SARANAC LAKE, NY – After an up and down day on Saturday, where the Mystics crushed Old Blue 46-7 in the first game before going down 0-44 to Brockport, the boys had to get themselves prepared for a rematch against the Brockport Doggies in Sunday’s Premier Division final.

The boys got off to a great start in the final when Kayne Bubb made a break and fed the ball to Dimitri Efthimiou who then scorched 60 meters downfield to put the Mystics up 5-0. After that initial setback, Brockport then settled into some direct, smash-mouth rugby and started to get some momentum. The pressure started to tell, and the Mystics gave away too many penalties, including two that were converted into points, leaving Brockport in front by a single point at half time.

Soon after the half, Chris Laughlin put the Mystics 8-6 up after a long-range penalty kick sailed through the uprights. The Doggies again forced the Mystics defense to step up, but the boys in blue held on long enough for Chris Nolan to make a break and offload to Kayne Bubb for the try. Chris Laughlin slotted the conversion and pushed the Mystics’ lead to 15-6.

Despite the lead, things started to swing away from the Mystics as continued penalties led to two yellow cards. With two men down, the Mystics defended valiantly, but couldn’t keep a Brockport try from moving the score to 15-11. The boys increased the intensity on defense and attack, and it paid off five minutes before the end of the half when Man of the Match, Chris Walsh broke away down the sideline to score and shift the scoreboard to 20-11. Brockport wouldn’t back down, however, and struck back with a try of their own, leaving the score at 20-16 with minutes to play. Brockport came out firing, but the Mystics held on to clinch the title by four points.

Special thanks are due to both the Old Boys who supported the team throughout the weekend, as well as the many members and ex-members of Dave Rudzinsky’s youth rugby program who contributed so much on the pitch over the weekend.