Brooklyn Dragons Youth Rugby

Game 1: Brooklyn Dragons 3, PS20 5
Our first game was certainly our toughest pool match, and the Dragons had not kindled the fire just yet. PS20, representing England, were aggressive and dominated the space, but the Dragons held up and fought back with a few tries of their own, ending the game 5 to 3 for PS 20, recalling for one coach the many years of torment Wales suffered at the hands of the Saxons.

Game 2: Brooklyn Dragons 5 Hoboken 4
Hoboken were representing the USA and they had plenty of vocal support on the sidelines. However, the early defeat had the Dragons breathing fire and despite a close game the Dragons won it 5 to 4. That's nine tries in a ten minute game! Everyone was breathless at the end of that one.

Game 3: Uni Sett 3 Brooklyn Dragons 5
The Uni Sett Manhattanites started strong, but the Dragons were really feeling their flow by this point, and romped home with a 5 to 3 victory. At this point is was make or break, another win and the Dragons would be through to the Cup pool, a loss could mean playing for Mayor's Plate. Hopefully, it had been washed.

Game 4: Brooklyn Dragons 3 Pelham B 2
Ahh, Pelham. Pelham was representing Australia, but the coaching staff managed to overcome any potential conflicts of interest. We have met Pelham many a time at the CWP scrimmages, and they are a force to be reckoned with. An outstanding program, dedicated coaching, and weekend barbecues. Who can beat that? Well, apparently the Dragons can. The Red and Whites ran an incredibly close game against a solid Westchester defense but managed to squeeze out a 3 to 2 victory over Pelham B, the low score a testament to both sides playing incredibly good rugby, but nonetheless ensuring the Dragons a place in the Cup Semi-final.

Semi-Final: Epiphany 6 Brooklyn Dragons 5
(To be honest, I lost track of the score, I'm pretty sure it was 6 to 5.)

The Dragon's resounding success in the morning placed them into the Cup pool, an unplanned-for event, and it meant being matched against the best teams New York has to offer. As luck would have it, the Dragons drew Epiphany, a very good team with an average age of 11. Taller, faster, stronger, Epiphany have been held to a draw once or twice in scrimmage but they burst out in the first half with incredible energy and simply dominated. At the half time point, the Dragons were troubled and two tries down; they knew it was going to be tough. But what happened next was extraordinary.

The second half was seven minutes of some of the pluckiest rugby this writer has ever seen. The Dragons were not going home without a fight, and boy did they put up a good one.

In true David vs Goliath fashion, the Dragons reached deep into their oversized shorts and pulled out everything they had. Every story you've ever heard of Brooklyn boys showing the uptowners what life's all about was played out in that gruelling seven minutes. The final Dragons try included at least 15 phases of play but the Reds did not lose possession, hammering and hammering at the Epiphany line until they broke through for what should have been the try of the tournament.

Truly nail biting stuff, and the emotion and determination were evident for all to see. Epiphany had flow, grace, solid passing and excellent position. The Dragons had heart. Tons of it. They came back again and again, and forced Epiphany to wake up or lose the game.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time well before we ran out of spirit, with one or two tries in it. The Dragons did the best they could to congratulate the victors, but for most it was too much to even walk off the field. Heart-broken and sweltering from their frenetic push, they flopped on the field and tried to figure out how to deal with the loss.

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Consider this: on their first showing the Dragons placed in the top four teams, and most of their competition has a two or three years on all of them. The Dragons fielded seven year old to play the 11 year olds. This time next year the Dragons will be a year older, a year wiser, and with a bit of luck Epiphany will all be in middle school.

Christian Mayo, the head coach of the Play Rugby USA program has seen the Dragons come up from nothing, and he made a point of coming over and telling me that was the best game he's ever seen the Dragons play. As he said, just watch them in a year, in three years.

As one of the coaches of this ragamuffin bunch, I am intensely proud of the kids, they fought hard and made every team, no matter the age, wake up and pay attention. And that's what rugby is all about. You win some, you lose some, but every game is a great story, every team is new friends, and every time you pick up the ball and run with it is a new burst of adventure and love of the game. I cannot wait for next year.

We have two sessions left this year, I look forward to seeing you all at Olympics Day, and thanks for supporting your kids' passion and love of sport.

Jaz