Morris Lions U19s Blog

The Hyde School

On March 28th, we have the privilege of hosting the Hyde School from Washington DC. Here is a great article from the New York Times about these guys. The article includes a great video about the program that captures what's special about this game we love. It will be a special event for our club.

2009 Schedule

Sun. 3/1 – Scrimmage vs Lehigh Valley U19 – Away - 2 PM (2 matches)

Sun. 3/8 – Scrimmage vs Keio – Away – 1:00 PM (1 ½ matches)

Sat./Sun. 3/14 & 3/15 – Tournament - Carolina High School Rugby Festival, Charlotte,

Sun. 3/22 – League Match vs NYRFC U19 – Away – 1:00 PM (2 matches)

Sat. 3/28 – Hosting Match vs Hyde School, Wash. DC – Home - 2:00 PM (1 match)

Sun  4/5 – League Match vs Harvey U19 – Away – 1:00 PM (2 matches )

Sun. 4/19 – League Match vs LIRFC U19 – Home – 1:00 PM (2 matches)

Thurs. 4/23 – League Match vs Parsippany HS – Away – 4:30 PM (2 matches)

Sun. 4/26 – League Match vs Union U19 – Home – 1:00 PM (2 matches)

Sat./Sun. 5/2 - 5/3 – Open - NRU HS Championships – West Point, NY

Sat./Sun. 5/9 - 5/10 – Open – (tentative Long Island Rugby tournament)

Sun. 5/17 – HS Jersey Cup – Denville – Hosting Park U19 Boys (Canada)

Tues or Wed. 5/26 or 5/27 – Non-League Match vs Bridgend College (Wales) – Away (@Columbia Univ.)– Time TBD (1 match)

Sat. 5/31 – Non-League Match vs North Bay U19 – Away – Havre De Grace, MD

Mon. 6/1 – Morris Rugby Golf Outing – Skyview Country Club – Sparta – 12 Noon

Sat. or Sun 6/6 – 6/7 – End of season Banquet/Barbeque – Location TBD

Sat. 6/13 – “Gibby” Scholarship Bike Run, Barbeque and Match– Zeek Field - Denville

The 2009 Schedule - What we have in store!

All,

 

I have finally completed our 2009 schedule.  We have matches/scrimmages starting March 1, continuing until May 31.  We have some exciting events this season besides the league schedule.  Of note, we are hosting Hyde School from Washington, DC for a weekend.  We are hosting Park School from Canada for Jersey Cup weekend.  We are providing opposition to a Welsh touring side, Bridgend College.  We are traveling to Lehigh Valley, Keio Academy in Purchase, NY, Charlotte, NC and Havre de Grace, MD.  All in the name of rugby!!   We will provide parental and player support for the Jersey Cup weekend and the Gibby Run (more details on this effort at a later date, but we will be assisting with the events through hands on support).

 

We have scrimmages starting March 1 and play every weekend to the end of April.  League, New England and National playoffs are the first 3 weekends in May and I have purposely left them open.  We can either contest for those competitions or look to schedule other events.  Time will tell. 

 

As for the hostings of Hyde and Park Schools.. the hosting means we will offer to keep players in our homes.  This is a time honored rugby tradition and a wonderful way for our players to share experiences with players from other parts of the country/world.  More details on these important hosting events to follow in a separate email.  Below you will find a link to a short video talking about the Hyde School program.

 

Please review the schedule and let me know as soon as possible when you will be away for any particular match. I know there are SAT's, spring breaks, Easter breaks and other family commitments during the spring and so the coaches can plan accordingly, we need to know your availability.  It is a full schedule and we need everyone available as much as possible if we are going to make our mark on the season.  As you all know, I don't harp on commitment.  We learn of your commitment soon enough through your participation, communication and intent to improve your skills  The great majority of you are commited, we can tell through your actions and efforts.  That is what is needed if we are to surpass our accomplishments of last season.  It won't be easy.  Last year's team set the bar very high.  We the coaches are commited to working with you boys to improve on last year's success, now all that is needed is your effort and desire.  We look forward to the challenges ahead.

 

One final note regarding the schedule.  As we have in past years, we will be using buses to transport to all away LEAGUE matches (but not to Parsippany).  We won't however use buses to travel to the away scrimmages, Lehigh Valley and Keio Academy.  We might consider hiring a bus for the trip to Md, but will discuss that at a later time.

 

In the mean time, review the schedule and mark your calendars!!

 

Coach John

 

 

"Who do you play for?"

http://areyouwatchingthis.com/tv/programs/SH011238830000-Hyde-Rugby-A-New-World/13512365 

Event: "Hyde Rugby: A New World" "Hyde Rugby TV Special" 

Host: Fox Sports 

Start Time: Sunday, February 8 at 11:00am EST 

Where: Washington, DC 

(Also will be re-broadcast end of February) 

To see more details follow the link below: 

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=65683417256&aref=22571760 

Who wants to blog

This year, I would love to enlist help of players and parents in managing the blog. If you would like to help out by doing match reports or help me manage the blog, please email me.

Thanks

Check Photos from the Snowbowl

Thanks to Mr Hickey! You can find them here.
 

Snowbowl

Team Hickey - Numerous tries

Team Turinas - Numerous tries

 

End result - draw!! Some might say it's like kissing your sister, however, considering the effort on the day, the result was fitting and fair. And that doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Coach Simon needed ointment for his face after a snow/ice burn from the last play of the day or the fact that yours truly could have used some oxygen.  It has to do with the fact that both teams worked very hard passing, tackling, supporting as a team.  Very few tucked and tried to run through a crowd and those that did were punished for it through snow rubbed in their face and turnover of the ball.  In fairness to those few, this was the first outing and we will all work to break you of those habits.  Most of all, we had FUN.  To me, any time I can get out to play rugby, it's fun. Sure it takes work, sure it takes concentration, sure it takes discipline, but, it's fun, rewarding and sure beats sitting home.

 

We plan on building on what we did this past Sunday, as we will be getting out to Mennen on Sundays, temperatures permitting.  Getting out will help us with fitness, which we all sorely need, and we can continue to work on our patterns of play on a full sized pitch, all in the name of fun!  Getting outside will also give us a chance to see where you are with decision making with ball in hand.  We have a lot of work ahead of us formulating the team.  Team activities have taken a backseat to individual skill work, work that I know is not the most inspirational or stimulating.  However, no one is performing at a standard where individual skill work can be put aside. 

 

So, with the Snow Bowl III behind us, we move on.  The weeks ahead of us will be drudgery at times, exhausting at times, and hopefully, inspiring.  We will test your decision making ability, we will test your fitness, we will test your desire and resolve to play and mold yourselves into a team.  Most importantly, we will work to improve your rugby skills.

 

Thanks to all for making Sunday such a success.   See you all on Thurs..

 

Coach John