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Match Reports & Videos: 2017

Providence

RESULT North Shore 14–
Providence 28

October 14, 2017, 1:00pm @ GEAA Field, 663 Summer St, Lynn, MA 01905


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Referee's Official Match Report

It was a cloudy , muggy day, mid 60s with some misty rain early during the match played on North Shore's wide but a bit short pitch that "featured" two dirt baseball infields and a torn up midfield that lacked grass. Thankfully the light rain did not turn the pitch into mud. Both teams entered the match undefeated and it showed. Right off the bat both sides came out charging with very fast paced hard runs from their backs and loose forward with bone jarring tackles from each team when on defense. Providence scored an unconverted try at the ninth minute and a penalty at the 22nd minute to lead 8-0 at the half. The second half saw Providence come out even stronger with 2 unconverted tries at the 45th and 53rd minutes. But North Shore was not going to back down and it finally scored a converted try at the 55th minute with a strong run from its centers. Providence answered that score with another unconverted try at the 60th minute and then North Shore (again with a strong run from its backs) scored another converted try at the 70 minute. Play remained intense during the final quarter of the match and the last paly of the game was a penalty kick by Providence to win 28-14 The play got a little chippy among the forwards early in the second half given the intensity of the match but kudos to the excellent captains of each side (Rudy with Providence and Tom with North Shore) who after a word from the ref spoke to their teams and the niggly played stopped. All in all a very fun and entertaining match between two very solid sides.

Referee: Christopher Davis

Via the New England Rugby Referees Society

Our Match Report

This past Saturday, North Shore took the field against Providence, who happened to be the only other undefeated team in the league. It was a great atmosphere, the sidelines filled with supporters, and the coveted first place position on the line.

The first 20 minutes of the game was a lot of back and forth play, and some huge defensive efforts by North Shore. Unfortunately, one of the impressive goal line stands ended in a Providence crash ball in the corner of the try zone for the first score of the game. The try was unconverted, and play continued to be back and forth.

The larger Providence pack proved to be dominant in the scrums, making it difficult to get clean balls out to the back line. However, the red's were the stronger team in line-outs. For the first time this season the North Shore back line was challenged with a group of hard hitting backs, and were stifled on most crash ball attempts in the centers. To further complicate things, the backs were forced to make some line-up adjustments, after Sully went down with a knee injury. With the adjustment the Red's were playing on their heals a bit towards the end of the first half, but were able to limit Providence to only a penalty kick, ending the half down 8-0.

At the start of the second half, Providence was able to take the momentum, using crash balls and pick and go's, they were able to score two quick tries bringing the scoreline to 20-0. Then the Red's started to show some fight, Mahoney was able to find Nick "Hung Daddy" Messier on a beautifully run line through the centers and under the posts to get the red's on the board. (20-7) (Try converted by Tim)

After the score, Providence took advantage of some North Shore penalty's, and were able to get over the line one more time. However, North Shore seemed unaffected by the score, and marched the ball into Providence territory once again. After a few phases within the five meter line, Hartigan was able to find CJ on a piggy ball for another North Shore try. (25-14) (Try converted by Tim)

With only two tries separating the teams, the end of the game was exciting to be a part of, but unfortunately ended with Providence sealing the victory (28-14). Men of the match went to Mahoney and CJ. Mahoney for his ability to adapt and fill in at the #10 spot, and to CJ for his hard hitting runs.

All in all, this was a well played game by the Red's that really could've gone either way. Practice will be Tuesday and Thursday nights this week, as the boys get prepared to regain momentum against MIT on Saturday.