Fall 2014 Season – Week 8 Report: Brooklyn Rugby Women Draw in Final Match and Men Earn Win in Friendly

The Brooklyn Rugby Club women’s team played their final match of the 2014 season on Saturday, earning a 17-17 draw against the Worcester Shamrocks, who traveled down from Massachusetts. Meanwhile, the men’s team earned a 33-21 win in a non-league friendly match against Lansdowne RFC.

The Brooklyn women fell behind 5-0 early after a try from Worcester, who then missed on the conversion attempt. Brooklyn responded with a penalty kick from Kyla Maxwell to trim the score to 5-3. Shortly thereafter, Worcester capitalized on a turnover by Brooklyn inside their own 22-meter line and scored to make the score 10-3. Moments later, Erika Hernandez broke away from the Worcester defense to score Brooklyn’s first try of the day, and with Maxwell adding the conversion the score would be even at halftime, 10-10.

In the second half, Worcester again struck first and this time slotted their conversion to go up 17-10. However Brooklyn was resilient for the remainder of the game and was able to push a try over in the final ten minutes after a bruising run by Robyn Martinich through the Worcester defense. Maxwell converted the kick to tie the score at 17, and that’s where it would remain until the final whistle. Kyla Maxwell’s kicking was perfect on the day, finishing 3 from 3 with two conversions and a penalty.

The Brooklyn women, who acquired a number promising new players this year, finished the 2014 season with a 3-3-1 record.

Brooklyn: 17 – Worcester: 17
Tries: Erika Hernandez, Robyn Martinich
Conversions: Kyla Maxwell (2)
Penalties: Kyla Maxwell

The Brooklyn Rugby men, off from conference play this weekend, played a non-league friendly match against Bronx-based Lansdowne RFC. Brooklyn jumped out to a large lead early in the game, with all of their scoring coming in the first half. The Brooklyn forwards contributed the bulk of the scoring, with tries coming from Rob Roche, Kevin Keebler and a pair from Dan Newcombe. Fly half Kamil Ryzcko contributed the scoring for the backs, as Brooklyn went into the half leading 33-0. Johnny O’Brien’s kicking was nearly perfect on the day, going 4 from 5 on conversion attempts.

Lansdowne would go on to score three tries in the second half, and successfully converting each of their conversions, but Brooklyn’s defense ultimately prevailed. Brooklyn walked away with a 33-21 victory. The team heads into an off week before finishing the season on November 8 against Long Island, where Brooklyn will try to solidify a place in the Empire GU Division 3 playoffs.

Lansdowne: 21 – Brooklyn: 33
Tries: Rob Roche, Kevin Keebler, Kamil Ryzcko, Dan Newcombe (2)
Conversions: Johnny O’Brien (4)

Upcoming Matches:
Brooklyn Men: vs. Long Island RFC – Saturday, November 8 @ 1:00pm, Fort Hamilton Military Base, Brooklyn, New York