Photo by Davin Currie (from a tournament held on April 25)
PORTLAND – On Saturday at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds, a large and enthusiastic crowd of rugby players and supporters throughout Maine were treated to an exciting Maine Cup final that saw the University of Maine (Orono) hang on to earn a well-deserved 22-17 victory over UMF. The Farmington men were attacking the Orono line with what could have been the game’s winning try when the final whistle sounded. The Orono men, fresh from playing in the National Championships in Florida, are truly a powerhouse in college rugby and their win ended UMF’s three-year stranglehold on the Maine Cup trophy.
Earlier in the day, UMF earned its place in the final with a 53-7 dismantling of Bowdoin in a game that featured the kind of wide-open, running rugby that has been the team’s hallmark all season long. Led by Eben Bouchard, Taylor Steeves, Derek Hanrahan and Sam Hill, the UMF team ran in nine tries, some from long range. When Orono bested Colby 17-7 in the day’s next match, the final pairing was set to determine bragging rights for the next year as Maine’s best college rugby team.
The championship final began with an Orono try, but by halftime UMF had scored two tries of it’s own and were up 12-10 in a game that featured extremely physical play in both the tackle and in the rucks and mauls that occur after the tackle when play goes on and both teams strive to recover the ball to begin a new attack. Ultimately, the Orono team’s two second-half tries to the UMF team’s one was the difference, and the Maine Cup was theirs.
Five UMF men earned spots on the Tournament’s All-Star team as the best players in the state at their positions, and several others arguably should have. The UMF All-Stars are forwards Tom Ross, Josh McMahon, Ray Linck and Dan Linck, as well as flyhalf Chip Burnham.
Anyone interested in seeing the UMF men and women play rugby are invited down to Prescott Field this Saturday, May 9th, at 12 noon when both teams host their alumni in the annual and highly spirited UMF alumni matches.
It is truly great to see the continuation of a wonderfully successful program at the small University that is UMF. Woody Hanstein has taught many young men how to play a game that they can be involved with for decades after they don the cap and gown in early May. His passion for the game, and willingness to teach a new crop of players every year draws students of all backgrounds to the pitch at Prescott Field year in and year out. Those who do not play, always enjoy watching that which they may not understand. Its exciting, thrilling and always good for a laugh or two.
As a former player for Woody, I can say that not only did he help me find a place within a sport that I will hold close to my heart for many years to come; but he instilled a desire to win the right way, always. To make sure that those players beyond the first XV see the field in a safe and educational manner (Some years, we didnt have more than a couple bodies beyond XV…
To the current players I extend my thanks, for carrying on a tradition that started long before you and with your help, will be there long after you’ve played your final match under the green and gold of the UMF RFC. Congratulations on a stellar season fellahs! To the new guys, stick with it and always keep your eye out for another rugger, you never know who you can get to walk down the hill and onto the pitch if you don’t ask them. I’ll see you boys on the pitch Saturday, best of luck!