Mystics 22 - Manhattan 12
Mystics 24 - Montreal Lions 0
Mystics 42 - Montreal Irish 7
Mystics 48 - TMR 12
Mystics 15 - U.S. Navy 12

Taking Exit 105 from 20 East the Mystic River team bus passed Eggs and Legs and continued on it's plateau through fields of Soy. Soothed, yet eager to arrive at the Rugby field my eyes scanned the plains for evidence of a stadium appropriate to host an International Rugby Tournament. Without my sights ever locking on the envisaged target, the bus arrived at the field.

As I walked the stoned path toward the clubhouse I noticed the tired three leafed clover emblem of the Montreal Irish Rugby Club on the buildings exterior. The third leaf of the clover had been displaced to expose a never painted shadow. I smiled and progressed up the small flight of stairs to the Clubhouse verandah. I surveyed the grassy fields and thoughts of a match once played in Fiji flipped from past to present within my mind.

As a 15 year old I had once sailed with an Australian Rugby team to a remote island of Nadi to play a game against a village Fijian side. It was such an occasion for both them, and us. We received lays as we disembarked the boat onto their shores, we had freshly cut green bamboo goalposts installed on the field, there were giggling fuzzy spectators on the sideline, and there was a post match feast and dance performance like none other. I sensed that Montreal could behold a similar tale, a tale that would remind me why I am passionate about this game of Rugby. Yeah....it is for experiences like this that we play Rugby, not money. A realisation that I had had before, but forgotten for some time. I could not wait for this new lifetime story to unfold.

Unfamiliar to this American world of Rugby I found humour and camaraderie in the form of the pre-game hands-in-on-top-of-each-other ritual. Captain Brian Raposo does it well, not that I have seen anyone else lead it, but his final words and "1, 2, 3 GO Blue" never fail to unite the hearts and minds of the team. So after a couple of "Go Blues" we had successfully won the first two games of the tournament. We had beaten Manhattan 22-12, and the Montreal Lions 24-0. Neither game had really inspired but you could sense that there was an underlying tangent of understanding between players that was about to come to the fore. There had been some sharp individual tries from Brian, Fergus, Will and Yami. Some strong runs from Brett and Billy, yet that cohesive team game was yet to arrive.

In order to refuel for the final qualifying match of the tournament I grabbed a quick Hot Dog and Cheeseburger from the Clubhouse tuck shop. It didn't sit all that well in the stomach but without it I probably wouldn't have had the energy to play in the next match against the homeside Montreal Irish nor communicate to my team mates in their native American tongue.

Coach Wayne rallied the men and demanded that we "front up" an expression colloquial to southern parts of the world but seemingly understood by all the team, especially Darren. In order to prove that we were to be contenders against the US Navy side, that were progressing well on the other side of the draw, we knew that we had to 'front up' for the whole 40 minutes versus Irish to prove to ourselves that we had the metal to take out the finals on the Sunday. And front up we did. It was a slick performance. Strong hitting by the piggies, led by the wily Sullivan Brothers up front. The loosies, Pops Declan and Mike 'Hugs and kisses' York ensured that ball was quick from every break down and Fergie 'Little jockey big whip' provided the delicate link between the pigs and the men out wide. The men out wide carved up. Good selection of lines and determined running from Chris and Matty paved the way. A feature of the harmonious play was that of the support. The support play demonstrated that Mystic were an enthusiastic and confident side. This is what wins matches. Digby supported to the highest degree and like hot french semen scooped two tries for himself. We played out the full forty and won 42 -7. A cohesive performance.

The semi-final versus TMR was rather uninspiring. Mystic played smartly in patches but the opposition were never in the game. Mystic win 48-12 and progress to the final versus the much hyped Navy side.

Navy strode out on the field appearing as well prepared as a freshly creased pair of Jimmy's knickers. They looked smart, youthful and fit but they were up against a determined Mystic team. The Mystic pack crushed their more youthful opponents at every scrum and breakdown. We camped in their defensive quarter for the entire first half and made the most of our opportunities to go in at the break 15-0 up. Navy came back hard in the second half but were unable to thwart the desire to win displayed by the Mystic side. At the post, Mystic 15 - US Navy 12.

The post match baseball lineup hand shake was a satisfying experience. We had finished the job, 'fronted up', I had a new Rugby tale to tell, and that winning feeling was just starting to kick in. Mystic were now a cohesive team, they know what it takes to win a tournament and they sure will be a threat in the upcoming New England competition. Sweet.


Go Blue


Billy Allsworth - Quarterback


Also: Respect goes to Matty 'Boat Race' York for bringing home the post match drinking contest.