the game when one player was on the wrong side of the ruck, unable to roll away and near the scrumhalf/balls feet. He chose to play it and the Springfield scrumhalf was not happy, taking a stomp....it ended up being soft and only made contact with the player's hands...but it was sooooo blatant. I was forced to reverse the penalty.

At any rate, a reoccuring issue...I was unhappy with my management of marginally dangerous play. I really need to get used to penalizing the marginal stuff at inconsequential stages to really make my standards understood.

4/25/2009 Springfield Ladies Round Robin (North Shore, Burlington)

The beginning of a very hot day (up to 90 degrees) for rugby. Refereed 3 games this day:

11 AM, 60 minute game.

Springfield Women 8 - 22 North Shore Women

3 PM, 40 minute game

Springfield Women 5 - 31 Burlington Women

and Newport @ Springfield.

4/24/2009 Berkshire United @ Schenectady Chargers U-19

This game was played Collins Park of Scotia, NY...overlooking the General Electric Plant.

Schenectady 22 - 46 Berkshire

Schenectady scored first through their halfback dotting down in the corner. From there though, it was one way traffic. The Schenectady boys were getting too sucked in to the breakdowns and Berkshire took full advantage of their size in the backline...breaking tackle after tackle and scoring try after try.

In the 2nd half Schenectady managed to get a bit more possession and force Berkshire into conceding some penalties. They marched up field and managed to dot down a few tries, but Berkshire still had the last word...again using their superior loose play and size.

Overall it was a well played game. It seemed Berkshire felt they had it all wrapped up at the end of the first half (they did) and let up in the 2nd half, committing some lazy penalties.

I had a video of this game...will post some interesting clips when I get them....

4/15/2009 Albany Law School @ SUNY Albany

SUNY Albany 24 - 12 Albany Law School

This game was played on a wednesday afternoon, helping SUNY Albany prepare for their tour of DC.

Albany Law are a D4/D5 club out of albany, playing purely social level men's games. They managed to score the first try, but did not have much to put up after that as the SUNY Bs gained control.

The Danes All "B"lacks used consistent froward play with some opportunistic half back play to top the visiting Albany Law School's second XV 24-12. Albany freshman winger James Gandia broke across the line for 2 scores. Hooker Matt Shea, scrum half Andy LaVallie, and Hooker CaseyBerry all scored for UA. UA's fitness showed as there forwards were able to control the breakdowns even after losing the set pieces to a much bigger Law side. UA' Ryan Sweet slotted a conversion and penalty kick to add to the scoring.

4/19/2009 Schenectady Chargers v. Kingston Mad Dogs U -19

Schenectady Chargers 5 - 20 Kingston Mad Dogs

My first CDYA game...it was played on the SUNY Albany IM fields. I recall the game presenting a real test of my in goal knowledge law, as there was a few times where the ball had either been passed back into, carried back into, kicked threw and carried out, etc. Just about any combination you can think of to change ingoal law...it happened. One try was scored after the ball was passed back in, knocked on, kicked, charged, and grounded. Another player had a tendency to carry ball the dead in goal...instead of letting it go on it's own...preventing the award of the scrum back.

Schenectady drew first blood this game, but Kingston's extra years of experience showed as they managed to take advantage of errors Schenectady could not.

4/18/2009 Albany Women v. NY Women B

The NY Women developmental side proved to be the superior side, scoring 5 unanswered tries in two 30 minute periods of play.

The most contentious point, at least from the teams perspective, was how I disallowed a quick throw in. On the Albany field, one side is roped, the other is not. On the un-roped side the ground simply rolls down into a ditch about 5 meters from the touchline. Now the ball went into touch on the side with no rope, it rolled a distance from the field and down inside the ditch. I did not allow the quick throw in stating that the ball had left the playing enclosure (approximately 5 meters from the touch line, when flat ground ended). I wonder if there is a ruling or how other referees typically treat the quick throw in with situations like this.

I also had a great opportunity this game to work on my signals at lineout time (signaling to the backs when the lineout is over). In practicing throughout this game I actually became very comfortable determining when the lineout was over, permitting the players to advance...something successfully added to my refereeing repertoire. This was implemented in the subsequent Albany v. Springfield game.

he game was also videotaped, I hope to eventually get my hands on the video and analyze my signals / performance.

4/18/2009 Springfield Rifles @ Albany Knickerbockers

Now I live in Albany, NY - but this was my first experience at Dick Green Field and it's a very nice spot. Great view, thickish grass, and full size.

Boston Old Gold cancelled on the Knicks a couple weeks prior and Springfield agreed to fill the void (Albany, D1 - Springfield, D3). In knowing the division gap Albany decided to put out an A side with a decidely developmental look to it...including a brand new hooker, winger, and a number of players out of position.

Albany managed to dominate the Rifles in loose play...but the scrum/lineout were a different story. Springfield proved to be exceptionally strong at scrum time, legally wheeling the scrum, and taking at least one against the head and Springfield's try came from a driving maul about 10 meters out.

I did, however, have a note for the springfield side and their mauls (a tactic many teams abandoned with the ELVs).....they had a tendency to break from the maul and rebind with an obstructing player. Now I never deemed this material in this game, but they really needed to understand the issue. In a later game (Newport v. Springfield) I did have to penalize them for obstruction in maul.