The Bennington Battle Rugby Club beat the Old Gold Rugby Club, from the Boston area, at home on Saturday, October 20^th. Bennington won the game with a score of 29-5, securing a third seed birth for the playoff tournament, and finishing the season with a record of 5 wins and 2 losses, 4 and 2 in conference.

Battle was the first team to score, when 10 minutes into the game, the Bennington forwards were able to drive down into opposition territory. The ball was passed out to center Cameron Bundy who dummied a pass outside and charged into the try zone from 15 meters out.  Fullback Tim Reisler’s kick was wide left and the score was 5-0, Bennington.

The game appeared it was going to be very close when Old Gold answered back with a 30 meter break away, followed by two crashes leaving the Bennington defense on their heels. Old Gold’s next crash broke the Battle defensive line crashing in for five points of there own. They missed their kick and the score was tied at 5 a piece.

Battle’s second try came when Bennington executed a series of crashes with all 15 players touching the ball through six phases, slowly gaining territory. Scrumhalf Eric Bushee was the last to hold the ball, diving into goal for five more points and his first score as a member of Bennington Battle. Reisler’s kick was wide right this time and the half ended with Bennington leading, 10-5.

The second half started with Bennington kicking off but quickly recovering the ball. Two minutes into the half, the Bennington backs ran a play and center Jason Dennis broke a 20 meter run, scoring just outside the posts. Reisler corrected his kicks and was spot on, extending Battle’s lead to 17-5.

Bennington then got another score when flyhalf Josh Weldon punted the ball 40 meters down into Old Gold territory. Dennis was there to tackle the man who received the ball, causing him to botch a pass and Bundy was able to scoop up the ball and run 25 more meters for the score. Reisler missed the kick and Battle led the game 22-5.

The last score of the game came at the end of the game with time expired and the ref waiting for a dead ball to call the game. Dennis showed his prowess when he read a pass and picked it off in mid-air, breaking for a 40 meter score in-between the posts. Eight-man Matt Perry made a successful kick and the game ended 29-5.

“I was going to kick the ball out of bounds,” explained Dennis. “But then I recognized no one was really able to catch me so I just decided I was going to score.”

“This win gives us great position for the tournament next week,” explained head coach, Jeremiah Madison. “Our first two rounds should be against teams we have beat and we shouldn’t see a team that we have lost to till the finals. We just need to make sure we don’t go in over confident.”

Next week, Bennington Battle Rugby ends their conference play with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. They will go into the New England Rugby Football Union Division IV tournament next week at Cape Cod as the third seed. For more information about the Battle Rugby Team or how to become a member, please visit their website at www.benningtonrugby.org.

The Bennington Battle Rugby Club traveled to Ludlow, VT  on Saturday October 6^th, to face Black River Rugby Club. The day belonged to Bennington’s forwards, who scored all three times and helped the team pull out a win in a close game, 17-5. The Battle’s record extends to 4 wins with 2 losses this season and 3-2 in conference play.

Bennington opened the scoring when, 15 minutes into the game, eight-man Matt Perry picked the ball out of a ruck and dove in for five points. Fullback, Chris Kapiloff’s extra point attempt was no good and Bennington led Black River, 5-0.

Black River then answered back five minutes later and scored a try of their own, tie the game after they missed their extra point. However, Bennington was not done and flanker Sean Morin was able to receive a pass on the outside and plow his way into the try zone with 12 minutes left in the first half. Kapiloff’s kick was on mark this time and the half ended with the Battle on top, 12-5.

The second half began and Black River came out full force. Five times Black River was within 15 meters of the try zone and five times the Battle defense held them off.  Finally, with about half way into the second half, Bennington formed a rolling maul and drove 30 meters down the field. Flanker Dave Molok then rolled out of the maul and powered his way 10 more meters for the try. The kick missed the mark and the game would end 17-5 in favor of Bennington.

“It was a hard hitting game, but our scrum came up big,” said head coach, Jeremiah Madison. “Our scrums and line-outs worked really well and our forwards just overpowered theirs in open play. It was a good win.”

Bennington’s next game is at home, on the Beech St. Field in Bennington, Vermont. The game is against Old Gold from the Boston area and will be played at 1 pm. The entire community is welcome to attend with no admission charge. For more information on the Bennington Battle Rugby Club’s schedule or how to become part of the team, go to www.benningtonrugby.org.

Bennington Battle Rugby Football Club lost to Maccabee Rugby Club on September 22^nd, 54-10, and beat Boston Ironsides Rugby Football Club 74-0 on September 29^th. This gives Bennington a record of 3-2 (2-2 conference).

On September 22^nd, Maccabee traveled to Bennington and came out quickly, scoring after only 10 minutes into the game and never let up. However, Battle refused to give up, and thanks to fullback, Chris Kapiloff’s penalty kick, the first half ended with Maccabee 24-3. The second half was much of the same with Maccabee’s backs proving to be to fast for the Bennington defense and scoring 30 more points. However, with about 10 minutes left in the game, prop, Jason Hilder was able to grab the ball out of a maul and dive in for a try. Kapiloff’s kick was true and the game ended, 54-10 with Maccabee on top.

“Those guys were good,” said head coach, Jeremiah Madison. “We were sloppy, but those guys just came out and gave us much more than we were use to.”

The reverse happened on September 29^th, when Battle traveled to Boston to face the Boston Ironsides. Bennington started scoring about seven minutes into the game when center Cameron Bundy broke a 30 meter run and touched the ball down for five points. Fullback, Tim Reisler’s kick was off the mark and Bennington started the scoring fest. Bundy lead the scoring with three trys while flyhalf, Andy Macnaughton , center, Jason Dennis, and prop, Jason Hilder all had two apiece. Flanker, Sean Morin, lock Jess Clausnitzer, and eight-man, Matt Perry each had one try. Reisler converted 7 of 12 for 14 total points. The game ended with Bennington in the lead, 74-0.

“It was good to get a win like this,”stated Madison. “After a loss like last week, this really helped morale. Hopefully we can use it as momentum going into next weeks game.”

Bennington travels to Ludlow, VT to play Black River on October 6^th. Their next home game is Saturday, October 20^th at 1pm on Beech St. in Bennington. For more information, or if you are interested in playing, please go to www.benningtonrugby.org.

The Bennington Battle Rugby Football Club loss 20-26, to the defending division champs, Cape Cod Rugby, on Saturday, September 15^th. After the four hour drive down, Bennington held the lead most of the game, but the lack of their usual kickers and an excess of penalties pushed Cape Cod to the win at the end of the game.

Bennington opened up the scoring with center Jason Dennis making a 40 meter break to put up five points. Battle’s usual kickers were both out with injuries, and eight-man, Matt Perry’s kick was off the mark. Bennington then scored a second try when flyhalf, Josh Weldon punted the ball down the field and Dennis was able to run onto the ball, kick it one more time and then dive in for five more points. Perry’s kick was off again and the score was 10-0 in favor of Battle. Bennington then tried to extend their lead by attempting a penalty kick for 3 points. However, Perry’s kick was just wide and the score remained.

Cape Cod then answered back with a try of their own through several crashes. Cape Cod got within five meters of the goal line but the Bennington defense was a brick wall and stuffed six different attempts to score. On the seventh attempt, Battle came up to meet the Cape Cod ball runner again, and again stuffed him. However, the referee ruled that Bennington was offside and therefore awarded a penalty try. Cape Cod’s kick was good and the score was 10-7 with Bennington in the lead at the end of the half.

Bennington came out during the second half and opened up scoring again when rookie flanker, Dave Molok picked up the ball on the five meter line and drove in for another try. The kick was this time attempted by prop, Jeremiah Madison and was unsuccessful and the score was 15-7, Battle.

Cape Cod then scored their second try by stealing a Bennington pass and having a 30 meter break. Their kick was again successful and the score was still in favor of Bennington, 15-14. Cape Cod then caught a break in scoring territory when Bennington passed the ball forward. They were able to crash the ball multiple times and then got the overload where they were able to score and take the lead for the first time. Their kick was unsuccessful and Bennington was down, 15-19.

Bennington answered back with about 10 minutes left in the game, when scrumhalf, Eric Bushee found a gap in the Cape Cod defense, made a 15 meter break and then passed the ball out to Dennis who crashed in for five more points and a hat-trick on the day. Perry’s kick was wide again, but Bennington took the lead, 20-19.

With about five minutes left in the game, Bennington committed an offside penalty 15 meters out from their try zone. Cape Cod spun the ball out to their center who was about to crash in for 5 more points. Their kick was good and the game would end with Bennington down, 26-20.

“It was a very physical game,” explained head coach, Jeremiah Madison. “But in the end fitness lost us the game. We just weren’t as fit as them. Not to mention going 0 for 5 on our kicks hurt us. That was 11 missed points. And dumb penalties, like the one that gave them the penalty try, hurt us. We have some things to work on but we never gave up. I’m proud of my men. Everyone gave their all and we played a good game. We just need to get better.”

Their next home game will be on Saturday, September 22^nd, at 1pm on Beech St. in Bennington. For more information, or if you are interested in playing, please go to www.benningtonrugby.org.