By Kate Troy
Matt Manjuck beats his defender in Saturday’s game against the Mountaineers.
By Maxx Steinmetz
In the second home game leading up to Rutland Rugby Football Club’s trip to Lake Placid for the annual Can-Am’s tournament, the Roosters hosted the Saranac Mountaineers.
In their previous meeting when the two sides played in a friendly match hosted by the Mountaineers, Rutland was beaten, 26-10.
Yet again the weather was hot and humid as the teams took to the pitch. It soon became evident that the two teams had vastly different play styles. Saranac used their fitness and speed in a 7-a-side style of play utilizing lots of passing and evasive running, while the home side used control, power, and a responsive offense and defense more in the vein of the 15-a-side version of the game.
Though tries were run in for Rutland by Keith “Crazy” Duncan, Jeff Whipple, and Maxx Steinmetz, it was the Mountaineers who were rewarded with the win for their efforts with the final score standing at 39-19.
