Rugby News
Outlaws Head East for Playoffs
November 5, 2009
St. Bonaventure will travel the the Bronx this Saturday to take on Met NY champion Fordham University in the NRU Quarterfinals. The Outlaws, ranked #21 this week by RugbyMag.com, will kickoff against the Rams at 4:00 p.m. at Murphy Field on Fordham's Rose Hill Campus.
Fordham (4-2) earned the NRU #4 seed by beating the Army Colts last weekend 25-23 in the Met NY finals after finishing runner-up to the Colts in the regular season. St. Bonaventure is the #5 NRU seed, earned by finishing 5-1 and in second place in the NYS Premier League. The winner will travel to West Point, NY for the NRU Final Four on November 14th & 15th.
Northeast Rugby Union Quarterfinals
#8 SUNY Brockport @ #1 US Military Academy
#5 St. Bonaventure University @ #4 Fordham University
#6 Harvard University @ #3 Syracuse University
#7 Boston College @ #2 Dartmouth College
St. Bonaventure Tops Cortland; Headed to NRU Playoffs
October 26, 2009
Once again playing on a rain-soaked pitch, St. Bonaventure locked up second place in the NYS Premier League with a 49-20 win at Cortland State. Fly Half Jarred Vos accounted for 15 points and Darren Kmicinski added 14 of his own in the convincing win.
Things got under way simply enough, with Kmicinski, then Cortland, then Vos kicking penalties to give the Outlaws a 6-3 lead at the 22 minute mark. Pressuring the hosts throughout the opening half, the Outlaws were finally able to break into the try zone in an unconventional way. Battering the Cortland line for several phases, the ball eventually found it's way to Kmicinski. Finding a wall of defenders in between himself and pay dirt, the winger chipped over the line at the 5 meter line, gathered his own kick before it touched the ground and slid in for the score. He added the conversion for the 13-3 lead. Following the restart, Mark Hanna took a pass off the side of a ruck, broke through the initial line of defense, fended off a pair of would-be-tacklers and rambled in for the 40-meter solo try, his eighth score of the season. Kmicinski slotted the kick and St. Bonaventure went to the half up 20-3.
Playing for an injured Pat Carey, debutant prop Tim Hanna made his presence known. After a long driving maul, Hanna rolled to the left and broke free from the Cortland defense. Inches from the line, the McQuaid product offloaded to Chris Schott for the lanky forwards second try of the season and a 27-3 lead.
Cortland answered with a second penalty goal but SBU answered when Craig Chatfield burst through the line, moved the ball wide to Waldo Maldonado and the senior out paced the cover defense to the corner for the try.
St. Bonaventure added three more second half tries in spectacular fashion. Tim Hanna again showed he had the family nose for the try zone, again taking the ball from a maul and charging in for his first career try. Jarred Vos scored his two on well executed chip-and-chase plays. On the first he abused a 3-on-1 overlap when he kicked back to the inside and nearly chased the ball down before the Cortland wing tackled him from behind for a penalty try. Vos sealed the deal on his second effort when he was able to kick, zig-zag through traffic and dive on the ball before it could roll dead. A Cortland try finished the scoring at 49-20.
Man of the Match
Jarred Vos continued his emergence as the starting pivot, scoring a pair of beautiful tries and keeping Cortland pinned deep in their own territory with his boot. Tim Hanna deserves a mention for his successful transition to prop after playing flanker in high school.
Scoring
Tries - Vos (2), Kmicinski, M. Hanna, Schott, Maldonado, T. Hanna
Conversions - Kmicinski 3-5, Vos 1-2
Penalties - Kmicinski 1-1, Vos 1-1
Roster
15 Craig Chatfield (Taye Daniel @ 68'), 14 Andrew Maldonado (to #9 @ 65'), 13 Conor Walsh (Jacob Donius @ 62'), 12 Greg George, 11 Darren Kmicinski, 10 Jarred Vos, 9 Tom Theurkauf (Dave Corsini @ 65'), 8 Chris Schott, 7 Nick Maurer (C), 6 Mike George (Jon Garbin @ 68'), 5 Cam Smith, 4 Mark Hanna (Greg Hoyos @ 58', Glenn Tetlow @ 71'), 3 Al Lilga, 2 Sam Giordano (to #6 @ 71'), 1 Pat Carey (Tim Hanna @ 30')
St. Bonaventure Outlasts Brockport in Ice Bowl
October 19, 2009
 photo by Sean Miller |
Both sides showed their commitment in the early going with back and forth play. While SBU controlled the territory, Brockport did their best to run the ball out of the Outlaw half. The Golden Eagles showed their play making ability at the 20 minutes mark when their hard-running fullback Bradley Scott took the ball down the right wing from 30 meters out for the 5-0 lead.
v Down but not out, the next 30 minutes would be controlled by the hosts. Keeping the ball deep in Brockport territory, an errant kick found its way to Darren Kmicinski in space, never a good thing for the opposition. Kmicinski streaked in from just outside the 22 and converted his own try for the 7-5 lead. Minutes later a strong of Golden Eagle penalties gave the Outlaws a lineout 30 meters out. A driving maul brought the ball into striking distance and after another Brockport penalty, Mark Hanna touched down for the seventh time this season, giving the hosts a 12-5 lead.
As at his been this season, a win would not come easily. Loose head prop took a knee to the head on the maul, forcing him out. A minute later, 8-man Atkinson received a red card for what was deemed a dangerous tackle, leaving the Outlaws with seven forwards for the final 50 minutes.
"I don't think that at any point in the game anyone was making excuses for being a man down," said man of the match Nick Maurer. "We looked past that and gave it our all for 80 minutes. We all wanted it and a red card wasn't going to slow anyone down."
Determined to keep the pressure up, SBU pinned the ball deep in Brockport territory. A 22-meter drop out, followed by a Craig Chatfield counter kick, found SBU pushing for the try zone again. After a series of pick-and-drives, Chris Schott found a hole and gave St. Bonaventure the 17-5 lead. A Kmicinski penalty stretched the lead to 20-5 at the 47 minutes mark and it was time for the Outlaws to hold on.
Injured prop J.T. Sheehan said, "The game was very much a seesaw battle and the determining factor of the game was field position. Very simply, when we got deep in their half we scored and when they got into our half they scored." He went on to say, "We played the field position very well through our kicking and all the way through the chase to set up a defensive platform in their end. We forced them to make mistakes and capitalized on them."
Brockport tries at 62 and 73 minutes kept things tense but the SBU defense was able to hold on for the win.
“They had the game plan for the conditions,” said Brockport head coach Mike Hodgins. “They made the right adjustments and we didn’t.” (Source: American Rugby News)
Man of the Match
The entire backline had a fine outing in defense and the kicking game. Zibi Pawlowski was again huge in lineouts and support. Mark Hanna ripped of a half dozen runs of 30-plus meters. But the bottom line is, SBU would not have won without Nick Maurer. The flanker - playing tight head prop - held up for 80 minutes in scrums, tackled every player that came within 10 meters of him and has a load in contact as usual. But most importantly, the junior took the reigns after Atkinson's card and played his best when the team needed him most.
Scoring
Tries - Hanna, Kmicinski, Schott Conversions - Kmicinski 1-3 Penalties - Kmicinski 1-2
Roster
15 Craig Chatfield, 14 Darren Kmicinski, 13 Greg George, 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Conor Walsh, 10 Jarred Vos, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson (C) (Red Card @ 33'), 7 Chris Schott, 6 Mike George, 5 Zibi Pawlowski, 4 Mark Hanna (Greg Hoyos @ 66'), 3 Nick Maurer, 2 Dennis Mulligan, 1 Pat Carey (Derek Folts @ 32')
Outlaws Take Bite Out of Great Danes
October 12, 2009
 photo by Lisa Sylor |
Man of the Match
After three matches of shaking off the rust (and scoring 4 tries), senior Hanna played his most complete match of the season, playing hard defense, scoring a brace of tries and putting W. Atkinson away on another.
Scoring
Tries - W. Atkinson (2), Hanna (2), Mulligan, Kmicisnki Conversions - Kmicinski 5-6 Penalties - Kmicinski 1-1
Roster
15 Nick Sylor, 14 Darren Kmicinski, 13 Charlie Specht (C) (Conor Walsh @ 20'), 12 Will Atkinson (Ian Block @ 70'), 11 Greg George, 10 Jarred Vos, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Nick Maurer (Chris Schott @ 65'), 6 Mike George, 5 Zibi Pawlowski, 4 Mark Hanna (Greg Hoyos @ 70'), 3 J.T. Sheehan (Pat Carey @ 18', Derek Folts @ 62'), 2 Dennis Mulligan (Glenn Tetlow @ 75'), 1 Al Lilga
Orange Squeeze Life out of Outlaws
October 7, 2009
 photo by Lisa Sylor |
Things started well enough for the Outlaws. After relieving some early pressure, SBU showed strength in their lineout moving the ball deep into Hammerhead territory. St. Bonaventure earned a scrum with 8-Man Ben Atkinson taking the ball to the openside. A fast ruck produced clean ball for the backs. Craig Chatfield ran a simple switch with Will Atkinson who danced his way through traffic, then used his power to finish for a 5-0 lead at the 11 minute mark.
Perhaps with too much confidence after the quick try, SBU looked to attack out of their own end. After strong pressure from SU, a midfield pass slipped out of St. Bonaventure's hands and Syracuse wing Dave Bliss picked it up and sprinted in from 30 meters to give the guests a 7-5 lead.
SU stretched their lead to 10-5 at the 35th minute. SBU was able to finish the half on a high note, however, when a series of kick-chase-kick-chase led to a scramble for the ball in the try zone. The referee rules SU touched the ball first and the first period ended with SBU still down five but confident things could quickly change.
In the second half, Syracuse did what they do best. The Hammerheads dominated territory in the second half and even when the Outlaws played tough defense and forced a turnover, the kicking game was off the mark. Rarely having a chance to answer, the Outlaws conceded two tries and a penalty goal, with Syracuse missing an additional two penalty kicks. In that period, an SBU maul was driven into the try zone but debutant Alex Brussard's touch down was ruled to be held up in goal.
Down 25-5, the Outlaws and seniors Mark Hanna and Darren Kmicinski didn't stop fighting. A long restart by Kmicinski and a favorable bounce put the ball directly into Hanna's hands who finished for his fourth try of the season.
The Outlaws look to rebound this weekend at University of Albany (1-2) while Syracuse has a monumental clash for first place at Buffalo (3-1).
Man of the Match
If we awarded honors for a loss, senior locks Mark Hanna and Zibi Pawlowski would be the unquestioned winners. Both fought hard for 80 with Hanna scoring a try through pure effort and Pawlowski dominating the middle of the lineout.
Scoring
Tries - W. Atkinson, Hanna Conversions - Kmicinski 1-2
Roster
15 Nick Sylor, 14 Darren Kmicinski, 13 Charlie Specht (C), 12 Will Atkinson (Conor Walsh @ 65'), 11 Greg George, 10 Craig Chatfield, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Nick Maurer (to #1 @ 40'), 6 Chris Schott, 5 Zibi Pawlowski, 4 Mark Hanna, 3 J.T. Sheehan, 2 Dennis Mulligan (to #7 @ 40'), 1 Pat Carey (Alex Brussard to #2 @ 40')
St. Bona's Beats Binghamton in Southern Tier Showdown
September 27, 2009
 photo by Lisa Sylor |
Captain Charlie Specht said, "It's great getting our first Division I home win because we get to show our fans how far we've come." The senior center went on, "They're used to big wins, and while we can't guarantee one each home game, we'll certainly work for it. Having the Bonaventure crowd behind us is always a huge advantage and both teams knew it."
Reprising the sides' match last spring at the Upstate Tournament, the Outlaws were hurt early on by rucking penalties. A strong effort in the kicking game, however, earned SBU a 5-meter scrum at the 8 minute mark and with a strong shove from the tight 5, Ben Atkinson fell on the ball at the back of the scrum for his first try of the season. St. Bonaventure kept up the pressure and just minutes later, Pat Carey - in as a blood sub - was the lucky man in a driving 5-meter lineout and fell down for the 14-0 lead.
Sloppy play in the breakdowns started catching up with SBU 20 minutes in. Binghamton kicked a penalty, which sailed wide, but kept up the pressure. A furious try-line stand led to the Outlaws losing Kmicinski and B. Atkinson to yellow cards for being offsides on penalties. Strong defense from all 13 men, Zibi Pawlowski and W. Atkinson in particular, kept the Devils out of the try zone until SBU returned to full strength. A long solo try from Mark Hanna - his third this season - and a penalty kick from Kmicinski set the score 24-0 at the half.
Kmicinski kept the scoreboard rolling to start the second period, slotting a three-pointer just a few minutes into the half. The speedy winger - who has now scored 184 points (21 tries, 32 conversions, 5 penalties) in two-plus league seasons - commented on his philosophy when kicking for goal: "The only way a team can consistently count on wins is to put up seven points every time." He went on, "Two points could really make or break a team and that is why having a kicker you can count on to make nearly every kick from inside the 40 meter mark is what will win you championships."
As the minutes ticked away, St. Bonaventure's fitness again proved to be an asset. Using a quick-rucking game, Will Atkinson found a cut-back lane in the defense for his second try of the season in the 23rd minute. The inside center scored 12 tries last Fall to lead the team.
Kmicinski finished the scoring with a strong run up the right wing, set up off a nice counter attack from sophomore Taye Daniel-Ayibiowu on the left wing. In his first A-side match, Daniel caught a penalty kick and sprinted infield. The ball was moved through the hands, finding Kmicinski who finished on his own from 40 meters out, as he tends to do.
Man of the Match
Again, the forwards put in a strong effort. Chatfield and W. Atkinson were notably strong in defense and Specht and B. Atkinson deserve credit for keeping the team together after some tough calls early on. Darren Kmicinski earned the award not only for his 19 points, but for proving to be a threat on the outside all day and doing very well in kick defense.
Scoring
Tries - B. Atkinson, Carey, Hanna , W. Atkinson, Kmicinski Conversions - Kmicinski 4-4, Chatfield 1-1 Penalties - Kmicinski 2-3
Roster
15 Nick Sylor, 14 Darren Kmicinski, 13 Charlie Specht (C), 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Greg George (Taye Daniel-Ayibiowu @ 63'), 10 Craig Chatfield (Jarred Vos @ 63'), 9 Tom Theurkauf (Andrew Maldonado @ 68'), 8 Ben Atkinson (Mike George @ 52'), 7 Nick Maurer, 6 Chris Schott, 5 Zibi Pawlowski (Jack Barry @ 58'), 4 Mark Hanna, 3 J.T. Sheehan (Pat Carey @ 63'), 2 Dennis Mulligan (Sam Giordano @ 66'), 1 Al Lilga (Carey blood @ 10')
Outlaws Upset Mad Turtles in Division I Opener
September 20, 2009
 photo by Sean Miller |
After anxiously waiting in the gates for the opening week of the NYS Premier League, St. Bonaventure headed north to play long time Division I power University at Buffalo. Aided by extended fitness work during the bye week, St. Bona outlasted UB 36-22 after being tied 12-all 40 minutes in. Mark Hanna scored a brace with Al Lilga, Will Atkinson and Greg George adding singles. Darren Kmicinski added 11 points, converting four of the tries and a penalty.
From the heavy Buffalo tackle by Matt Kulick on the opening kickoff, the Outlaws knew a happy ending to their opening league match wouldn't be easily earned.
Senior captain Charlie Specht put it, "It was the hardest-hitting game I've ever been a part of, and we were ready for it. It felt so good to beat those guys just because we worked so hard."
Through some poor Outlaw rucking and tackling, UB was able to put early pressure on SBU. A knock on led to a UB scrum and fly half Kevin McKenna chipped over the Bona line to put away Will Zornick in the corner.
Unfazed and confident in their ability to attack, the Outlaws quickly pounced on the restart. Keeping pressure on the hosts, St. Bonaventure earned a scrum of their own. Fly half Craig Chatfield also chose to kick, putting the ball deep in the left corner with blindside wing George chasing. The Outlaw chase turned over the ball and after several hard phases, lock Hanna celebrated his first match in a year by scoring the first of his two tries. The senior scored 5 tries in the first three matches last fall before a foot injury put him on the shelf for 11 months.
SBU kept the pressure on, again using the boot and some power. Chatfield kicked a penalty to touch just inside the UB 22 meter line. Zibi Pawlowski went high to win the line out and after a strong driving maul, Al Lilga fell on the ball for the try with, Kmicinski converting. As the half wound down, UB evened the score with Zornick again running down a kick for the five-pointer.
With adjustments made at the half, SBU came out confident to slow down the Buffalo kicking game and use their fitness, teamwork and total rugby to put UB away.
"The game really showed us that we have a very different dynamic than other teams. That even when we were down we had the confidence and trust in each other to get the job done," said No. 8 Ben Atkinson. "When we play for each other...we can go toe to toe with any team [we face]."
Just minutes into the half, George kicked ahead, and then again, and Will Atkinson ran down the bouncing ball for the go-ahead try. Next vice captain B. Atkinson returned the favor to George, taking the ball on a stolen scrum, drawing out the blindside winger and putting George away in the corner for the well-earned try.
George said, "We felt well conditioned and ready to run. We knew the kick chase wasn't going to work the first time we tried." The senior added, "It was all about consistently putting pressure on the ball. Eventually it bounced our way."
After a third UB try, unconverted, Kmicinski returned the Bona lead to double digits with a penalty kick from 30 meters for the 29-17 lead. Hanna put the game away with his second try and a last minute Buffalo try down the wing finished the scoring.
Specht summed up the feeling, saying, "We stepped on that field not wishing, but knowing, we were ready. The feeling after the win was a new sense of fulfillment that I haven't felt before, not even after a championship."
Man of the Match
Every player had did well enough in their role to earn the award in the opener, especially all eight forwards. Notably, Kmicinski's 11 points made the win seem comfortable. In a match where kicking and hard defense were the themes, Greg George led the way in both categories. The senior winger helped hold up a would-be-UB second half try; set up a pair of SBU tries with his kicking and kick chase; and scored one for himself to cap the MVP effort.
Scoring
Tries - Hanna (2), W. Atkinson, G. George, Lilga
Conversions - Kmicinski 4-5
Penalties - Kmicinski 1-1
Roster
15 Nick Sylor, 14 Darren Kmicinski, 13 Charlie Specht (C), 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Greg George, 10 Craig Chatfield, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Nick Maurer, 6 Chris Schott (Mike George @ 71'), 5 Zibi Pawlowski, 4 Mark Hanna, 3 J.T. Sheehan, 2 Dennis Mulligan, 1 Al Lilga
Outlaws look to build on Division II Dominance
September 16, 2009
 photo by Sean Miller |
The Good…
- The SBU forward pack returns seven starters from last Spring, with plenty of bulk in the tight five. J.T. Sheehan (Jr.) and Pat Carey (So.) make a strong platform in set pieces with Al Lilga (Sr.) providing quality depth. Last year’s hooker Dennis Mulligan (Jr.) – a NYS All Star as a sophomore – dropped some weight to transition to blindside flanker, in place of graduated four-year starter Tom Conley. He could see more time in the #2 jersey. In the second row, three players are fighting for two spots. Mark “Sparks” Hanna (Sr.) has a nose for the try zone while Zibi Pawlowski (5Sr.) and Chris Schott (So.) are big targets in the lineouts. Jack Barry (So.) looks to join that group by midseason.
- The Outlaws feature arguably the top lineout in the state, along with Syracuse. Pawlowski, Schott and No. 8 Ben Atkinson (Jr.) give SBU three dynamic jumpers. Openside flanker Nick Maurer (Jr.) is also a capable jumper when called upon. Charged with the job of hitting them will be Alex Brussard (Fr.), a player with International experience from Boston College H.S.
- The half back/center combination of #9 Tom Theurkauf (Jr.), #10 Craig Chatfield (Jr.), #12 Will Atkinson (Jr.) and Captain Charlie Specht (Sr.) has remained unbroken for the past two seasons. Their experience together should be an asset in attack and defense.
- In the deep three, there is plenty of pace on hand. Senior wings Greg George at blindside and Darren Kmicisnki at openside are capable of finishing from nearly any distance. Fullback Nick Sylor (Jr.) is a strong tackler but also one of the team’s top try scoring threats.
- The fast-paced, hard hitting nature of Division I rugby will be a big challenge for the Outlaws. The last three challenging Spring seasons have built plenty of depth. Along with Lilga and the extra locks, Sam Giordano (Jr.) at hooker and Mike George (So.) at flanker have all seen their fair share of A-side playing time. In the backs, fly half Jarred Vos (Jr.) is starter quality and center/wing Conor Walsh (Sr.) emerged out of nowhere against Penn St. and Rutgers to secure a spot on the bench. Senior scrum half Andrew Maldonado will certainly contribute too.
The Bad…
- Although plenty of talent returns, the Outlaws lost their two most influential players in Bob Owens and Gabe Martinez. Owens, along with Conley, made a flanker pairing as good as any in NYS. Owens, the 2008 Captain and team MVP, was not only a great leader but also a real talent, earning multiple NYS and NRU honors. The soft-spoken Martinez showed the way with his play. A four-year starter and two-time Vice Captain, Martinez was always at his best in big games. Back in town for graduate school, don’t be surprised to see Martinez slip the black and gold jumper on again before the season is over.
- Even with some depth, it could be a long season for the Outlaws. Minor bumps and bruises add up and the Division I schedule does not allow for an off week. A mid-season stretch of matches against Syracuse (Home, 10/3), Albany (Away, 10/10) and Brockport (Home, 10/17) could make or break the season.
The Interesting…
- The Outlaws finished their Spring with a win over UB and now will face them again to open the season. Motivation is not an issue for either side.
- Will and Ben Atkinson spent their summer playing 7s with Eastern power NYAC. Will was a try-scoring machine for the Bs while Ben saw plenty of action with the As, starting or subbing most matches.
- Dennis Mulligan dropped 10 pounds to move to flanker, and is looking meaner than ever.
- For the first few years of U-19 rugby in Western New York, the Outlaws were unable to target many players. That changed this year with Jon Garbin (loose forward), Steve Kuzara (front row) and Anthony Pantano (fly half) from Kenmore West, Tim Hanna (prop) and Kevin McCorry (scrum half) from McQuaid and Glenn Tetlow (hooker) from Fairport enrolling.
- On top of former U-17 Eagle Captain Brussard and the seven WNY products, three freshmen without experience join the club. Steve Jacobson (Salamanca, NY) was one of the top athletes in Cattaraugus County, staring in football, wrestling and lacrosse. Jacobson is slotted at inside center. A pair of wings, Steve Baptiste (Niagara Falls, NY) and Aiden Breheny (Saratoga, NY) both show potential.
- Graduated leaders Owens and Conley are continuing their rugby at Muskerry R.F.C. in County Cork, Ireland (http://www.muskerryrugby.com). Conley is seeing time in the #6 jersey while Owens has transitioned to #12.
Schedule
- For the second consecutive season, league play will begin while SBU takes its bye week on September 12th. The next week the team will be thrown directly into the fire, traveling to University at Buffalo (1-0) for their first official Division I match. Until Syracuse won states last fall, UB dominated the previous half decade of play in New York State. Mickey McGuire will surely have his side ready after falling to the Outlaws in last Spring’s Upstate Tournament. Matt Agugliaro (Jr.) and Matt Kulik (So.) give UB one of the strongest loose forward tandems in the Union.
- SBU’s home opener comes the following weekend against Binghamton (0-1). The Devils gave the good guys a tough match at Upstates (10-3) and are definitely a club on the rise with young coach Jon McGovern leading the way.
- The defending Division I champion #20 Syracuse Hammerheads (0-1) come to Allegany the next weekend, 10/3. Despite graduating star #8 Steve Patch and several others from a strong group of forwards, Coach Bob Wilson will again have a powerful, dynamic pack.
- The Outlaws will travel across New York to Albany (1-0) on October 10th. The sides last collided in the 2005 NYS DII semifinals with Albany coming out on top. Both sides have made excellent strides since then.
- Another huge home match is on the slate for the 17th. The 19th ranked Brockport Golden Eagles (1-0), formerly the Doggie, are led by NRU Collegiate Coach Mike Hodgins. A stocky, powerful pack and dynamic backline have led Brockport to consecutive playoff appearances, advancing to the NRU Final 4 in 2007 and pushing Dartmouth in the opening round of 2008. Seniors Damien Flint (#10), Kris DeMetro (#12) and Travis Pufpaff (#13) are tough to stop.
- With the departure of Cornell (Ivy League) and Canisius (Division II), Cortland (0-1) looks to avoid the wooden spoon this year. The Outlaws will wrap up the regular season on 10/24 in Cortland against the Warriors, who finished last fall on a three-match win streak.
Outlaws Cap Spring With Strong Upstate Showing
April 22, 2009
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As newcomers to Division I, the Outlaws received the bottom seed and opened with defending NYS champs Syracuse. The Hammerheads' physical, mobile pack applied early pressure but both sides settled for points when available and three shots at goal resulted in a 6-3 halftime lead for SU. Darren Kmicinski added a second penalty but Syracuse wing Dave Bliss was too much to contain and SU won 24-6.
Scoring
Penalties - D. Kmicinski - 2-2
Roster
15 Sylor, 14 Kmicinski, 13 Specht (C), 12 W. Atkinson, 11 G. George, 10 Vos, 9 M. Hanrahan, 8 Owens, 7 Hoyos, 6 Conley, 5 Pawlowski, 4 Schott, 3 Sheehan, 2 Mulligan, 1 Maurer
The Outlaws next faced Binghamton, the only team to beat Syracuse last fall. SU topped Binghamton 31-7 in the pool's opening match. SBU played with a re-dedication to teamwork and linked up for several long strikes. Chris Schott and Nick Maurer put in strong days, rucking, tackling and running all over the pitch. Some tight interpretations at the breakdown hurt the Outlaws final scoreline but a Kmicinski penalty and a Bob Owens try were enough in the 10-3 win.
Scoring
Tries - B. Owens
Conversions - D. Kmicinski 1-1
Penalties - D. Kmicinski 1-1
Roster
15 M. Hanrahan, 14 Kmicinski, 13 Specht (C), 12 W. Atkinson, 11 G. George, 10 Vos, 9 Sylor, 8 Owens, 7 M. George, 6 Conley, 5 Pawlowski, 4 Schott, 3 Sheehan, 2 Mulligan, 1 Maurer
While Syracuse went on to roll Brockport 26-0 in the finals, St. Bonaventure looked to avenge their 22-0 loss to UB in the South Buffalo tournament finals. Buffalo came out strong and the threat of their forwards on the inside led to a pair of long runs by John Geoghan and eventual tries. Buffalo was up quickly 10-0 but SBU didn't cave in. J.T. Sheehan put the Outlaws on the board when he took a quick penalty and charged up field for the 30-meter try. Just before the end of the half, Kmicinski made a long break up the touch-line, then moved the ball to Nick Sylor before Zibi Pawlowski went weakside for the first try of his career. Down 14-10 at the break, UB came out with purpose and again pressured the Outlaws line. Both teams threw all they had into every phase and a string of penalties eventually led to a go-ahead try for UB, making the score 17-14 with just minutes to play. Determined to fight till the death, St. Bonaventure used a strong pick-and-drive game to challenge UB's mettle. A string of penalties allowed Sheehan to rip of two huge runs on quick taps and move inside Buffalo's 22. As time expired, Charlie Specht powered in under the posts, Kmicinski remained perfect on the day and the good guys won 21-17. After a grueling spring schedule, the dramatic win was exactly what the Outlaws needed before a long offseason of running and lifting.
Scoring
Tries - J. Sheehan, Z. Pawlowski, C. Specht
Conversions - Kmicinski 3-3
Roster
15 M. Hanrahan, 14 Kmicinski, 13 Specht (C), 12 W. Atkinson, 11 Walsh, 10 Vos, 9 Sylor, 8 Owens, 7 Maurer, 6 Conley, 5 Pawlowski, 4 Schott, 3 Sheehan, 2 Mulligan, 1 Folts
Outlaws Open Spring 2-2
April 2, 2009
 photo by Bob Owens, Sr. |
After a disappointing end to last Fall, the team got right to work preparing for this Spring. There was a real sense of urgency to make up some ground between us and the top teams in the Northeast. We were thrilled to see speed, strength and fitness numbers improve across the board. While there is still a lot of work to do, it was good to see so many players make the commitment to the team.
We opened the season on March 14th in Pennsylvania against Kutztown University. The Golden Bears were preparing for the Mid-Atlantic playoffs and their stature matched their reputation. The boys came out hard and were able to string together several phases but KU quickly woke up, forced a turnover and took a quick 5-0 lead. The Outlaws defense settled down and were able to hold the line for minutes at a time but Kutztown was able to exploit the smallest piece of space and took a 24-0 lead late in the half. Using a solid kicking game, we did pressure Kutztown's tryline twice late in the half but some quick cover defense relieved the pressure and led to another Golden Bear try, leaving the Outlaws down 31-0 at the half.
At the half, we were all very optimistic. While the scoreline was daunting, we weren't completely out-manned; just out-thunk. Led by All-American Marco Barnard at inside center and a classy half-back combination, Kutztown constantly made the right decision, never trying to do too much. But when they decided to attack, they did so with pace, power and precision.
The second half showed their true greatness as the hosts got stronger by the minute. When scrum half Tom Theurkauf, fly half Craig Chatfield and replacement center Mike Murray all went down in the first 15 minutes, Kutztown showed no mercy, pressuring us at the breakdown and in the inside running lanes. Redemption came in the final 10 minutes when several phases of pressure inside the KU 22-meter line led to a shot at goal for Jarred Vos. The South African slotted the kick and got the Outlaws on the board, even if it was only three points. Minutes later the Outlaws came within inches of the line but a lack of commitment at the breakdown led to a turnover and clearing kick. Finally, the pressure paid off when Will Atkinson, a transfer from Kutztown, zig-zagged into the try zone on a quick-tap penalty and touched down for five, ending the scoring at 86-8.
Scoring
Tries - W. Atkinson
Conversions - Vos 0-1
Penalties - 1-1
South Buffalo Collegiate Tournament
Last weekend, on March 28th, we headed north to South Buffalo for their inaugural collegiate tournament. With two sides entered, the Outlaws depth and conditioning was tested. Already missing starters Mark Hanna, Aaron Lilga, Dennis Mulligan, Tom Theurkauf, Craig Chatfield and Darren Kmicinski - plus several subs and B-siders - nearly the entire team played 120-plus minutes on a warm spring day.
In the double-elimination bracket of eight teams (SBU A & B, University at Buffalo A & B, Buffalo State, Canisius, Fredonia and Geneseo), the A-side opened with old rival Fredonia and the Bs were paired against the strong Warthogs of Geneseo - the last NYS DII team to beat us. Led by the loose forward trio of Mike George, Greg Hoyos and Jacob Donius, the B-side put in a good effort against Geneseo but fell 24-0. On the bottom half of the bracket, the second seeded SBU As started slowly before beating Blackhorse 34-3.
In the loser's bracket, the B-side, featuring 11 freshmen, took on another old rival in Buff State. The Mad Dogs scored early but Pat Monreal put the good guys on the board when he bashed over the line on a penalty play. It was the senior lock's first try. The BSC experience and power proved too much and the young Outlaws fell 24-5. Canisius was next on the slate for the A-side and the Outlaws finally found their stride. Ben Atkinson was a load all game, scoring a hat trick. Sheehan, Maurer, the elder Hanrahan and the elder George also touched down for the 41-0 win.
The thrill of my semester came in the 7/8 match when the B-side took on Fredonia. With more stellar play from the forwards, and Mike Murray breaking the gain line every touch, the B-side won 6-tries to one! I was amazed as they held strong in contact, launched runners into big holes and generally played a brilliant game. Things did not end as well for the A-side. As expected, UB moved through their half of the bracket and the long-time regional power was not ready to kneel to the up-and-comers. Second row-mates Mike McGuire and Steve Nowak were dominant in contact and half backs Kevin McKenna and Sho Kuroda moved the ball with brutal efficiency. In a hard hitting game, three more starters had to head to the sidelines. UB was simply too committed up front and that cost us dearly, falling 22-0. Another learning opportunity to be sure.
A-Side Scoring (B-Side to come)
Fredonia: Tries - B. Atkinson, W. Atkinson, Owens, Specht, Sheehan, Sylor; Conversions - Sylor 2-4, Vos 0-2
Canisius: Tries - B. Atkinson (3), Sheehan, Maurer, M. Hanrahan, G. George; Conversions - Sylor 3-5, Vos 0-2
Seven Outlaws Named to NYS Player Pool
February 16, 2009
The New York State College All Stars, headed by Dave De Salvia of Syracuse University, named its player pool for the 2009 program. The Outlaws tied University of Buffalo with seven selections while 2008 State Champion Syracuse added six. Bob Owens (flanker), J.T. Sheehan (prop) and Will Atkinson (center) are all repeat selections. Ben Atkinson (Loose Forward) was a Mid-South All Star at Tennessee and played for the NRU All Stars this summer but has yet to wear the NYS jumper. Dennis Mulligan (hooker), Nick Maurer (Utility Forward) and Mike Hanrahan (Fullback) are making their first select side appearances.
New York State will travel to Pittsburgh where the Harlequins will host a match against the Allegheny Union All Stars on March 4th. Another warm-up match is scheduled for April 19th before a final squad is selected for the NRU Cup on April 25th.
from left: Nick Maurer, Ben Atkinson, J.T. Sheehan, Bob Owens, Mike Hanrahan, Dennis Mulligan, Will Atkinson 2009 NYS All Star Player Pool
Matt Agugliaro (Buffalo), Ben Atkinson (St. Bonaventure), Will Atkinson (St. Bonaventure), Darius Blankley (ECC), Pat Boice (Buffalo), Nick Bridenbaugh (Niagara), Keith Browe (Binghamton), Nick Camposeo (Buffalo), Franco DeLisa (Syracuse), Kris Demetro (Brockport), John Dunn (Hamilton), Max Ehret (LeMoyne), Damien Flint (Brockport), Neal Hagermoser (Syracuse), Mike Hanrahan (St. Bonaventure), Steve Jensen (Brockport), Chris Kicior (Brockport), Shohei Kuroda (Buffalo), Zach Levic (Syracuse), Nick Maurer (St. Bonaventure), Bryan McCorkle (Hobart), Mike McGuire (Buffalo), Luke MeoHenry (Binghamton), Dennis Mulligan (St. Bonaventure), Bob Owens (St. Bonaventure), Justin Palardy (MCC), Steve Patch (Syracuse), Kamil Patel (Buffalo), Brian Pinto (Binghamton), Travis Pufpaff (Brockport), Dominic Rucci (Syracuse), Mike Schoell (Geneseo), J.T. Sheehan (St. Bonaventure), Matt Smith (Niagara), Rob Stabile (Syracuse), Ryan Stanton (Binghamton), Panagiotis Tzerefos (RIT), Matt Zajac (Buffalo)
Outlaws Release Spring Slate With Big Names Abound
February 16, 2009
photo by Bob Owens, Sr. |
Newly promoted to Division I, the Outlaws will abruptly start their season at #9 Kutztown (PA) on March 14. Led by All American center Marco Barnard, Kutztown brings a lot of size, speed and power to the table. The Golden Bears' backs will certainly put the SBU defense under pressure and it will be up to the Outlaw forward pack to provide enough quality ball for their own backline.
South Buffalo is hosting a college tournament on March 28 with a rematch of the Division II state finals (St. Bonaventure v. Hamilton College) already scheduled. SBU will enter two sides along with University of Buffalo. Canisius, Fredonia, Niagara, Geneseo and Buffalo State also entered sides. The Outlaws have a combined record of 12-3 against the field since 2006. The next weekend, the Outlaws will take on South Buffalo in what should be a bruising encounter. Dan Hager '05 and Adam P. Deisinger '07 highlight the South Buffalo roster.
An Easter Break tour will take SBU east to play night matches against #5 Penn State University on Thursday (4/9) and defending MetNY Champion Rutgers University on Friday (4/10). PSU has won a game at the national tournament four consecutive seasons. SBU last met Rutgers in the 2007 NRU Division II 3rd/4th place match when RU won 27-19.
The NY Upstate Tournament on April 18 will give the Outlaws a good look at their competition for Fall 2009. Syracuse is the early favorite but UB and Brockport, as well as SBU, will look to challenge the 2008 state champions. The season wraps up with the Alumni Game on 5/2.
SBU sunk by Coast Guard in rugby playoffs
November 1, 2008
 photo by Lisa Sylor |
Before more than 800 fans on a beautiful November afternoon, St. Bonaventure's remarkable rugby season was sunk by the Coast Guard, 24-22, in the Northeast Rugby Union first round, dashing the Outlawsą hopes for a national championship in their last game in Division II. Their New York State Rugby Conference title earned SBU the right to compete in Division I next season.
"They were a strong, tough team, but we weren't outmanned," said Picard, SBU's third-year coach. "We left it all on the field and have nothing to be ashamed of. I couldn't be prouder of the way these guys fought."
What looked early like a Coast Guard blowout turned into a fiercely contested battle stopped several times to attend to injuries.
Coast Guard jumped in front 12-0 midway through the first half, but St. Bonaventure finally took advantage of its speed on the wings on long try (touchdown) runs by Will Atkinson and Darren Kmicinski to tie the game 12-12 at halftime.
But Coast Guard flexed its muscles again early in the second half, bulling in a try from two yards out. Kmicinski hit about a 25-yard field goal in between the two scores to cut it to 17-15, but a try and conversion put Coast Guard up more than one score, 24-15, just 10 minutes later.
"They just battered us and were able to keep possession too often in the rucks, and we just didn't do enough to stop them," Picard said.
The Outlaws, however, didnąt wilt, scoring on a darting 35-yard sprint by Mike Hanrahan and a Kmicinski kick to cut the lead to 24-22 with about 12 minutes to play. With less than five minutes left, a dangerous breakout by the Outlaws up the left wing left Coast Guard Coach Andy McGurer with a lump in his throat.
"I have to be honest, we were concerned the whole game with their breakaway speed and their ability to score so fast," McGurer said. "They have well-conditioned backs and great, slashing running. They are definitely the best Division II team we played this year."
Unfortunately, an attempted lateral to Gabe Martinez was ruled a forward pass, thwarting the advance. The Outlaws never threatened again, leaving the field after the final whistle with heads bowed in disbelief. They were greeted with a standing ovation.
McGurer, in his ninth year coaching the longtime national power, was just as impressed.
"We thought the only way to stop them was to slam them hard and not let them get the ball on the outside," McGurer said. "You could see how superb their ball handling was, the best of any Division II team I've seen, including Radford who beat us last year in the nationals."
Dejected but not disappointed, Picard has his eyes trained on the jump to Division I next year and facing the likes of UB, Syracuse and Brockport. The novelty of winning games by an average of 70-1 has worn off.
"We just need to refocus, get better and work on new things. It's always exciting having a new challenge," Picard said. "I'm still excited about the way this season went. Coast Guard is as good as it gets. Not a lot of D-II Northeast teams can compete with D-I Northeast. There aren't 10 D-II teams in the country that could beat Coast Guard."
Coast Guard, which has advanced to four national semifinals and won the 2005-06 national title, advances to next weekend's NRU final four at West Point.
Man of the Match
Coast Guard brought a lot of physicality and all 15 Outlaws responded bravely. Mike Hanrahan made several try-saving plays and the entire backline was dangerous in attack, especially Will Atkinson and the wings. It was Ben Atkinson, though, who was putting pressure on the opponents all over the pitch, making several long breaks late in the second half.
Scoring
Tries - W. Atkinson, Hanrahan, Kmicinski Conversions - Kmicinski 2-3 Penalties - Kmicinski 1-1
Roster
15 Mike Hanrahan, 14 Gabe Martinez, 13 Greg George (Charlie Specht @ 40), 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Darren Kmicinski (Nick Sylor @ 71), 10 Craig Chatfield, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Bob Owens (C), 6 Tom Conley (Chris Schott @ 70), 5 Zibi Pawlowski, 4 Nick Maurer, 3 JT Sheehan (Pat Carey @ 62), 2 Dennis Mulligan, 1 Al Lilga
St. Bonaventure Back-to-Back State Champs
October 25, 2008
Outlaws Get Physical in Rout of Mad Dogs
October 18, 2008
 photo by Bob Owens, Sr |
Looking to secure home field for the NYS Finals, St. Bonaventure left nothing up to chance by running in 15 tries to beat Buffalo State 91-0. SBU was determined to test the Mad Dogs defense on the edges and it paid off with the deep three combining for 7 tries - three by Nick Sylor, two from Darren Kmicinski and one each from Mike Hanrahan and Matt Finney. Ben Atkinson (2), Will Atkinson, Craig Chatfield, Greg George, Nick Maurer, Bob Owens and J.T. Sheehan also touched town. Chatfield converted 8 of 12 kicks before sitting down with a 21 point haul.
Determined to prove they weren't looking ahead to the playoffs, SBU went on the offensive early. Chatfield and the elder Atkinson linked up to punch a hole in the midfield defense. Ben Atkinson took a quick phase to the weak side for the 7-0 lead four minutes in. Kmicinski broke off a long run two minutes later, flying down the side line before cutting inside. J.T. Sheehan finished the job in the right corner. Following the kickoff, Kmicinski again took the ball on the right wing. He trusted his power and pace this time, blowing through the Mad Dog wing and fullback on the way to the tryzone for a 65 meter score. The Outlaws clinched home field 11 minutes in, suitably on a fantastic team try. Zibi Pawlowski took the ball on the weak side and rambled up field before moving it wide to W. Atkinson. The powerful center was better than three Buff St defenders, busting inside the attacking 22 before offloading to Chatfield for the classy try.
Down 31-0 after a second Kmicinski try, Buff St. turned to their usual tactics, showing the class of their club. Each punch seemed to be answered with a try. W. Atkinson continued to break the gain line, setting up tries for Mike Hanrahan and Greg George. Nick Maurer was a load all day in contact but showed great pace when he outran the Buffalo team's cover defense for a 60-meter strike.
Up 50-0 at the half, the Outlaws relentless play punished the unfit Mad Dogs. Owens scored after supporting a long run from Sylor. The captain set up B. Atkinson's second try after poaching Buff St. ball. Will Atkinson scored a much deserved try after J.T. Sheehan bulled his way 30 meters down field, leaving a wake of orange jerseys. Nick Sylor scored his three tries in the final 20 minutes with Finney's try mixed in.
St. Bonaventure will host #8 Hamilton College this weekend at Outlaw Park. Kickoff is set for 1:00. The teams will not only be competing for the NY State Championship and the #4 NRU seed but also a spot in the NYS Premier League for 2009.
Man of the Match
A number of players could have one the award again this week. Nick Maurer continues to play well at multiple positions. The Buff St. outside backs are still having nightmares of Nick Sylor and Darren Kmicinski blowing past them. Theurkauf and Chatfield continue to pair brilliantly at 9 and 10. All of that being said, Ben Atkinson has been the man that keeps the Outlaw pack moving forward time after time. The #8 seems to have a hand in every Outlaw try and brings a nastiness that was missing while he sat out with an early-season injury.
Scoring
Tries - Sylor (3), B. Atkinson (2), Kmicinski (2), W. Atkinson, Chatfield, Finney, George, Hanrahan, Maurer, Owens, Sheehan
Conversions - Chatfield 8-12, Vos 0-2, Finney 0-1
Lineup
15 Mike Hanrahan, 14 Nick Sylor, 13 Greg George, 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Darren Kmicinski (Matt Finney @ 40), 10 Craig Chatfield (Jarred Vos @ 72), 9 Tom Theurkauf (Waldo Maldonado @ 77), 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Bob Owens (C) (Sam Giordano @ 75), 6 Nick Maurer, 5 Zibi Pawlowski (Pat Monreal @ 52), 4 Chris Schott, 3 J.T. Sheehan (Derek Folts @ 57), 2 Dennis Mulligan, 1 Al Lilga (Pat Carey @ 65)
St. Bonaventure Blanks Geneseo; Clinches Empire West
October 11, 2008
 photo by Bob Owens, Sr |
With a spot in the NYS Championship on the line, St. Bonaventure (5-0) beat the visiting Geneseo Warthogs (5-1) 48-0 on Saturday. Will Atkinson continued his hot streak with a pair of tries. Darren Kmicinski also had a double and Greg George, Tom Theurkauf and Craig Chatfield scored a try each. Chatfield was 6-8 kicking with a penalty and five conversions for an 18-point haul.
Both teams played like the stakes warranted early on, exchanging heavy tackles and strong runs. The Outlaw pack controlled the set pieces, however, denying Geneseo possession. Steady pressure led to a Geneseo penalty and Chatfield benefited from a Will Atkinson offload to score 15 minutes in. The fly half added a penalty 10 minutes later for the 10-0. Atkinson picked up his first try after the Outlaws worked through multiple phases off a lineout, finishing the first half 15-0.
A scary moment came a minute into the second half when Geneseo's fly half went down with a head injury [He's fine]. After a 15 minute break both sides came out fresh and hitting hard. After a held up try, the forward pack pushed over a Geneseo scrum on the 5-meter line. Theurkauf pounced on the loose ball for the try and 20-0 lead.
At the 60-minute mark, Kmicinski broke out to clinch the match. The backline worked the ball to the wing where Kmicinski shot down the touchline before cutting inside to touch down under the posts. A minute later, Bob Owens created a turnover on a dominant tackle. Kmicinski ran over a pair of defenders on the way to his second score. Chatfield slotted the tricky conversion and SBU had a secure 34-0 lead.
Atkinson scored his second try on an errant kick and George finished the scoring at 80 minutes off another stolen 5-meter scrum.
Man of the Match
The entire pack hurt Geneseo up front. Chatfield and Theurkauf did their job to keep the ball moving and Atkinson ran and distributed well. It was Darren Kmicinski, however, that came up big with his long runs. The winger also had a pair of booming kicks that relieved heavy Warthog pressure.
Scoring
Tries - W. Atkinson (2), Kmicinski (2), Chatfield, George, Theurkauf
Conversions - Chatfield 5-7
Penalties - Chatfield 1-1
Roster
15 Mike Hanrahan, 14 Gabe Martinez (Nick Sylor @ 62), 13 Charlie Specht (Greg George @ 40), 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Darren Kmicinski, 10 Craig Chatfield, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Bob Owens, 6 Tom Conley, 5 Zibi Pawlowski (Chris Schott @ 54), 4 Nick Maurer, 3 J.T. Sheehan, 2 Dennis Mulligan, 1 Al Lilga
Sophomores Score 11 Tries in Big Win
October 4, 2008
 photo by Sean Miller |
St. Bonaventure got off to a quick start with two tries in the first two minutes and cruised to an 85-0 win over rival Fredonia Blackhorse. Sophomore # 8 Ben Atkinson scored a hat trick while classmates Will Atkinson, J.T. Sheehan, Nick Sylor and Craig Chatfield added doubles. Greg George scored a pair of his own and Darren Kmicinski and Pat Carey added singles.
The Outlaws quickly applied pressure on the openeing kick, forcing a turnover in Fredonia territory. Bob Owens moved the ball wide to Darren Kmicinski ran in for his first score of the year. The winger - who had 18 last year - has been slowed by a leg injury but looked poised for a big end to the season. A minute later Craig Chatfield put his boot to good use, chipping over the Blackhorse line and running under the ball before moving it wide to J.T. Sheehan. The big prop outraced the cover defense to the corner and 10-0 lead. SBU kept up the pressure when Gabe Martinez kicked ahead at the six minute mark. Will Atkinson would benefit this time with a try under the posts.
Fredonia is known for their hard hitting style. The home club was able to apply pressure in spurts diring the first 25 minutes but strong play in set pieces allowed St. Bona to control possession. Tom Theurkauf and Craig Chatfield were able to keep the pace in favor of the Outlaws leading to tries by Sylor, Sheehan, Chatfield and Sylor again to finish the half up 39-0.
In the second half the SBU forwards took over. Ben Atkinson set up tries for Chatfield, George, and brother Will before scoring a pair of his own in the first 25 minutes of the half. George scored his second in the 70th minute off a long punt and Carey scored his on a bruising run from 30 meters out. Ben Atkinson finished the scoring when he scooped up another long kick.
Man of the Match
Both Atkinsons made big impacts and Nick Maurer was huge in the loose but it was Craig Chatfield who directed the fast-paced attack. His strategic kicking was spot on, he was always available in support and in general, kept the Outlaws going at full speed.
Scoring
Tries - B. Atkinson (3), W. Atkinson (2), Chatfield (2), George (2), Sheehan (2), Sylor (2), Carey, Kmicinski
Conversions - Chatfield 4-10, Martinez 1-5
Roster
15 Gabe Martinez, 14 Darren Kmicinski (Greg George @ 27), 13 Charlie Specht, 12 Will Atkinson (Jarred Vos @ 54), 11 Nick Sylor, 10 Craig Chatfield, 9 Tom Theurkauf (Matt Finney @ 60), 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Bob Owens (C), 6 Tom Conley (Pat Monreal @ 66), 5 Zibi Pawlowski (Chris Schott @ 40), 4 Nick Maurer, 3 J.T. Sheehan (Derek Folts @ 70), 2 Dennis Mulligan (Sam Giordano @ 75), 1 Pat Carey
Outlaws Return to Top Ten
October 2, 2008
 photo by Bob Owens, Sr. |
St. Bonaventure moved up the Division II national rankings this week to 10th after a 92-0 win over University of Rochester. Empire East leader Hamilton comes in at 16th while Middlebury holds on to the top spot. Other ranked NRU teams include Brown (12th), Coast Guard (13th), Fairfield (15th) and Vermont (20th).
Rankings courtesy of eRugbyNews (Subscription Required).
Rochester No Match for Outlaw's Speed, Power
September 28, 2008
|
photo by Bob Owens, Sr. |
In a rare Sunday match St. Bonaventure beat University of Rochester 92-0 behind a hat trick from Will Atkinson and 28 points (2 tries, 9 conversions) from Craig Chatfield. Ben Atkinson, Captain Bob Owens, and sophomore wing Nick Sylor all added a pair of tries. The Outlaws had a 50 point lead at the half and scored an astounding 10 tries in the match's middle 40 minutes.
Big freshman prop Pat Carey set the tone early when he turned over the opening kick. Carey's heavy tackle set the tone for the day in which the Outlaws continually deprived Rochester the ball. SBU worked their way down the field and hooker Dennis Mulligan scored off a ruck. Some sloppy handling of the wet ball hurt both teams early but Sylor was able to stretch the Bonaventure lead to 12-0 ten minutes later. The young wing, filling in for Darren Kmicinski (thigh), added his second try at the 21 minute mark when he received the ball wide and showed his pace from 40 meters out.
The SBU forward pack was able to exert pressure on Rochester, dominating set pieces and in open play. Ben Atkinson shut down the U of R lineout and the front row of Mulligan, Carey and J.T. Sheehan was simply overpowering. With nearly 90-percent of the possession, Owens, the Atkinson brothers, Chatfield and Mike Hanrahan all scored in the final 20 minutes of the first half. Chatfield was spot on with his kicks, making eight straight after a slow start to the day.
Will Atkinson got the second half started quickly when he took the ball to the weakside and beat several defenders with his power before outrunning the rest of the defense from 55 meters. A strong run from Nick Maurer minutes later set up Chatfield for his second score. Atkinson finished his day in style when he received the ball from a maul and powered in.
The highlight of the day for many was a characteristically flashy try from Martinez when he kicked the ball behind the defense and somehow managed to beat the entire Rochester team to the tryzone for the thrilling score. The dynamic loose duo of Owens and Ben Atkinson finished the scoring with two late tries.
In other league action, Geneseo (4-0) kept up their winning ways, beating Hobart (0-4) 44-0. Buff. State (2-1) won what looks like the battle for third place 22-5 over Fredonia (2-2). In Empire East action Hamilton (3-0) beat Colgate (3-1) 28-0 to move into first place.
The Outlaws will travel to Fredonia next weekend to take on Blackhorse Rugby.
Man of the Match
Ben Atkinson was a monster in lineouts and loose play and Dennis Mulligan had a strong day on defense and picked up his first try. The entire backline looked dangerous with the ball-in-hand but the story of the day was scrum half Tom Theurkauf. The sophomore won the ball from rucks when they looked lost and kept the attack moving to the tune of 14 tries.
Scoring
Tries - W. Atkinson (3), B. Atkinson (2), Chatfield (2), Owens (2), Sylor (2), Hanrahan, Martinez, Mulligan
Conversions - Chatfield 9-12, Martinez 2-2
Lineup
15 Mike Hanrahan, 14 Gabe Martinez, 13 Charlie Specht (Mike Murray @ 55), 12 Will Atkinson (Greg George @ 52), 11 Nick Sylor (Darren Kmicinski @ 55), 10 Craig Chatfield (Jarred Vos @ 59), 9 Tom Theurkauf (Matt Finney (59), 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Bob Owens (C), 6 Tom Conley, 5 Chris Schott, 4 Nick Maurer, 3 JT Sheehan (Al Lilga @ 63), 2 Dennis Mulligan (Brian Kelly @ 55), 1 Pat Carey
Outlaws Run Past Niagara in Home Opener
September 20, 2008
 photo by Bob Owens, Sr. |
In front of a large Family Weekend crowd St. Bonaventure ran out to nine tries, six in the second half, to win 61-0. Bob Owens and Gabe Martinez led the way for the home club with a pair of tries each. Will and Ben Atkinson, Mark Hanna, Mike Murray and Charlie Specht added singles in the lopsided win. Little Three-rival NU played tough defense early on but the Outlaws tough rucking and fitness wore down the Purple Eagles.
The B-Side continued their winning ways led by strong play from scrum half Waldo Maldonado and fly half Jarred Vos.
Scoring
Tries - Martinez (2), Owens (2), B. Atkinson, W. Atkinson, Hanna, Murray, Specht
Conversions - Martinez 4-5, Chatfield 4-4
Lineup
15 Mike Hanrahan, 14 Gabe Martinez, 13 Mike Murray (Charlie Specht @ 55), 12 Will Atkinson, 11 Darren Kmicinski (Nick Sylor @ 40), 10 Craig Chatfield, 9 Tom Theurkauf, 8 Ben Atkinson, 7 Bob Owens (C), 6 Tom Conley (Nick Maurer @ 40), 5 Zibi Pawlowski, 4 Mark Hanna (Chris Schott @ 60), 3 JT Sheehan (Pat Carey @ 30), 2 Dennis Mulligan (Brian Kelly @ 55), 1 Al Lilga (Pat Monreal @ 60)
St. Bona Opens with Win
September 13, 2008
 photo by Sean Miller |
In slightly damp conditions St. Bonaventure University(1-0) ran out to six first-half tries to beat Hobart (0-2) 42-5. Second row Mark Hanna scored the hat trick while Will Atkinson added a brace.
The Outlaws pressured Hobart early when Hanna punched in his first score three minutes into the match off a penalty. A Gabe Martinez punt three minutes later kept the Statesmen on the back-foot and led to Atkinson’s first score.
The match settled in with SBU keeping the ball deep in Hobart territory. The home kept the visitors honest with strong outings from their blindside flanker and fly half. Bona was able to move the ball wide and prop J.T. Sheehan benefited from the overload, running in from 20 meters at the 20 minute mark. More hard work by the forwards led to a penalty try three minutes later.
Martinez kept the pressure on the hosts at the 34 minute mark when he side-stepped his opposite man and sprinted in from 40 meters. Hanna finished the first half’s scoring when he stole a lineout from 5 meters and powered over the line for the 30-0 half time lead.
St. Bonaventure tried different combinations but early-season mistakes and mental errors led to some uninspired play. Nick Sylor dashed to the try zone early in the half but the touchdown was called a knock-on. An intercept pass and poor tackling gave Hobart their only score. Hanna and Atkinson added second half tries, with one Craig Chatfield conversion added in, to finish the scoring 42-5.
A week from Saturday the Outlaws will host Niagara on Family Weekend.
Scoring
Tries – Hanna (3), Atkinson (2), Martinez, Sheehan, Penalty
Conversions – Sylor 0-4, Chatfield 1-2, Hanna 0-1, Martinez 0-1
Lineup
15 Mike Hanrahan (Chatfield @ 40), 14 Gabe Martinez, 13 Charlie Specht, 12 Greg George (Mike Murray @ 57), 11 Nick Sylor, 10 Will Atkinson, 9 Tom Theurkauf (Matt Finney @ 40), 8 Nick Maurer, 7 Bob Owens (C), 6 Tom Conley, 5 Zibi Pawlowski (Pat Monreal @ 27), 4 Mark Hanna, 3 JT Sheehan (Derek Folts @ 20), 2 Dennis Mulligan (Brian Kelly @ 40), 1 Al Lilga
Outlaws Finish Preseason 1-1; Look Towards Hobart in Opener
September 6, 2008
 photo by Sean Miller |
In a 70 minute scrimmage Saturday at Delaware Park in Buffalo St. Bonaventure topped Little Three rival Canisius College 15-0. Nick Maurer scored two tries on the day and was all over the pitch on defense to earn Man of the Match honors in the #8 jersey. Freshman forward Chris Schott from Kenmore West scored the third try. With five starters held out of the lineup SBU still managed to play 25 players in the A-side match and preserve the shutout in B-side action. Xavier (NYC) product Mike Murray scored a brace of tries for the Bs.
Last week St. Bona hosted SUNY Brockport, losing 24-19. SBU, Division II preseason #17 on erugbynews, put up a strong fight against Division I preseason #23 Brockport. Sophomore wing Nick Sylor scored a pair of tries, one on a long strike through the midfield. Junior second row Sparks Hanna powered over off a penalty inside of 10 meters. The match was tied 12-12 at the half and the Outlaws held a 19-12 lead for much of the second half but a pair of late tries won it for the Doggies.
This Saturday (9/13, 1:00) the Outlaws will travel to Hobart College to open New York State Empire West play. Hobart opened league play last week with a 17-0 loss at Fredonia.
In other league action Niagara took hold of first place in the West with a 55-5 bonus-point win over U. of Rochester. SUNY Geneseo snuck by Buff. St. when the Mad Dogs All-Northeast kicker missed a conversion attempt at full-time. In the East SUNY Plattsburgh beat Siena College 33-5 and LeMoyne beat RPI 20-3.
Outlaws Prepare for the Fall
August 31, 2008
 photo by Sean Miller |
Coming off a 2007-08 season that featured a Division II New York State Championship, trip to the Northeastern Semifinals, tour to Ireland (2-1) and fourth place finish at the Division I Upstate Tournament, St. Bonaventure is geared for continued success in fall 2008. Led by eight senior and 13 other with starting experience, the Outlaws feature a strong, mobile forward pack and speedy backline. Bob Owens captains the side at openside flanker and winger Gabe Martinez returns as vice captain. The Black and Gold will look to repeat as Empire West champions with a schedule that features home matches against Niagara University, SUNY Geneseo and Buffalo State and road trips to Hobart College, University of Rochester and SUNY Fredonia. Check SBURFC.com often for the latest club news.