October 15, 2005 - TMR II win the CUP!!
TMR II - 15 Les Patriotes - 7

TMR II stepped unto the muddy Laval Nomades' pitch in St-Eustache this past Championship Saturday with an opportunity to accomplish a feat that no TMRRFC side had managed in over 12 years. With the league championship already under their belts, the 2nds faced the #3 team in 3rd division, Les Patriotes, after beating the #2 team, Ormstown, in overtime 2 weeks prior.

Les Patriotes lobbied the FRQ hard at the end of the year to force TMR to play a match that they had previously forfeited. Les Patriotes argued that they deserved to be given the opportunity to move up divisions given that they had scored more points than any other team, had allowed the fewest and that we had in fact offered to reschedule the game; though the first two claims are, to their credit, in fact true, the last one is patently false. The FRQ wisely dismissed Les Patriotes' motion, securing the league championship for TMR II by a margin of the forfeit in question. TMR II ended the season 10-4, with one of the ten wins coming by forfeit, and Ormstown and Les Patriotes were both 9-5. Ormstown was ranked ahead of Les Patriotes due to the fact that one of the latter's losses came by forfeit.

Appropriately enough, TMR II and Les Patriotes got their rematch in the finals. Les Patriotes sought to prove before the entire league assembled in St-Eustache that they are in fact the top team in 3rd division, while TMR II was eager to show that their league championship was not merely the result of a favourable FRQ decision.

TMR II's mission was made all the more daunting due to the ineligibility of their standout fly-half, Addam, who came on in relief during the TMR I's winning effort in the quarters against the Wanderers. FRQ rules preclude any player who played for a higher division team during the playoffs to play for a lower division team thereafter.

TMR II lined up with the wind at their backs to receive kickoff to start the match. A light drizzle increased the degree of ball handling difficulty, resulting in numerous knock-ons from both sides. Early in the game, it became evident that the scrum was going to have a deciding impact upon the game which unfortunately for TMR II played heavily in Les Patriotes favour due to their size advantage.

To the Pack's credit, the undersized forwards stood their ground. TMR II's forwards benefitted from the decades of rugby experience that come with William "Buff" Lapierre's addition to the front row, and spirited youngsters showed that they were good for more than just drinking cheap beer and Captain's rounds.

The first 20 minutes of the half were played mostly between the 22s with neither team seriously threatening to score. A penalty awarded to TMR II near the sidelines and 30 yards from Les Patriotes' try line was cashed in by Shawn "Shaggy" Blair with a hard slice that just curled inside the near goal post. TMR II - 3 Les Patriotes - 0

The second 20 minutes before half time were much like the first, though Les Patriotes tempers seemed to flare due to their inhability to produce any offence. Les Patriotes hooker, in position and profession, came at TMR II's fly-half Igor Bastien with an elbow to the face in lieu of a tackle. The whore was sent to the sin bin, but for TMR II, the damage was done; Igor was out for the game with a messed up face and head (good thing he's already dumb and ugly). Noam S. comes in at wing, Paul Timperley moves from wing to full-back, J.P. Martineau moves from full-back to fly-half.

J.P. immediately makes his presence felt at stand-off. With only minutes remaining in the half and TMR II benefitting of the man-advantage, J.P. puts a high M-ball up from just inside Les Patriotes' end. Les Patriotes ill-advisedly allow the ball to bounce inside the 5 meter line. A streaking Shaggy running from a haunted house gobbles up the Scoobie snack and touches the ball down for the game's first try. Still feeling the effects of the Scoobie snack, Shaggy rockets the convert through with a no-arching kick.

Score at the half : TMR II - 10 Les Patriotes - 0

The tone at half time was one of caution. Vets reminded the squad of the caliber of opponent that they are playing and that any let up could see the last half end much differently than the first. One last half, no regrets, leave it all on the field. TMR II lined up for the 2nd half kick-off, still benefitting of the man advantage.

Les Patriotes brought it. Despite being down a man, Les Patriotes pounded a TMR II side that forgot for a moment that winning a Cup isn't easy. They ran hard, created penalties and within 3 minutes of the 2nd half, had shrunk TMR II's lead to just three.

TMR II - 10 Les Patriotes - 7

Bolstered by the return of their whore, Les Patriotes poured on the pressure, playing for a solid 5 -8 minutes within 15 meters of TMR II's try line. Big bodies launched at the line of defense, stopped by a surge of blue and gold, and launched again. Discouraged, Les Patriotes tried to spin the ball wide to their out matched backs who were handily dismissed by Sabri "Turkish Assassin" Yuzgulec & Co. TMR II was hammered like hot steel, and grew stronger with every blow.

20 minutes into the 2nd half: TMR II - 10 Les Patriotes - 7

Expecting Les Patriotes' final death throe, TMR II opted to sub two vets into the mix: Jason Collum in for Richard "Smiley" Lebrun-Trachey at hooker, and Goldberg in for Darcy Hemlkay at wing.

Les Patriotes emptied their bag-o-tricks without much success. 8-man picks were smothered on the fringes, deep kicks were countered with interest, hard runs were met with harder hits.

With the final half running down and TMR II clinging to their 3 point lead, J.P. calls a double-dummy off of a TMR II scrum inside TMR II territory. With the ball toed back to 8-man P.P. "Pipi" Legros, Glenn Imperial at scrum-half spins the ball to J.P. on the run. J.P. fakes the pop to Sabri at inside center, same to Shaggy at outside center, then realizes he is in open field. Though missing a ligament in his knee, J.P. decides to cut back to the middle of the field and have a go. Just the full-back to beat. Looking for the edge. TMR II and its fans in attendence erupt as they see J.P. get past the full-back and pull away with 30 meters of open pasture ahead. Count it - J.P.'s first try to seal the cup victory. Shaggy misses the easiest kick that he'd lined up all day, but it doesn't matter; as the ball sails wide, the ref calls the game.

Final score : TMR II - 15 Les Patriotes - 7

Man of the Match : J.P. Martineau

Final words from TMR II captain Martin Scutt : "Mission Accomplished"

See you all at the Captain's Dinner.

Goldberg.

October 1, 2005 - SEMI FINAL - M1 vs Barbs

"Summer has come and passed/ The innocent can never last/ wake me up when September ends..."
Greenday

Here we were, October 1st. September ended and we faced the team we needed to beat to get to the finals. But history repeated itself once again as TMR's 1st Div squad was unable to reach the promised land of Premier Finals. It seems every year, we get heartbroken in the Semis and realize what kind of work we need to do to get there. We all believe in each other. We all believe we are a championship team that is often underrated. Yesterday, I saw Navy and Gold all over the Barbarians. They we scared of us by the end of the game and the look on their faces when the ref blew the whistle was still worth the comeback. We showed them how serious we were. Our forwards clearly outworked theirs. Our backs clearly outrun theirs.

Here are some of the interesting highlights of the game:

- After Barbs' Eric "Red" Van Sickle screamed at Alun for punching him in the ruck, Dave MacLeod asks him: "How's the Gonorrhea?"... Maybe we should call him Red Popsickle...
- When Steve got hit by several Barbs, Sylvain plows him over and gives him a few shots on the head, just before saying to us at the end of the game that he will no longer play. Thank you Sylvain, It's been a pleasure playing with you. we will need another policeman on the pitch now that you're gone.
- Our Back 3 of Mitch, Seb and myself outdoing our counterparts: Moses, Laekas and Kenny, the latter I thought was having his worst game ever.
- Mailin, you scored that try! I don't care what the ref said! That try was legit! We should've won that game...
- Rob and Etienne doing their usual awesome job in the centres.
- The forwards having played to their fullest, even through the despair and anxiousness of our team in the closing minutes of play, we still kept fighting.

We should have our heads held high because we proved that we are among elite teams in the Premier and that we can hold our ground against the league's best.

Next year, WE will be the league's best. Our competitive drive is the source of willingness to win and we will get what's coming to us eventually. we are slowly becoming who we should be.

CONGRATS to the 2nd team who gave us something to cheer about after the dramatic finish. Going to the Finals and making it happen! I'm really happy our squad will move up. It was a great season!

CHEERS

FINAL SCORE:
TMR RFC - 44
Wanderers- 14

They say revenge is a plate that is best served cold. But on Saturday, the Montreal Wanderers got a taste of bad Karma as TMR came around to beat them 44-14 in a much heated quarterfinal.

The Wanderers struck first with a quick try by winger Jason White, beating Pat Chikhani by cutting back inside. Flyhalf Pat Weldon converted the try. After 20 minutes, TMR started attacking. A couple of penalties within range were missed by Steve McNeill, but the Townies did not give up.

An undisciplined period by the Wanderers gave a lineout to TMR within 10 metres, and the strong forward pack expertly drove it into the endzone for a try. McNeill shook off the poor start and converted the tough kick to tie the game at 7-7. Shortly after, more applied pressure led to another penalty, converted by McNeill to make it 10-7.

With ten minutes to go in the half, flanker Dave MacLeod tackled Weldon considerably late, infuriating several Wanderers players. Referee Pierre Drolet kept the game in control, and gave MacLeod a yellow card. With a man advantage, Montreal put pressure on and had a chance to tie the game, but Weldon missed his kick and TMR fought its way out to halftime.

MacLeod came back in the mix, but outside centre Gabe Massey came out with a dislocated shoulder. Adam McLellan came in for him at wing and Chikhani moved to 13.

Tmr shifted gear in the second half. They spent a lot of time in the Wanderers' territory and it led to two penalty kick by Mcneill: 16-7. But Montreal wasnt done yet. Some penalties drove the Town back into their own 22 and the Baby Blue took advantage of a well executed drive to reduce the lead to 16-14. With 25 minutes to go, it only looked like it would be too close to call.

The Navy & Gold started looking fitter and more organized than the other team. TMR's backs turned on the jets as Chikhani beat former national Colin Robertson with a dummy, then passing it to fullback Sebastien Vittecoq who passed it back to Chikhani, running to score only to be tackled with a metre to go. Lock Dion Varvarikos took the ball off the ruck to pound it in for a try. McNeill made the conversion. Later on, more back action out wide as Mitch Francois showed how clutch he is on the wing and scored a beautiful try, again converted by McNeill. The lead now became 30-14.

The try of the day came from TMR scrumhalf Patrick Ghattas. Front-row Bob Miller dazzled the crowd with a terrific run and a sidestep that had everyone in shock. He popped it to Ghattas for an easy try between the posts: 37-14. TMR kept pressuring their tired defense after a Montreal second-row was binned for a nasty tackle on Townie Yacine Drinali, forcing the latter to come out for Lock Laurent Peschel, moving Varvarikos at prop. Within a few minutes, one of the Town's newest members, Kurt, scores the final try of the day and TMR beats their rivals to move to a much anticipated semifinal. The opponent has yet to be determined.

M3 12 vs. Wanderers 29
Tries: Sabri, Hichem
Convert: Smiley

A game that was put together at the last Minuit looked to be iffy on numbers, but the town had 14 townies that showed up where as the wonderers had 13 at the start of the match. The third team guys got a fell for the positions that they wanted to play and the others were slotted to fill in the holes, Glenn at fly half and Hichem at outside center. The match started slow for the town as a few missed tackles lead to two quick tries for the wonderers. Playing with many players out of position it took time to adjust. So the first half ended and we were down 24 to 0.

The second half was a different story the guys got focused again, and showed more determination. A few good runs for Sabri and one popped over the line for a try, and Hichem with a great run off of a third phase ball, and he touched the ball down for his first try ever!

Thanks to Rick for coming out, Notable performance by Sabri, Melad, James, PP, Darcy, Glenn and our player of the match Hichem.

TMR 15 Barbs 10
Tries: Malin Jordan, Michel Francois
Converts: Steve McNeil
Penalties: Steve McNeil

The men's premier side improved to 3-3 with a well-deserved win on Saturday. Downing the Barbarians by a score of 15-10, TMR added two new elements to their play˜they fought well together, playing as a team, and they also came from behind to claim the victory.

The Townies started with strong tackling and held the Barbs with good defence early. Almost the entire first half was played in the TMR end of the pitch but the forward pack shutdown the Barbs‚ attempts to run the ball off the edges of rucks and the backline took their counterparts to task by stifling Barbarian attempts to pierce through the defensive alignment.

The first points of the game, however, went against the Town. Capitalizing on an error from a broken scrummage, the Barbs scooped the ball and trotted up the middle of the field and across the line to go up 5-0.

On the ensuing kick-off the Townies recovered the ball and, after a couple of phases, forced the Barbs to give up a penalty about 30 metres out. Steve McNeill easily converted their mistake into three points.

TMR then gave up another try˜which again came on the heels of a scrummaging error. The Barbs picked up a loose ball and ran, almost unabated, into the try zone. After another failed conversion, the half ended 10-3 to the Barbarians.

The Townies started the second half strong with some good lineouts and intrusive running in the backline. This forced the Barbs to back-pedal. After several phases of play, Steve then wired a pass out to Malin Jordan and he ran over two Barbarians to drop a try down in the corner. Steve then launched the convert attempt through the posts from the sideline and the game was tied at 10.

The Barbs stormed right back and TMR gave up a few midfield penalties which brought the game down inside their own 22. The Townies then conceded another penalty on their own five metre line, but a wall of defence awaited the Barbs and they coughed up the ball. Steve‚s ensuing clearing kick was blocked and touched down by TMR in the try zone, but it was blocked outside the line, in the field of play, ensuring a 22 drop-out to TMR˜instead of a five metre scrum to the Barbs, which would have been the case had it been blocked in the try zone.

TMR‚s defence tightened up and the Barbs were forced, for the most part, to play a one-dimensional kicking game. After a few exchanges of lightning-high up and under kicks, the Town‚s resolve forced the Barbs into a retreat.

Deep down in the Barbarians end of the field, Mitch François took the ball on at a severe pace and torpedoed through several Barb defenders, smashing across the line and diving in for the second TMR try of the game. (This prompted Dave McLeod to declare, „Mitch, I love you!‰) This gave TMR a 15-10 lead and, ultimately, the victory.

Winning the second half 12-0, TMR showed tenacity and heart and every aspect of their game was improved upon from the previous week. Bobby led the charge into the second stanza with committed play and determination, earning him the honour of being named man-of-the-match.

TMR 18 - St-Lambert 15
tries: Mitch, Sebastien
converts: Steve
penalty: Steve (2)

Last Wednesday evening the men’s premier side took on the St. Lambert Locks.  With TMR holding a 1-3 record and the Locks parked in the basement of the league at 0-4, it was a crucial match for both teams.

For the second game in a row, the Town started on the back foot.  On the initial phase of play from the kick-off, TMR again allowed an opening drop-goal to be scored against them.

Behind by three points early, TMR turned it around with two tries, one by Mitch Francois, and the other by Sebastien Vittecoq.  For the rest of the first half TMR played a running game, hitting holes and running into space, chasing the Locks into a disorganized defensive mode that did not allow them to mount any offensive attack beyond sending runners from the fringe.

Lineouts were greatly improved upon since the last game and Mitch’s try was part of a dynamic forward attack spirited at the Locks from a lineout near the 22 metre line.  After a great throw from Patrick Ghattas, the forwards stampeded a driving maul toward the Locks’ line.  On the initial burst, Bobby Swail and Greg Doria got the maul rolling and Alun Philips and Laurent Peschel joined up to secure the forward thrust.  The rest of the forwards popped into the wheelhouse and the blitz was on.  When the maul had moved a metre toward the Locks’ goal line, Mitch joined up and the driving maul careened down the pitch.  St. Lambert tried everything to stop the maul.  At one point, two Locks’ players even sacrificed themselves by diving to the deck in a failed effort to try and bring down the maul.  This was futile though as the Townies rolled in one cohesive unit and casually stepped on and over the fallen players on their march to the goal.  Smelling the try-zone, Mitch submerged himself beneath the mauling madness and plunged across the line to score the five points.

Sebastien’s try was a supreme individual effort.  Shaking off numerous tacklers, even one that tried to wrestle him to the ground by the head, Sebastien rocketed through St. Lambert’s backline and juked his way past their 22 to finally touch the ball down under the posts after a 70 metre run.  Steve McNeill added the convert and TMR went ahead 12-3.

TMR was securing their own ball from breakdowns well in the first half with Rob Grodinsky and Alun notably standing out.  The duo also made a lot of tackles during the game, bringing down the Locks’ best runners with punishing hits.

Leading after the first half, TMR let up in the second and the Locks added a converted try.  Later in the half, as the early evening sun bore down on the game, Steve added a penalty and St. Lambert scored another try in the corner to level the game at 15 points each.  But on the ensuing convert the Locks’ kicker curved his attempt at the extra two points off of the far goalpost.

The final segment of the game went back and forth.  TMR kept booting the ball deep in the dying wind and St. Lambert kept running it back.  Near the end of the game, McNeill beat a penalty ball through the uprights from about 30 metres to give the Townies an 18-15 lead.  TMR hung on for the final 7:44 of the game to garner the victory, improving their record to 2-3

TMR RFC II 39 Beaconsfield II 37
Tries: Wadsworth (2), Bob Miller, Grody, Glen, Yacine.
Converts: Glen (3)
Penalties: Glen (1)

Hopes were high Saturday afternoon as the boys prepared to take on Beaconsfield. With a strong starting line-up and a full complement of subs, TMR II arrived to the field with an excellent chance to even out the W/L columns and to improve to 3-3. With the mercury nearing 40°C on the field and with the Beaconsfield side fielding 3 Caribou players for a 3rd div game, notching the 3rd win of the year wasn't going to be easy money.

An initial stumble receiving kick-off led to a Beaconsfield line-out in our own end. The Pack however immediately made up for the error with a strong spoil and pour through, presenting the energized backs with the ball; several quick phases later, Grody finished what he started with a solid crash in support to the corner for a 5-0 TMR lead in the first 2 minutes of the game. Jogging back to center, vets warned younger players not to expect a walk in the park in light of the early score, knowing well that Beaconsfield is capable of responding with a strong effort.

And respond they did. Determined scrummaging from a veteran group of Beaconsfield forwards wheeled our young pack and forced us back onto our heels in our own end, leading to a Beaconsfield try through the centers from a streaking 8-man sized inside center. Lining up for the restart, TMR knew they were in a fight.

The balance of the first half was a showcase of TMR hard running and intelligent support. Wadsworth's elusiveness, creativity and grit with the ball earned him 2 tries in the first half. Bob Miller showed his fire with a 10 yard bull run into the try zone for a score. TMR's first half scoring was completed by the team's diminutive captain at scrum-half breaking out his patent-pending "Manila shuffle" from midfield, turning several Beaconsfield would-be tacklers inside out with deft side steps and ball fakes on his way to the posts. A momentary lack of focus with seconds to play in the 1st half led to a Beaconsfield try in the corner from a late sub with fresh legs. Beaconsfield's scoring in the 1st half was completed by an early penalty kick from 35 yards out. After initial problems in the scrum, the Pack solidified and pushed as one to retain our own ball and even managed to steal a few. Credit also goes out to Hichem and Oliver for brilliant lineouts and steals. TMR would play short a man for the final minutes of the 1st half and ten minutes of the 2nd as the Ref convicted Sabri of dangerous play and sentenced him to a yellow card with 10 minutes in the bin. Score at the half: TMR 31, Beaconsfield 16.

Any thoughts of cruising with a 15 point lead at the half quickly evaporated under the hot sun. Bolstered by the late arrivals of fresh veteran legs, Beaconsfield capitalized on the man advantage and scored 2 quick tries. Despite pushing with only 7 men for the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half, TMR's depleted pack managed to hold its ground against Beaconsfield's forwards. Yacine jump-started the tiring TMR side with a strong effort from 15 yards out to score a much needed try. Late sub Smiley provided some much needed pep to an otherwise pooped squad. Good chase earned TMR a penalty close to the posts; Glen sure-footedly stroked the ball dead center to provide the points that ended up being the difference. Beaconsfield manufactured one more try off of a close call at the goal line.

Both sides played inspired rugby for the final five minutes of the 2nd half, with TMR prevailing thanks to hard-nosed hits and desperation tackling as Beaconsfield grew stronger with every late sub. Final score TMR 39, Beaconsfield 37.

Glen "Manila Shuffle" Imperial was named man of the match for his leadership, hard-running and crisp passes. Grody and Wadsworth were also in the running for the honour.

Notable performances came from PO for great steals in the scrums and Paul for great coverage at wing and a hard hit down field.

Thanks goes out to those who made the trip to support the team.

TMR 11 RCM 21
July 9
Tries: Sebastien
Penalties : Steve (2)

The premier side lost to RCM on the weekend by a score of 21-11. It was a soggy match as the rain hung in the air all day and the refereeing lacked the spark of conviction and courage that is necessary at the top level in this province.

TMR started the game with a decent effort but balls and bounces were slipping away with the wind and rain. The boys couldn't jam anything together as RCM took a 6-0 lead on a penalty and a drop-goal.

RCM played an extremely dirty match with eye-gouging, multiplicities of errant punches being thrown behind each play, the tackling of players without the ball, and hands in rucks being their most effective strategies.

About 15 minutes into the game Steve McNeill kicked a penalty to cut the deficit in half. Then a prop for RCM was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. At first the Townies couldn‚t find their stride and the match's momentum went back and forth until Sebastien Vittecoq punched a try across the line to put TMR up 8-6. RCM then added another penalty to go up 9-8 at the half-time whistle.

After a weak kick-off by TMR to start the second half, RCM countered and pinned the Town deep for the initial part of the half. Notably, Rob Grodinsky held RCMs rabidity at bay with some stunning stand up tackles.

The Townies owned most of the scrums during the game, eating up RCM and spinning them for turnover ball, and at this point in the game it was no different. The blue and gold could not capitalize on RCM errors, instead knock-ons and penalties were the only replies from TMR and opportunity after opportunity washed away.

RCM then added a converted try to go up 16-8 and McNeill countered with a penalty to push TMRs tally to 11.

About halfway through the second half RCM received another yellow card but again TMR could not capitalize. The foul occurred on the 35 metre line and the penalty kick was nicely stroked by McNeill down to the five metre line but on the ensuing lineout the forwards failed to reel the ball in and attack the line with a driving maul.

TMR failed to produce on about five or six lineouts low in the RCM half and they continually lost essential momentum.

With about eight minutes to go in the match, Dave McLeod received a yellow card from the referee for an inexplicable reason. The next scrum was decisively won by RCM and they attacked to the far side of the field and scored a try in the corner to go up 21-11.

Unable to match the quality of dirtiness that RCM exhibited, TMR was powerless to effectively generate enough ball for themselves and they ultimately came up short in the match.

TMR II - 5 Irish II - 28
July 9
Try: Shawn Blair

It was a cold, rainy day as TMR had 3 games at their rec center played by 35 players. The Irish sent up to TMR a formidable 2nd team that played better/differently than the previous game 4 weeks ago.

The forwards, led by Sylvain, Anthony, and Mark in the first row, had a difficult time winning our scrums. Derreck and Oliver were second rows, did their best. Back row was Martin , Nick, and P.P. IT was evident that TMR's forwards had never had a full practice together as a scrum.

The backs were led by Glen, which had trouble giving good clean ball to the backs (Shawn - Sabri - Mikael - Darcy + Alec - Paul) due to the weather and our forwards' lack of fitness getting to the rucks. Shawn scored a try with a pass from Mikael as he ran past a few players. The ref was fair.

The Irish played it safe 3 times by kicking for points within our 22. They also showed good defense by stealing the ball in unattended rucks.

This game showed TMR the importance of attending practice so that players can "know" each other and to keep up our fitness. Simply showing up to games is not sufficient - winning games require work.

Thank you to the players who kept a cool head while punches were thrown, and played the game to the end without giving up.

TMR II - 5 Ormstown II - 8
June 18
Try: Darcy Helmkay

It was a cool, perfect day for rugby as the 2 teams met at the Ormstown field. The first 20 minutes of the game there was no score as the 2 teams tried to feel each other out. TMR had impressive 2nd and 3rd phase ball, but Ormstown's defense forced TMR to move laterally on offense, as Sabri (I.C.) was often double teamed. Then a break came for Darcy through an outside gap as he scored TMR's only try. Adam saved the ball from TMR's "inside the 22" many times and helped on making many tackles. Shawn (O.C.) had a few impressive runs. Glen did an awesome job motivating the forwards as much as he could.

TMR won almost all of its lineouts, and when P.P. came in 20 minutes into the second half, he stole almost all of Ormstown's lineouts! The backs, led by Adam, got the ball many times, but just couldn't break through Ormstown's defense. Ormstown had won (except one steal from P.O. (hooker)) all their scrums, and T.M.R. won 70% of their own only. It didn't help that Martin had his first game as prop, after Mark's injury 20 minutes into the game. Our own scrums were being mostly won towards the end of the game, however, with the help of David, P.O.,Derreck, Nick, Oliver, P.P., Hichem, and Noam.

In the second half Ormstown scored after 3rd phase ball inside TMR's 22, and scored a kick off a penalty. The wingers of TMR and fullback (Alec, Mikheal, Paul, and Darcy) played exceptional defense. Even Oliver scored a "phantom" try with the ball on the line, but the ref didn't see it (he also doesn't believe in ghosts either) so therefore it didn't exist. Man of the match went to Adam, for never quitting, playing smart rugby, and motivating his backs.

TMR II-22 Irish II-5
June 4
Tries: Sabri (2), PP, Shawn
Converts: Glenn

IT was another hot day playing against the Irish, but this time TMR had the upper hand in showing better fitness. The first 20 minutes the score was 0-0 as both teams tried to "feel" each other out. Then TMR capitalized on the Irish's mistakes (missed tackles and penalties), and we scored 3 tries. First, Sabri had to score to show off his new skills as inside center. (We are very proud of him - he didn't try to kick the ball this time.) P.P. had an impressive try from the half line as the Irish missed quite a few tackles. He also stole at least 5 lineouts. Shawn showed his speed and cunning as he zigzagged through the tired Irish for a try.

On a funny note, I never saw a ref get hit so hard in a game (head over heels) by Sabri (shortly therafter he scored another try). Then the ref got grabbed by P.P. to support a ruck (P.P. forgot that we had enough players this time).

As Jessen was playing the first time as hooker, TMR thanked the Irish for the uncontested scrums. (Jessen will now have to be Anthony's understudy). Mark, Beef, Oliver, and Derrick were out there often in support. Glen, Adam, Darcy, and Alec had kept the ball in our possession many times, giving other players the opportunity to score. Paul and Bob made a few good tackles.

Man of the match goes to Derreck for his aggressive play in saving the ball in the rucks. Honorable Mention goes to Sabri.

On behalf of the Irish, hats off to them for playing hard through the game (they scored the last 5 minutes). It shows TMR that we need to work on our fitness and scrums.

Question - Where are Bob's sandals?!?

TMR II - 5 Parc O II - 46
May 29, 2005
Tries: Bob Miller

IT was a hot, tiring day for TMR. Parc O's forwards dominated TMR in the scrums during the first 3/4 of the game. Beef, Sabri, and Anthony tried valliantly to keep the scrum under control, to no avail. Paul, Alec, and Blank in the backs did their best for tackling on defense, but the hot weather and Parc Os backs determination to punch through our gaps did little to help us.

The referee was a nice guy (admitting it was more than a year since he reffed), but allowed Parc O to do 100 degree turns in their scrum and Parc O scored on that opportunity. In the ref's favor, he did warn everyone about high tackles and subsequently yellow carded a Parc O player for doing it.

On a positive note, Bob Miller scored a try in response to Parc O's first try in the first half, which helped boost TMR's morale for 5 minutes. Bob likes his new position as 8 man. P.P. stole at least 5 balls in Parc O's lineouts. The last 1/4 of the game TMR was able to stabilize and win ball in most of its scrums. Andy Baker gave man of the match to Adam for saving the ball on offense in precarious situations and honorable mention to Martin for his defensive play.

All TMR II players reading this, now know not to take anything for granted in regards to our skills and fitness, and Martin the captain will be more than delighted to see you guys come regularly to practice.

TMR - 50, les Patriotes - 0
May 21, 2005

TMR's long-awaited 2nd team season has finally arrived. With Martin taking charge of the forwards and Glen handling the backs, les Patriotes didn't have a chance. They almost scored twice in our endzone, but our forwards' determination to give them nothing was the rule of the day.

Adam as fly half expertly swung the ball away to our backs (8 tries) Smiley on wing couldn't be stopped (2 tries). Chicani did his usual dummy for 3 lovely tries. Paul couldn't resist the tryzone and put the ball in off the wing. Rob was getting jealous and wanted one, and got one for himself by plowing through the middle. Sabri? Even the esteemed Sabri heard the news about our 2nd team game, and came to get one of his special hybrid tries that only a forward who plays wing can get via intimidating the other wing. Thankyou Sabri for coming, you are always entertaining. We won't forget Glen with his 2 drops and 3 conversions.

Other players who didn't score but kept our killer attitude elevated, like Bob Miller,Beef, Dion, and Yacine, are worth mentioning. This will be the beginning of the best season for TMR 2nds.