6/27/2009
THROGS NECK, NY -- The Maritime Rugby team showed their true school spirit, pride, and love of rugby, in the latest port stay. The semi-professional Belfast Harlequins invited the NY MET Champions to a glorious day of rugby at their esteemed club house and private rugby fields. Upon hearing this invitation the Maritime Rugby Team found time day and night in their packed ship board life to review game tapes, practice, and train. The Rugby Team was ecstatic for a chance to show one of the greatest rugby nations in the world that Americans can play rugby.
June 27 is a day the team will never forget. It was a perfect day for rugby, mist still in the morning air from the light rain the night before gave us a perfect, soft field. The team and their ship mates piled onto buses in a nervous excitement. “How big are these guys?” “Are they really a professional team?” “Are we going to have to be carried back to the ship?” All questions running through the team's head. Jonathan Merzlak and CAPT Greene settled the team. The starting lineup was read, and the basics of Maritime Rugby were re-instilled.
At the arrival to the pitch we were greeted by Wayne Storey the Belfast Harlequins liaison. He explained to us the principles of rugby and how the different clubs and unions worked in Ireland. The team got their first glimpse of the Harlequins during the warm up. The day started with some touch rugby, a concept very foreign to all our players. After some warm up and touch, it was on with the show. Maritime put up a valiant effort, stopping the Harlequins in their tracks on several attempts into the try-zone. Maritime was even able to put a try up on the scoreboard with their multi-phase experience and forward picks. However, in the end, the professionalism, team organization, and superb talent of the Harlequins shined through as they overcame Maritime's squad with a few, modest tries.
Post match Social was a time that bonded the two teams and proved why rugby truly is a family. The hospitality of the Harlequins was top notch with a cook-out and a live viewing of the Lions vs. Springboks international match. Here, the Man of the Match was awarded to Jared “Shooter” O'Haire for his magnificent runs and devastating defensive play. Rookie Sean “Deuces” Jordan was awarded for Rookie Sensation, and Tom Toomey was also given a high honors from the hosting team. With each award, the prize winner was invited to sing a song for the crowd where this time the Maritime Rugby Club pulled through. All in all, at the end of the day Maritime left Belfast's lavish clubhouse with heads held high and in full spirits. Maritime, however, cannot say enough regarding the hospitality that such a professional team showed versus our players. Our hats are off to them, and we can only hope to play on their pitch again in the following cruises.
