This past Saturday, Mystic River split their two matches on the day. Mystic’s Division 1 side fell in their final fall ARP match against Old Blue, 25-32, while the Division 2 Barbarians won easily over Albany, 67-0.
With Mayor Gary Christenson in attendance, the Monsters of Malden came out playing a physical and competitive match. The scoring began when Old Blue converted a penalty kick from 15 meters out. Mystic River nullified the 3-0 deficit when center Alatasi Tupou split a penalty conversion through the uprights. The Mystics kept that momentum going, retaining the ball, and after receiving a 5 meter scrum, hooker Kayne Bubb was able to dot it down for 5 after 8-man Jon Sullivan was stopped just short of the line. At this point, Mystic River led the match, 8-3, but Old Blue quickly marched back with a try of their own, leveling the score to 8 points a piece. Flyhalf Robbie Malneek showed off his quick step by dicing up the Old Blue defensive line and score a long try untouched. Mystic River regained the lead with Malneek’s try, 13-8. However, Old Blue quickly responded, again, tying the game at 13-13 heading into halftime.
After trading blows in a highly competitive first half, Old Blue came out firing to start the second half, putting up 3 unanswered tries of their own, while converting 2 kicks. Old Blue extended their lead to 13-32, but Mystic River never gave up. After finding themselves down by 19, Malneek dished the ball to Tupou, who scored a self-converted try, narrowing the score, 20-32. The Mystics continued to put pressure on Old Blue deep in their territory, but were held up twice trying to breach the goal line. Eventually, lock Sean Rafferty was able to sneak in behind the Old Blue defense and dot down a try, but it proved to be too little, too late, as the final whistle sounded, with Old Blue defeating Mystic River, 25-32.
After the Division 1 game, the Division 2 Mystic Barbarians took the pitch looking to rebound in their final match of the fall season after losing to Portland two weeks ago. Playing against an understaffed Albany lineup, the Barbarians had control of the match the entire game displaying strong on both sides of the ball. The Barbarians’ play was rewarded with 11 tries in the match. The team’s try scorers were flanker Andrew Berson (2), fullback Mike Spiro (2), center KC Gordon, flanker Rob Brennan, center Mikey Rudzinsky (2), wing John Wilson, wing Jameson Bonti, and scrumhalf Adnan Kawuma. Flyhalf Stephen Diamantopoulos converted 6 of the team’s 11 tries, bringing the final score to 67-0, in favor of the Mystic River Barbarians!
The Division 1 team will shift their focus to their final ARP match of the fall season this Saturday at NYAC in New York City. We hope all of Mystic Nation can travel to New York for this highly-anticipated matchup! The field’s address is NYAC Travers Island 31 Shore Rd, Pelham, NY 10803. These two teams last played in early October, where NYAC was able to beat Mystic River at Pine Banks, 22-27. The Mystics aim to bounce back from this week’s loss and solidify their fall ARP record at a respectable 5-3.
The Division 2 Barbarians’ next match is on April 1st, 2017, in Newport, RI. This will be the final match to their 2016/17 NERFU regular season. The fall season has concluded for the Barbarians who enter the offseason with a record of 5-2. The team’s top try scorer was fullback Mike Spiro with 7 tries on the season, while flyhalf Stephen Diamantopoulos led the team with a total of 94 points. All-in-all, the Barbarians scored 56 tries and 364 points for in NERFU play this year.
Upcoming Schedule:
11/19 (SAT) 1:15 pm – D1/ARP at NYAC
11/26 (SAT) 2:00 pm – 13th Annual Malden Parade of Holiday Traditions
Thank you to all our sponsors and Mystic Nation for your unwavering support!
GO BLUE !!