News

Mystics Blank Hounds in NE 10’s Final

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Mystic River continues to dominate the summer rugby schedule with another 1st place trophy at the Acton 10’s tournament. Led by repeat tournament MVP David “Sliver” Barry, the Mystics demolished the competition with wins of 51-5 over Middlesex College, 57-7 over Old Gold 2, 36-7 over Boston and 57-0 over Providence to set up a final with cross-town rival Boston Irish Wolfhounds.

The first half was marked by tough team defense and bone crunching hits by Mystic Jake Sprague. It was only a matter of time before the Mystics hit their top form and phenomenal play by scrumhalf Alex O’Mahoney got the boys up and running. Burgers Bartlett, Jake and Alex Brussard dominated the Hounds up front, and Evin O’Driscoll, Sliver, Adnan Kawuma and Dimitri “Greek Olive” Efthimiou turned on the jets for 21 unanswered points and the 1st place trophy.

The young guns of the Mystic 2’s took a tough loss in the Plate finals 12-5 to South Shore, narrowly missing a clean sweep for the Mystics.

Congrats to the whole first team on their championship win… and thanks to all the Big Blue supporters and friends for bringing the true Mystic spirit to win the day on all counts.

Winter Named to Indonesian National Side

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Long time Mystic veteran, Kyle Winter was recently named starting loosehead prop for the Indonesian National Rugby Team. Winter, whose father is Indonesian, was invited to Jakarta, Indonesia earlier this month for the national training camp, where he was selected to join the “Rhinos” at the 2009 Asian 5 Nations in Manila, Philippines in July.

With an 88 percent win-loss record, having won their last seven tests in a row, the Rhinos, led by a coaching staff consisting of Singapore’s Ismail “Izzy” Kadir, Justin “Sambo” Sampson, and former Wallaby Duncan Hall, hope to take home the title and a promotion to IRB Div 2. Indonesia will face off against Guam on July 1st, and will then play either the Philippines or Iran on July 4th.

The Winter family is a legacy in Indonesian sports, with Kyle’s father and uncle both representing Indonesia in soccer and volleyball.

For full 2009 Asian 5 Nations coverage, visit www.a5nrugby.com.

NERFU U19 Wins Potomac Challenge Cup

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The New England U-19 Men’s team, with Mystic River’s Alex Brussard, Michael Rudzinsky and Dimitri Efthimiou, went 4–0 to win the 2009 Potomac Challenge Cup at Founders Field in Pittsburgh, PA. Saturday’s wins included 14–7 vs Minnesota, and 31–5 vs EPRU.

Sunday saw the team get past PRU, 24–5, to set them up for the final against MetNY. Despite the low score, play went up and down the pitch in a defensive struggle that saw the teams even at 5 at the end of regulation time. In the single 5 minute extra period, MetNY touched down and converted to go ahead 12–5 with slightly more than 2 minutes remaining.

Almost at the end of the period, NERFU stole a MetNY lineout, and, with quick ball through the hands, touched down to give them a chance to tie.

The conversion was good, sending the game to kicks at goal, with Brussard sealing the win with his 22-meter drop kick.

Mystic River Rugby Club’s Dimitri Efthimiou was voted MVP of the tournament.

Mystic U19 Rugby

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U-19 Rugby Players are invited to join Mystic River for some summer rugby. We will be playing touch at Pine Banks Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30pm-8:30pm from June 25 – July 30. There will also be some skills clinics and possible matches/tournaments with other U-19 programs. New and experienced players are welcome. Anyone interested, please contact Dave Rudzinsky (drudzinsky@hologic.com) or feel free to just show up.