News

October 24, 2009
The Barbarians hosted their fierce rivals, West Potomac, a DC based club, at their off campus pitch in Halfmoon Township. The weather was not kind to the teams or the pitch, as it rained for 24 hours turning Autumn Meadow into a soft field.

West Pot traveled to Happy Valley with one loss and four wins, and needed to beat Happy Valley to stay in the playoff contention. Happy Valley had 5 wins and no losses, but was in the same boat. The teams faced off with a lot of tension in the air, and the hard hitting started right at kickoff. West Pot controlled the ball with rolling mauls and received the first penalty of the game. They chose a scrum down and off that scrum their scrumhalf put down the first points of the game. They easily converted, West Pot up 7-0. The baba’s came back strong with some good rucking and forward play which slowed down the game for the next 15 minutes. Matt Langston took a wide pass from Tulip, scampered down the sidelines to score, but knocked it on as he was setting down for a try. Line outs and scrums were a problem for Happy Valley, as the size and experience of West Pot proved better. About 25 minutes into the half, the Baba’s finally answered the first score with a beautifully 22 m try by Tulip. Patrick was unable to convert, we are now down 7-5. A few minutes later Deerhunter took a long run, ran by the West Pot defense and set down for our second try, we are now up 10-7.

The last minute of the first half saw desperate defense by the Baba’s as West Pot were in our 22 m, but they failed to score, even attempting a dropkick which barely missed. First half ended, Baba’s up 10-7.

The second half saw much of the same- bone crunching hits by JackGeorge, Steve T and Judson Millar. West Pot seemed to score a try in the first 5 minutes but it was called a knock by the referee and we were still alive. A penalty in front of our posts for failing to release allowed West Pot to tie the game, we are now tied at 10-10 with 20 m to go. Subsitutions were made, with Matty G, brought in to help lineouts, Mike Green for an injured Jeremy Bischoff and Andy Haines in for a tired Brett Bissinger. However, the constant pressure by West Pot and numerous penalties against the Baba’s, and losing our lineout’s proved too strong and the West Potomac club scored the final try of the day, converted and it was now 17-10. The last five minutes saw a constant pressure by the Baba’s but the whistle blew and we had a first loss of the year.

The B side faced most of the West Pot regulars in an entertaining affair. Jeff Brytczuk dominated line outs, Joey put massive hits on the boys from DC, Chris from Scotland did some great runs up the gut and the B side played great. Shaffer was all over the field, Flude did not throw up and Steve Schmidt played like a man possessed. Neil scored two tries, yes, 2 tries and Wes B scored the other one. Mike Green converted all three and the B side redeemed our team, winning 21-12.

A side. Brett (Andy), Hank, Brandon (Matt G), JackGeorge, Steve T, Patrick, Jud, Ethan, Tulip, Schweppe, Drew, Jeremy (Mike Green), Matt, Deerhunter.
B side. Joey, Matt G, Austin, Jeff B, Boyce, Steve S. Shaffer, Flude. Mike Green, Neil, Tony, Chris, Wes, Lordhumper, Crappelgate and François.

Thanks to Redheaded Jeff and Keith for playing for West Pot in the B side.
Barbarisms- Man of the Match for A side was Ethan/Judd, B side was Neil/Joey. Thanks to Flude, Ethan, Jeff, Jeremy, Pat, Tony, Trainer John for fixing the field before and after. Next game is at North Bay.