NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB WINS 2005 RSL CHAMPIONSHIP; NYAC Earns Title After Fourth RSL Season
DALLAS (June 4, 2005) - On a beautiful New England afternoon at sunny Rentschler?s Field, the Eastern Conference's third seed ? the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) defeated Belmont Shore, the West?s top seed, 23-19 in a match that kept the thousands in attendance on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. New York?s win marked the first time a number three seed captured the RSL title, requiring NYAC to win two road playoff games on their way to the championship match.
The match opened with NYAC?s John Cronin kicking deep to Belmont wing Alex Hammill. Hammill advanced the ball 10 meters before kicking up the near sideline to put NYAC deep into their own territory. NYAC then advanced the ball to the 35 meter line before losing the ball in a maul. Several Belmont phases later, referee Kevin McCaslin called NYAC for rolling over on the tackle, which Belmont scrumhalf Lee Peina converted from 35 meters out for the early Belmont lead.
Play for the next 15 minutes slowed as each side looked to advance its position through territorial kicking and resulting lineouts. In that scoreless span each side stole a lineout deep in the other?s end but lost momentum on continued knock-ons and turnovers.
At the mid-way point of the first half, Belmont was whistled for an offsides at their own 30 meter line. NYAC?s inside center Cronin split the posts to even the score at three.
Minutes later, Belmont gained 30 meters of field from one of several long runs from wing Alex Hammill, who showed the attacking style that has earned him a place among the top wingers in the US. Unfortunately for Belmont, Hammill lost the ball as he was tackled by NYAC fullback Jackson Wagener at the New York 22 meter line. As the ball spun on the 22, Belmont flyhalf Craig Wells quickly booted the grounded ball across the try line. In hot pursuit, Belmont outside center Gary Golding dove on the ball in the back of the try zone to score the match?s first try. Peina?s conversion kick was true to put Belmont up 10-3.
Belmont didn?t get to enjoy their lead for long as NYAC came storming back with another Cronin penalty goal and a try score from captain and scrumhalf Chris Mayo. Mayo?s score came off of a successful NYAC 5 meter scrum down. The elusive scrumhalf dummied two Belmont defenders and carried a third across the line for the score. Cronin slotted the conversion to give NYAC the 13-10 edge at 30 minutes.
Before the half time whistle, Cronin pushed the NYAC advantage to six with his third penalty goal of the half. Continuing the first half momentum, NYAC outside center Alastair Greer darted through a Belmont seam to take in the final score of the half. Greer?s score and Cronin?s successful conversion gave New York a commanding 23-10 half time lead.
Down 13 heading into the second half was not foreign territory for the two-time defending champs from Long Beach. In each of its last two championships matches Belmont battled back from first half deficits to win the title.
Belmont?s forwards came storming out of their own territory for punishing runs immediately at the start of the second half. Seemingly looking to awaken the Long Beach side from their slumber, the Belmont forwards starting attacking with urgency. Led by front row players Semisi Telefoni and 2004 Championship MVP Henry Bloomfield, Belmont found themselves deep into NYAC territory within the first minutes of the half. A NYAC offsides penalty allowed Peina?s trusty boot to bring Shore to within 10 at 42 minutes.
After weathering the early Belmont surge, NYAC?s defense repeatedly stood its ground and kept play near midfield for the next nine minutes. After disfiguring the NYAC defense with hard forward attackes, Belmont began shifting into the hands of its backs. Belmont frequently found daylight on several long Alex Hammill elusive runs. However, each advance from Hammill that appeared to be a sure score ended with a try saving tackle from hustling NYAC backs to keep the defending champs out of the try zone.
With nearly 25 minutes remaining in the match, Peina again made NYAC pay for an offsides whistle. This time the RSL regular season scoring champ connected on a 25 meter penalty goal to pull Belmont to within a score, 23-16. However, it wasn?t just offensive production buoying Belmont, they continued to keep NYAC off of the score board for the second half. Continued advances by the AC inside the Belmont 22 were turned away by solid tackling and forced turnovers.
Seeking the game tying score, Belmont turned its solid defense into offensive gains that led them into NYAC territory for the next five minutes. A NYAC penalty at 62 minutes put the ball on the foot of Peina who connected on a 30-meter penalty goal to pull Belmont to within four.
With 18 minutes remaining, Belmont seemed to harness all of the match?s momentum. Continued advances by its talented back line led the Shore inside the NYAC five meter line when a Belmont back knocked the ball just as he appeared to enter the try zone. The missed opportunity seemed to reinvigorate NYAC as large gains by flyhalf Aidan Mara and fullback Jackson Wagener moved the ball deep into Belmont territory with nearly five minutes remaining in the match. Mara?s longest run of the day came at the 76th minute as he advanced through a large Belmont seam to take the ball 40 meters down the filed before passing to hustling wing Mike Lugano. Lugano finished the play and was tackled as he entered the zone and subsequently fumbled the touch down off of his hip seeing a sure try go begging. The resulting scrumdown gave Belmont the ball deep into its own territory. NYAC defenders continued their sound defense to keep the ball from advancing beyond the 22. Just minutes later, the final whistle twirled and NYAC players rushed the field as a wave of joy washed over the embattled side.
NYAC?s championship celebration continued as they were presented with the RSL Championship trophy and inside center John Cronin was awarded match MVP. The strong showing of NYAC supporters then embraced its home side with cheers that could be heard back in New York City. For those that could not attend the Championship match, be sure to check Fox Soccer Channel?s program schedule for the broadcast of the 2005 RSL Championship.
The USA Rugby Super League is proudly sponsored by Michelob Amberbock, the official beer of the Rugby Super League, by Kudu Rugby, the official rugby outfitter of the Rugby Super League, by Summit Rugby Balls, the official ball of the Rugby Super League and by Rugby America, official screen printer of the Rugby Super League.
OFFICIAL SCORING AND ROSTERS New York AC 23 ? Belmont Shore 19 Date:
June 4, 2005 Venue:
Rentschler Field, Connecticut Referee:
Kevin McCaslin Touch Judges:
Graeme Bullen, Jem McDowell
SCORING SUMMARY
TEAM
PLAYER
TIME
CONVERSION
SCORE
Belmont Shore
Peina, Lee
2:35
Penalty Goal
3-0
NYAC
Cronin, John
20:00
Penalty Goal
3-3
Belmont Shore
Golding, Gary
22:06
Peina
10-3
NYAC
Cronin, John
26:26
Penalty Goal
10-6
NYAC
Mayo, Chris
29:37
Cronin
13-10
NYAC
Cronin, John
36:30
Penalty Goal
16-10
NYAC
Greer, Alastair
39:26
Cronin
23-10
Belmont Shore
Peina, Lee
42:30
Penalty Goal
23-13
Belmont Shore
Peina, Lee
54:38
Penalty Goal
23-16
Belmont Shore
Peina, Lee
62:40
Penalty Goal
23-19
ROSTERS
NYAC:
1. Chris Smith 2. Tony Nash 3. Troy Bartley 4. Matt Frank 5. Adam Russell l
6. Lou Ferrari 7. Frank Sharpe 8. Matt Rader 9. Chris Mayo 10. Aidan Mara
11. Mike Lugano 12. John Cronin 13. Ali Greer 14. Dave Kennedy 15. Jackson Wagener
Belmont Shore:
1. Henry Bloomfield 2. Semisi Telefoni 3.Mark Kernen 4. Mike Kennedy 5. Greg Alley 6. Dustin Snow 7. Anthony Monte 8. Ray McGettigan 9. Lee Peina 10. Craig Wells 11. Alex Hammill 12. Ray Pua 13. Gary Golding 14. Tony Fratangelo 15. Al Lakomskis SUBSTITUTIONS: 20. Matthew Webber (Snow 60:00)
