Thanks to Travis Karlin for submitting these match summaries from the road.

Saturday, May 1, 2004 Lemont, IL

Metropolis versus buffalo

Conditions were cold and rainy during the match. Game started out auspiciously with Buffalo’s kick-off sailing into touch, resulting in a scrum center. Like a page out of the text book, Metropolis took the ball left, split their backline, with Nate Waters making a 40m break. The resulting rucks by the forwards resulted in an off-sides penalty. Babiash took a quick tap and General and the boys drove him forward and in for the first try (conversion missed) at minute 2.

Within the next 5 minutes, Buffalo made a break through the centers with 3 missed tackles, allowing them to touch down for 5 points (minute 8). Luckily, their left footed flanker couldn't kick. He shanked the ball short.

The game went back and forth, with Metropolis forwards setting good rucks, and working the pick and go around the fringe. Too many lost balls in the tackle kept changing possession. Buffalo received a penalty within striking distance and went for points, only to have their kicker push this one left. (2nd miss).

The lock from Buffalo grabbed the ball in a ruck right in front of the ref, giving Chad a 45m shot at goal with the wind. He slotted it easily at minute 38, giving Metropolis an 8-5 lead going into half.

With some adjustments to defensive assignments at the half, Metropolis started out playing controlled rugby. 5 minutes into the 2nd half, Metropolis took a tight-head from Buffalo and work a series of pick and go’s, resulting in another off-side penalty. Chad slotted this one into the wind at minute 45 (Metropolis 11-5).

Metropolis was dominating the scrums, but the ref awarded a penalty on a Buffalo put in for what we can only guess was “pushing too hard,” by Metropolis. Buffalo worked the quick tap and Buffalo’s large #5 made a surprising break around the fringe on a missed tackle. Mike came up to stop the lumbering giant and made a great tackle, unfortunately knocking our fullback silly. Buffalo worked the rucks over to score a try at minute 53. Stern came in for Mike. Their conversion was again missed (Metropolis 11-10).

The ref then took control of the game with some questionable penalties for both sides. Buffalo took another shot at goal and their lefty again missed wide (3rd miss). Then at minute 57, Renner was put in the bin for hands in the ruck defending our goal line. The penalty kick was taken by a new kicker for Buffalo, but he was just as bad, sending an embarrassing kick squibbing into the ground (4th miss).

Ike came in for Kreblin (front row substitution while Renner was in the sin bin). Play went back and forth with turn overs by both sides. Babiash had a great steal on at our 22, but the player was holding on. The ref, trailing by 20m, ignored the infringement, and the ball went wide to Buffalo’s who’s #14 scored on a kick through and chase at minute 61. (Metropolis 11 Buffalo 15)

Metropolis turned on the heat, pressuring the Buffalo defense and make some good work with a combination of backs and forwards. Metropolis received a penalty which was put into touch at the 5m line. The resulting drive off a well executed line-out play (Big Tom to Jamey on the drive) put the forwards in for the try in the corner at the 67th minute (conversion missed, 16-15).

Some more exciting play back and forth in the wet conditions saw Buffalo threatening again. Our outside center called for off-sides at a ruck, gave Buffalo a chance to pull ahead with a 22m penalty kick. They brought back the left footed flanker to try and slot this easy one in front of the posts. Quiet shouts of “Noonen” from the sidelines could be heard, but seemed unneeded as he shanked their 5th penalty goal left.

After a 22m drop, Metropolis took control with the back 3 after a poor Buffalo kick went straight to Stern at full-back. He pushed the ball out past the pursuing flanker and eventually Coppernuts found space down the sideline. Andy pulled up to possibly grubber the ball past the full back and was grabbed from behind. Metropolis turned over the ball, but a Buffalo player caught without support was dinged for holding on. Into the wind, Chad gave it a shot from the right side, 35m out. He slotted this easily, giving Metropolis a 4 point cushion at minute 71 (Metropolis 19-15).

There were some tense moments near the end, but some solid tackling made Buffalo cough up the ball. Chad took another shot from 45m on the left hand touch line, but it fell short. In the end, Buffalo didn't have an answer to the controlled game played by Metropolis.

Solid team effort all around. No man of the match given.

Metropolis will play for the MW championship at 2:00 Sunday against Indianapolis (former DI that stepped down to sandbag DII).

Day looks sunny (which will be good for Metropolis).

Final Score: Metropolis 19 - 13 Buffalo

Saturday, May 2, 2004 Lemont, IL

Metropolis versus Indianapolis

Sorry, don't have time to do the write up, but here's a quick summary:

Metropolis Try at 16 minutes (Lucky pop kick, Terry, Stern & Coppernuts in support, Sterno flips it back to Andy as he's driven out of bounds, Coppernuts powers over for the try)

Indy try (31min)
Metropolis penalty try (40min) - best example of disciplined rugby I've seen in a long time from Metropolis. Conversion by Chad (12-5)
Indy try (44 minute in first half - no injury time - not sure what happened)

Score at the Half: 12-10

Metropolis penalty (49min) - Chad
Indy penalty (52min)
Metropolis penalty (85min) - Chad

Final Score: Metropolis 18-13 Indianapolis

Subs: Ike for Kreblin (Renner binned). Ike stayed on for Kreblin at 74th minute

Metropolis advances as the MW #1 seed to Newport, RI on May 15th & 16th.

Saturday May 15th, Pool C
10:30 AM - Metropolis vs NorthEast #1 (Connecticut Yankees)
12:30 AM - MARFU #1 vs West #1 (Probably Springfield)

Sunday May 16th, Pool C
Losers at 11:00 AM
Winners at 1:30PM

Winner advances to Final 4 in Pittsburgh.

Plan to see everyone out to celebrate on Thirsty Thursday (I'm sure Pete will send out the formal announcement).