Rutland impresses despite big loss

By Maxx Steinmetz
Rutland traveled to Pittsfield, Mass., on Oct. 25 to face Berkshire for the second time this season. Despite only showing up with 12 players, the Roosters displayed hard-nosed, aggressive “in-your-face” defense forcing Berkshire to use their signature football-style passes in order to make use of their three-man advantage.
Throughout the game Rutland’s aggressive defense was backed up by strong rucking, crisp passing, head-on running.
“Rutland played with only 12 men and although the game was never close, kept persevering and were rewarded with a try late in the second half.” said referee Fred Greenaway in the entirety of his match report to the New England Rugby Referee Society, making no real mention of the home side’s success.
By the end of the game, the 12 players of Rutland had played against a total of 22 Berkshire players (through the substitutions that they were allotted). The home side won 62-7.
Rutland’s is now 4-3 on the season and falls to fifth in the rankings. With two bye-weeks scheduled, the final game of the season sees the Roosters at home against Bennington on Saturday, Oct. 15.