Words and Pictures by Ed Hagerty

Travers Island, Pelham, New York - Trailing 10-15 at the break, the New York Athletic Club rebounded with 31 second-half points to defeat long time rival Old Blue 41-25. The AC outscored Old Blue seven tries to three.

Playing with a strong wind at its back, Old Blue jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third minute when wing Fitzjames Adams scored at the end of an eight-phase movement.

The score was leveled in the 17th minute when NYAC wing Steve Annunziato scored at the end of an eighty meter movement, following a long break by center BJ Hall, 5-5. 

A try by flanker John Hoehmann and flyhalf Elliot Rechtin’s conversion gave Old Blue a 12-5 lead in the 24th minute. The NYAC replied just two minutes later when flanker Vick Milani blocked a clearing kick 20 meters from Old Blue’s line and flanker Paul Jesseman was there to corral the loose ball and touch down for the try, 12-10.

Jesseman was yellow-carded for dangerous tackle in the 31st minute.

Old Blue went into the break with a 15-10 lead when Elliot Rechtin hit a penalty kick in the 41st minute.
Second Half

The second half told a very different story, as the AC - now with the wind at its back - completely outplayed Old Blue.

Things started off well for the visitors as Elliot Rechtin’s penalty goal increased Old Blue’s lead to 18-10 two minutes after the restart. The New York Athletic Club, however, would then score 31 unanswered points.  

The AC deluge began in the eighth minute when center BJ Hall scored a corner try (18-15) following a penalty 20 meter’s from Old Blue’s line. The NYAC took the lead in the 14th minute when lock Seth Cohen scored following multiple attacks inside Old Blue’s 20 and flyhalf Pete O’Brien added the conversion, 22-18.

The AC went further ahead three minutes later when a clearing kick from Old Blue’s end zone was blocked and lock Brian Doyle touched down for the try, 27-18.

Fullback Tim L’Enevez scored at the end of a movement after NYAC won a lineout 30 meters from Old Blue’s line. O’Brien’s conversion increased the NYAC’s lead to 34-18 in the 22nd minute.

The AC’s scoring parade came to a conclusion six minutes later when wing Glen Fox touched down a try that O’Brien converted, 41-18.

Visiting Old Blue got a consolation try at the conclusion of a length of the field movement inaugurated by flanker John Hoehmann’s break. Flyhalf Elliott Rechtin touched down and then converted, bringing the final tally to New York AC 41, Old Blue 25. 

NYAC 41
Tries: Annunziato, Jesseman, BJ Hall, Cohen, Doyle, L'Enevez, Fox
Convs: O’Brien 3

Old Blue 25
Tries: Adams, Hoehmann, Rechtin
Convs: Rechtin 2
Pens: Rechtin 2

New York AC             Old Blue
Discala            1        Brazier
Coyne              2         Griffin    
Bartley             3         Duncan-Calendar
Doyle               4         Scott
Cohen             5         Sadgrove
Milani               6         Hoshino
Jesseman      7         Hoehmann
Denise            8         Parry
Petri ©             9         Rizzo
O’Brien         10         Rechtin
Ryland          11         Jordan
T. Hall           12        Elliot
BJ Hall          13         Kelly
Annunziato   14         Adams 
L’Enevez      15         Mpambou DoDang
 Reserves
Schacter 16 Amato
Fox 17 Van Hoesen
Pereira 18 Judge
Katzfey 19 Murphy
White 20 Rangel
Gianchetta 21 Sullivan
Durant 22 O’Brien