CANTON, MA – Week five of the NERFU season pitted the undefeated Mystics against an equally hungry and undefeated Boston Irish Wolfhounds at the Irish Cultural Center. The Wolfhounds took an early 7 point lead with a well worked converted-try, and for the bulk of the first half the match remained at 7-0 until Mystic flyhalf Derrick Roma put the Mystics onto the scoreboard with a penalty kick through the uprights.

Another penalty early in the second half would cut the ‘Hounds lead down to one point causing the Mystics and the Wolfhounds to raise the intensity higher still, with both teams demonstrating some incredibly aggressive rucking. A third penalty would give the Mystics a 9-7 lead, but with the minutes ticking away, the ‘Hounds were able to work the ball up the field to score the go ahead try. A final long range penalty goal by BIW as time expired pushed the final score to 15-9 in favor of the Boston Irish Wolfhounds.

CANTON, MA – The Mystic 2nd XV took the field at the ICC to face off against their toughest opponent of the season thus far, the Boston Irish Wolfhounds. The seasoned Wolfhound side took control of the match early, taking advantage of the much younger and less experienced Mystic side, keeping them on their heels throughout much of the first half. The one sided shut out was finally broken by Mystic scrumhalf Peter Chung, who retrieved his own pop kick over the ‘Hounds defensive line to touch it down between the posts.

The second half saw a change in the Mystics. Down by several tries and knowing the match well out of reach, the Mystics never let up. With veterans Kareem Afifi and Chris Petrigno leading by example, the Mystic pack began to show some life smashing into the Wolfhound defenders. The backline was also able to work out the kinks of the previous half and work the ball wide, where Mystic’s resident Frenchman Stephane Escrig, towing three Wolfhound defenders managed to keep his feet and set up Bobby Ankenbauer with the Mystic’s only other try of the match.