Last Saturday, Mystic River had their hands busy with two road games. Mystic River’s Division 1 team played in their first ARP match in club history and this season at Old Blue in New York City, but were unable to pull out a victory. The Division 2 Mystics travelled south to Weymouth and defeated South Shore.
Mystic River’s Division 1 team travelled to Randall’s Island for a highly anticipated Final Four rematch against Old Blue. Early in the game, Old Blue managed to score despite being a man down due to a yellow card. But, the tenacious Mystics responded quickly by a try and conversion by Fullback Alatasi Tupou thanks to a good line break and pass by Flyhalf Robbie Malneek. Old Blue managed to score another try and penalty bringing the score to 17-7. Prior to the end of the half, Captain Mike Bozza peeled off the back of a maul and found the try zone, bringing the score to 17-12. Old Blue put another try on the board prior to half bringing the halftime score to 22-12.
After a quiet start to the second half, Mystic River dotted down a try as Center Jon Sullivan extended out for a try which Tupou converted. Old Blue then went on to score a converted try bringing the score to 29-19. Tupou slotted a penalty kick to bring the game to a one possession match, but the kick came at the final whistle and Mystic River lost the game 29-22.
The Division 2 team pulled out early against their division rival and staved off a late comeback by South Shore. Great play came from Fullback Michael Spiro who scored not once, not twice, but three times on the day! With three tries, Spiro seemed like a shoo-in for Man of the Match, but his teammate and Flanker Dana Corcoran stole that honor away from him as he poached balls from South Shore left and right and put up a try of his own! Prop Jon Fonvielle scored another which proved to be pivotal insurance points. Flyhalf Stephen Diamantopoulos converted 3 of the team’s 5 tries and went 1 for 1 on penalty kicks. Mystic River won the match 36-27 and move to 3-0 this season!
With low numbers, a lot of the A-side players also had to compete in the B-side match and Mystic River dropped the B-side match in a scrappy, yet competitive short game.
Prior to the Division 2 match, some Mystic Old Boys threw on some cleats and the Mystic jerseys to take on South Shore’s Old Boys. The game was exciting and hard hitting as always, but South Shore would win 21-5. The Old Boys’ second match of the season will be on October 1st at Pine Banks versus bitter rival Irish Wolfhounds! Should be an exciting match!
Please join us this coming Saturday, September 24th at Pine Banks for a Mystic River Doubleheader! At 3 pm, Division 2 will compete against Amoskeag. This is Division 2’s final match before back-to-back bye weeks. After the match at 5:30 pm, Mystic River’s Division 1 team will host Boston RFC in another ARP match. After the matches, Mystic River will host a post-game social at The Harp in Boston. Again, both matches are at home so please attend and invite friends and family members to support the Boys in Blue!
Upcoming Schedule
9/24 (SAT) 3:00pm – D2 vs. Amoskeag
9/24 (SAT) 5:30pm – D1/ARP vs. Boston
GO BLUE !!