Block Island Match Report

Our annual excursion out to Block Island was bestowed with some beautiful weather.  The sun was shining and it was hot, but Mother Nature saw her way to provide a cooling breeze.  Since this was my first trip out to Block Island for a game in almost ten years, I was also suprised to see that the field had been renovated and there was actual grass on the ground in stead of the saw grass and goose poop in years past.

The game was a typical game being hard fought by the forwards.  The narrow pitch and wind vitually shut down the kicking game and running the ball wide.  As such most of the game was spent between the 22-meter lines in the center of the pitch.  It was the Greys that struck first scoring a try on a Rhody miscue on the Rhody try-line.  Due to the lack of goal posts, the conversion was to be drop-kicked by a front row player.  The conversion was missed by the Greys.  Rhody was not detered and remained determined to not let the score swing further in the Greys' favor.  In the later part of the first half, Tom Mazzone managed to break free and level the score for Rhody.  Jon Fayne then proceeded to slot his drop-goal attempt to put Rhody ahead 7-5.

The second half started and so did the verbal indiscretions.  The referee took plenty of abuse, especially from a handful of young boys on the touchline.  Rhody felt it best to stop the chatter, and dig in for the remainder of the game.  The second half went scoreless, thus ending 7-5.

The wagon train of cabs started to arrive at the pitch and they bussed everyone down to Scotch Beach to enjoy some food, beer, surf and sun.  The sandwiches were delicious as usual and many beers were consumed.  As the sun started getting lower in the sky many of the weary and sunburned moved on the the deck of the National Hotel in Old Harbour for a few more beveages before boarding the ferry for the ride home.

It was another successful weekend on Block Island, looking forward to next year.....