Pelham Rugby Club traveled to Greenwich for a series of scrimmages on Sunday. The U13 team kicked off with many players playing their first game of tackle rugby ever. They had a fantastic time and competed well. As might be expected, some of the players were a little confused, but fortunately some of the U15…
Special tackle practice set for Sunday, Sept. 23 at Ingalls Field
This message from Coach Persanis: Our first game is approaching quickly. I would like to schedule a practice for this Sunday evening from 4:30 pm to 6 pm at Ingalls Field, which is the corner field between Pelham Middle School and Pelham Memorial High School. It is important that players make this practice. We play Greenwich…
Fall schedule of tackle and flag games set; registration for program still open to elementary and middle schoolers
Pelham Youth Rugby announced a fall schedule of five tackle games for the middle school players and two flag tournaments for the elementary participants. The U-13 and U-15 middle school teams will play games against Manhattan, Long Island, Greenwich and Lycee Francais. The elementary team will compete in flag tournaments at Chelsea Waterside Park. Registration…
Basics of rugby: ball handling, protecting possession and defending
Coach Persanis provides timely pre-season tips on ball handling, protecting possession and defense. With the ball: Carry it in two hands so the defense doesn’t know what you will be doing. Bring the defender to you and then pass. Pass to where your teammate will be, not where they are. Stay low! Run straight (don’t…
Stiff arm, or the fend, good to use to avoid being tackled; here’s how to do it
The stiff arm, or “fend” as it is known around the world, is a very good tool to have to avoid being tackled. The whole idea of the stiff arm is to create space between the tackler and the ball carrier. When teaching tackling, we always emphasize being close when you make contact and driving…
Sign up! Registration still open for Pelham Youth Rugby’s fall program
Kids can still register for Pelham Rugby’s fall program, with practices set to start in mid-September. The program is run through Pelham Recreation and will be held on the same days and same times as last year. Pelham Rugby is open to kids from towns outside of Pelham and is one of the very few…
Second Pelham youth coach makes a national team; Chris Chapman picked for U.S. 7s
After playing for NYAC’s 7s team in the national championships at the beginning of the month, Chris Chapman was selected for the U.S. national 7s team. That makes two out of three coaches from Pelham on the national squad. Toby L’Strange was named to the Eagles 15s team in the spring. “All we need now is…
Season ender: Seventh-eighth grade tackle team defeats Narberth; sixth-seventh squad splits a pair
Pelham Rugby’s seventh-eighth grade tackle team won their last game of the season June 16, played against Narberth Rugby Club in Villanova, Pa. The sixth-seventh grade team split a pair of matches against a team from the same club. The seventh-eighth grade squad finished the season undefeated in 10 games and winner of the New…
Pelham takes record four teams to NYC Cup; all advance deep into tournament
Pelham brought four teams June 9 to the NYC Cup, the largest flag rugby tournament in North America. Pelham, the only program with multitple teams invited, had one team in the elementary division and three in the middle school division. While Pelham did not take home any hardware, all of the teams advanced beyond the…