New London County Rugby Football Club

Seacoast RFC 10 – New London County RFC 3

26 September 2009

By A J  Aitken

 

On a beautiful day in New Hampshire in the leafy surroundings of Sanderson Field NLCRFC took to the pitch against a very powerful Seacoast side. It was obvious from the outset that the second league match of the Fall season was going to provide a contest of two contrasting styles, the home team, powerfully built and relying in the main upon the big guns of their daunting pack whilst the visiting New London team looked to exploit their dynamic rucking and unleash a swashbuckling back line. In short this game saw the immovable object up against the unstoppable force.

 

The audible crunch at kick off set the tone for the rest of the match as two utterly committed sides tore at each other. In all honesty, it is difficult to put into words the sheer intensity of this game, the savage commitment to the tackle and at the break down was enough to leave all observers winching and shaking their heads in admiration. Owing to illness NLC’s regular scrum half, Liam Scott, was unavailable and so the novel solution of rotating Club Captain Greg Smith and the multi talented Doug Parulis between loose forward and scrum half had been settled upon with the hard tackling Smith in at half back during defensive set pieces and Parulis attempting to provide attacking link up play. As the first half unfolded the natural strengths of both sides were clear for all to see with big Chris Key providing a dominant force at the lineout whilst in the scrum, Seacoast’s advantage of at least 10-12 pounds per man was helping them to a powerfully controlled display. That is not to sell Seacoast short, they are clearly a well drilled and hard working side and their pack will prove a handful for anyone this season.

 

As both midfields struggled for fluency and attacks by either side were broken down with a series of bone crunching tackles (NLC’s barnstorming centre Eric Booth showing particular appetite for the fight) it became increasingly obvious that one slip might cost either side the game. Fly half Tim Johnson, turning in a display marked by his trademark fluency and control, calmly slotted home a drop goal from the edge of the twenty-two in the middle of the fourteenth minute as New London were hammering at the opposition defence. Thereafter the war of attrition raged on with both sides needing medical attention and at one point this picturesque corner of New England resembled a scene from the Somme as the wounded fell.

 

Half time came as a blessed relief to both sides with NLC still leading by the single score, a couple of penalty opportunities having gone begging on both sides. At the whistle Seacoast were quickly out of the traps and their juggernaut pack steamrollered deep into New London territory. Despite determined tackling (and with the very definite suspicion of ‘hands in’) the ball somehow made its way back on the Green and Blue side from an attacking ruck. A determined burst down the blind side punctured the valiant defence of the men from Connecticut and the home team were able to run in a score just wide of the left upright. Undaunted, New London hit back with charge after charge spearheaded by their dynamic back row with a Man of the Match Performance by Greg Smith (although to pick out one man from this hardworking unit is a little unfair on his marauding compatriots Stewart and Laverty). As possession and territory ebbed and flowed Seacoast struck a well judged drop goal to open a 7 point lead.  As the game rolled into the last 5 minutes with both sides gasping for air and Seacoast leading 10-3, New London threw everything they had at their opponents. After another bullocking run from the raging bull himself, Ken Laverty, the ball spun wide to Will Rothstein who pressed hard on the accelerator. A man with plenty of pace, Rothstein pinned back his ears and sprinted to the left corner, diving in to score in the last minute. Controversially, and heartbreakingly for NLC given their tremendous commitment, the score was not given as the referee believed the ball had not been grounded.

 

Although low on points this was a thoroughly absorbing contest which held the rapt attention of those watching on. At the final whistle a clearly relieved Seacoast supporter turned to your correspondent and said, “That was one hell of a match, you don’t see many games like that in D3!” to which the only reply was, “You do when you’re watching New London!”

 

New London County RFC Team sheet:

 

15.  R D Dickinson

14.  E Issler

13.  L Zubeck

12.  E Booth

11.  J Wittpenn (Rothstein 22)

10. T Johnson

9.   G Smith (Capt)

8.   N Stewart

7.   D Parulis

6.   K Laverty

5.   M Keltner

4.   C Key

3.   M Bailey

2.   T Greene (Doherty 58)

1.   W Hergott

 

Replacements

 

R Doherty

W Rothstein

C Lowe

P Mara

J Millard

N Smith

A J Aitken

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