Congratulations to the U12 team. For most of them, it was their first experience with tackle rugby. They did really well. Manhattan had lots of kids, and Pelham had a bunch of kids missing, but in the end, Manhattan only edged Pelham 10 tries to 8.

The U14 game was a tough one. Manhattan’s U14 team is almost all eighth graders and Pelham’s is almost all seventh. Manhattan got ahead early, and Pelham battled back to make it close.

The U16/junior varsity game reached the half with Pelham ahead 20-15 (4 tries to 3). Manhattan put 3 quick ones in early in the second half. Pelham seemed to run out of steam. The home team did battle back to make it a bit closer, but the game ended with Manhattan as 45-25 winners.

That set up the day’s big grudge match featuring the U18/varsity squads, the first time Pelham fielded a team in that age group. The Pelham and Manhattan kids have been playing against each other for five years now, and Pelham has never lost to this Manhattan group.

Tonight was no different. It started with Manhattan asking to do uncontested scrums (a strong point for Pelham) and then asking to play 13-a-side (Pelham’s strongest attribute is playing as a team). Time was running out due to the late start of the U12 game.

Pelham went up 7-0 by the half. It was a very rough and tumble game. Manhattan rucked like there was no tomorrow. This caused Pelham lots of problems. But Pelham stayed on the program, kept at it, and as the second half went on, Pelham wore Manhattan down, scoring 3 second half tries to 1 for Manhattan. Final score in a very short game was Pelham 26 (4 tries, 3 conversions) Manhattan 12 (2 tries, 1 conversion).