Wildcats claw their way back to the top of the Ladder

The Connecticut Wildcats consolidated their position on top of the AMNRL ladder with a comprehensive 40-14 victory over reigning champion Glen Mills Bulls, when the two heavyweights clashed in the headline event at the JoJo Moore Rugby Tournament in Peekskill, NY. The Cats’ 4th straight win consigned the Bulls to its 3rd loss of the season.

The two Rugby League teams were one of the main events of the tournament held every year in Peekskill, New York, and they did not disappoint with a solid performance from both teams. The tournament was again a resounding success, as the White Plains Old Boys raised thousands of dollars for Coach Matt Moore, who remains paralyzed from the neck down after an injury suffered in a rugby scrum. The day was highlighted by County Executive Andrew Spano, who presented JoJo Moore with a Servicemen’s medal of Valor.

On the field, the wildcats struck first after 10 minutes with Murray Roeske running onto an Andrew Webster pass to break the solid Glen Mills defense and race away to make it 6-0, as Roeske converted his own try. The Bulls would not go quietly, answering right back after a wildcats knock on, with David Niu chipping ahead to Pat McShea, who regathered a deflection from the Cats defensive line to make it 6-6 (Niu conversion).

The bulls continued to press the Wildcats defense in their own 20 but, Connecticut went onto to race in another 2 tries with Rich Portale first scoring in his return from injury and then slipping Will Brazier into a gap out wide, as the Cats went into the half leading 20-10.

The Bulls were unlucky in the second when Wildcat lock Danny Bull took the opening kick-off 60 meters untouched, as he does, to put four more points on the board 24-10, the Bulls scored again with Matt Shannon going from dummy half to make it 24-14 , but the Wildcats proved to0 strong with 2 tries coming off kicks with Tom Purvis touching down an Andrew Webster grubber kick and Curtis Cunz going up high over two Bulls defenders to pick an Andrew Webster cross field kick out of the air and put it down over the line, as a faint murmur could be heard from the hundreds of fans that, “You can’t teach that…” Danny Bull and Will Brazier both scored again to make it doubles for the pair. The final ended up 40-14 for the Cats, who took 5 points on the table to make it 20 after rounds.

The Bulls and Cats both have home games this week with the Knights making the trip to PA and the Wildcats hosting the visiting Raiders in the local derby at Andrews field.

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