The men and women both took steps in making their preseason goals a reality this past weekend, which had the Men facing off versus in-state rival Morris RFC and the women taking on Suffolk Bullmoose.
The women travelled to Suffolk and handed them a 85 to 0 drubbing which clinched the division for the Renegades, a third year running. With the short competitive season the women in the Met Union’s second division, this serves as just the next step in making the sweet 16 which has avoided the women for the past few years. The women do not play again until the last weekend in October, the 29th and 30th, where they will be hosting the Met Union Division 2 playoffs on their home pitch of Thompson Park. Captain Liz Hussey has given the girls a week to mend and rest but training kicks back up next week, normal schedule.
The Men travelled to Morris to play the still winless Morris Lions after suffering a disappointing loss to the White Plains RFC the previous week. Monmouth came out hard and scored early, followed by a penalty and met with a Morris try, leaving it at 8-7 until twenty minutes remained in the first half. The men spent the next twenty minutes putting down an additional five tries in order to take a 37 to 14 lead into half.
The second half played out much like the end of the first half with the MRFC backline retaining possession and scoring off wide plays around the Morris backline which couldn’t keep up. Though there was a noticed advantage at the front row by Morris, Monmouth was able to keep through it and some pressured kicking attacks. Though Morris did score again, Monmouth put another twenty-six points down to finish a 63 to 14 win.
The New York RFC comes down to Thompson Park this weekend in order to see who lays where at the top of the Division 1 standings. currently, Monmouth sits ahead of New York thanks to bonus points, even though the NY side has yet to lose. A victory will all but sure up first place and a round one bye in the NRU playoffs. A loss this weekend, with an impending match against Old Blue next, could end up with White Plains sneaking into the playoffs despite a very promising start for the Monmouth men.
Come join us this weekend to cheer the men on, 1PM kickoff with a second side match to follow.