The West Potomac Rugby Football Club played VA Beach of the VRU.
The four hour drive down to VA Beach was not too bad. Some people drove down the night before and stayed at Matt J.'s beach house in the Outer Banks. Of Course being just one hour away meant they were late to the game.
We got it together about a quarter after one. We had to bum a player. It was the first game for several folks - Todd T. and Oliver (Oli) - may have been others. Oh yeah Nutter 2.0 who squeezed his size 15 feet into a size 13 shoe (bring your gear or don't play - kinda simple).
We drew first blood metaphorically speaking. Off of a penalty kick we got three (thanks Rich!). There was one problem though - a certain rough and tumble - ok cheap shotting son of a <censored>. Chuck tackled him - clean. The guy punched him in the face repeatedly while laying on the ground.
He clocked Dain with a knee in a ruck. I observed his habits quiet nicely - periodically in a ruck he just goes out with a knee - whether there is a face there or not. At first I thought - that is an odd way to toe the ball back. Then he hit my forehead.
We, of course, notified our captain of his behavior. Not three minutes later the "incident".
As I recall it the ref had his arm out for advantage. Jesus was running the ball and had two players on him. They were taking him out of bounds when the whistle blew. They were well out of bounds - and well after the whistle - when the prop picked up Jesus and body slammed him. Jesus - being the Son of God - was both indignant and restrained - grabbed the man's shirt and told him "you cannot be doing that in a game, what are you..."
I would complete his sentence - if he did. Right then another player on the team ran in - from at least ten metres away - and kicked Jesus in the face. And broke his nose.
The ref promptly grabbed the player and spirited him away yelling the whole time, "He's ejected, he's ejected."
Jesus looked up - had a split nose and was bleeding. The break was obvious. He took it - well - he took it like a man.
We subsituted in some late arrivers and was about to resume play when Oli [our 150lb (that's being generous) Aussie scrum half inquired of Nutter 2.0's condition]. Nutter 2.0 was laying on the sideline complaining of his wittle toe. It was stepped on. Jesus was setting his own nose at this point.
Editor's Side Note: Reminds me of the time when John M. played with a
fractured cheekbone at MARFU (Spring 1999) with a big knot sticking out and I
had a hurt knee (let's say bruised - it was nothing serious just wanted my
minute of rest) and he asked me, "Do you want to go out?"
Well - I
would have been ashamed to leave. I had been thinking about it - then I looked
into his one good eye (the other one TO THIS DAY is discolored). Folks - you
have got to respect people like Jesus and John M. Jesus did not play again that
day (it would have been way too dangerous). But he took it. Actually shook the
bum's hand later. That is why I play. I wanna be like him when I grow up and
become a man.
The game was tough - and a bit disappointing. They received numerous penalties for lifting players (guys - this is simple - you don't hit the neck or head and you don't lift players legs or try to pick them up). They even got a 10 minute sin bin. For a late hit. For a late, high hit. For a late, high hit on a kicker who had already kicked. The interesting point? We had picked this player up from their team (oh that is nice).
Needless to say it was a bit of a downer game.
The party was alright - I heard they had some songs after most of us left. The other team, and player in question, did apologize to Jesus. For my part I went to Matt J.'s beach house ;-).
Matt J, John M, Kimmer, Dain and friend, Nutter 2.0, Lou and Drew (not that one). We hot tubbed, ate kilbasa, shrimp and steak. And drank. And drank. Someone broke the screen door and a chair.
Nutter 2.0 summed it all up the next day "I did not even know there was a screen door there." - ah. really - wonder who coulda kicked a hole in it?
Thanks Matt - I take back everything bad I am planning on saying about you from now on.
And the player from VA Beach with the overactive boot? #6 - Philip J Cass received a four game suspension and is on disciplinary probation for one year.
For more information on the team please contact us:
webmaster@westpotomacrugby.org
Rugby Hot line: 301-946-5607
