Metropolitan New York
Rugby Football Union Est. 1967
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METNY U19 Select Side at the Rocky Mountain U19 Tournament

            On June 17-18 the METNY U19 select side traveled to Denver CO to play in the Rocky Mountain U19 Tournament.  The squad finished in 6th place with a 2-2 record improving upon last year’s 7th place finish.

            The METNY side started in the tournament with a comfortable 22-12 win over Heart of America.  METNY opened the scoring as fullback, Tyler Maccubbin scored on an overlap.  Maccubbin made the conversion to give METNY a 7-0 lead. METNY widened their lead as second row, Peter Brink and scrum half, Franck Gianchetta scored trys and with Maccubbin converting one.  The half end with score at 22-0 for METNY as Maccubbin added a penalty kick.  Heart of America regrouped and scored 12 second half points but METNY was never in danger of losing the match.  In their second day of the day, METNY suffered a narrow 17-14 loss to Minnesota.   Minnesota held a slim 7-0 lead at the half as the METNY side failed to convert on several scoring opportunities.  Minnesota increased their lead to 12-0 before METNY came to life.  Matt Novitsky opened the scoring by barreling through Minnesota’s defense to score under the posts. Marcos Gowland added the conversion (12-7).  With time running out, Eddie Cullen came off the bench and scored a try outrunning several Minnesota defenders.  Gowland bagged the conversion and METNY held a 14-12 lead with minutes left to play.  On the ensuing kick-off Minnesota regained possession and METNY was penalized.  A second penalty for delay of game allowed Minnesota to take advantage of METNY on a quick tap kick.  The ball was spun wide and Minnesota’s wing scored in the corner to give Minnesota a 17-14 lead.  METNY had one last chance but the kick-off didn’t travel 10 meters and Minnesota advanced to the semifinals.

            On Sunday, the METNY team was playing for pride knowing they could finish no better than 5^th place.  Unlike last year, the team rose to the occasion and beat a scrappy Manitoba side, 32-19.  METNY held a slim 10-7 lead at the half on trys from Bobby Mroz and Ken Stern.  In the second half the METNY side poured on the pressure and Novitsky, Stern, and Glenn Fox score trys.  Ryan Sutherland added two conversions.  The METNY team closed out the scoring on a last minute drop goal by Fox.  Manitoba scored a couple of consolation trys but METNY won easily 32-19.  In the 5^th place game, METNY face a very large and skilled Pacific Northwest team. The Pac NW team had lost a close game to eventual champions Louisiana and was out to gain revenge for the loss they suffered at he hands of METNY last year.  For the first time in the tournament, METNY faced an opponent that appeared to be superior.  Pac NW used large forwards to pound METNY and had speed outside that plagued the make shift METNY backline.  Nonetheless, the METNY team played with heart and determination.  After defending for nearly the entire first half, the METNY was only behind 7-0.   In the second half, the offense for METNY got going and they were rewarded with a penalty just over the halfway line.  Maccubbin banged the kick over making the score 7-3 and the team’s spirits were raised.  Although they repeatedly attacked, the METNY side couldn’t make the last pass or beat the last tackler.  The Pac NW team added two trys late in the second half and were winners with final score reading 17-3.

            AFTERMATH: In summary, the team performed well, even brilliantly at times but lacked the cohesion that might have allowed them to win the entire tournament. They clearly were among the best sides but a hard tournament draw left no room for error.  Three METNY players were named to the all tournament team: Matt Novitsky, Eddie Cullen, and Tom Lane. In addition, six players were recognized by the USA U19 selectors and were invited to the USA U19 camp this summer: Julian Safar, Bobby Mroz, Alex Chivers, Ben Atkinson, Ken Stern, and Tyler Maccubbin

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