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Wanna Play SEVENS: Contact:
7s Coach Politis; My cell 231 838 5792 Training Schedule: Tuesday's starting: 6/30 till the Hard Rock 7s tournament on 7/18 Coach's Corner - "Off Season" - Training, club support:
We are planning a tour to Canada in early August (Sarnia and Toronto), so our off-season training is vital to our success. We will be meeting on Sunday's starting in late June to train together (touch, general fitness, stairs, etc...). I will have a schedule for all of you tomorrow. Schedule for summer: May 28th - Sevens Training Begins (Every Thursday) - Coach Steve Politis May 30th - Golf Outing @ The Crown June 6th - Bullwinkle Sevens (Michiana) June 18th - Beach Touch Rugby (Every Thurs. - 6PM) June 27th - Family Picnic (Noon) @ the Clubhouse June 28th - Sunday Sessions Begins -4:30PM State Hospital Grounds July 4/11th - Cherry Festival - Call Coco (Working the Brat tent and Walking in the Big Parade - great recruiting opprotunity) July 18th - Hard Rock Sevens (Grand Rapids) August 1st - Rugby Camp @ Bowers Harbor August 7-9 - Canada Tour (Old boys?) August 15 - Cherry Pit (TBD) August 29 - Fall XV's League Begins 5/23 -GRRFC 52 - BLUES 31
Traverse City lost 52 -31 in there final home game to Grand Rapids on Saturday in front of 200+ fans at the civic center to finish 4-3. Traverse City led 3-0 at 10 minutes into the match withj a penalty kick by Seamus Ratukalou and then gave up 3 try's to the very fit and fast GR side. Traverse city answered with Ratukalou, who started at wing and moved to full back after Griffin Benson went down in the opening minutes with a hambstring injury, scored from the outside and centered it under the posts to end the first half 17-8. The Blues started out tough and tested the Gazzells at every chance they had, a few dropped passes and some flashes of brilliance in BJ Brick and Josh Benghauser gave the Blues an extra push with try's during the period, however, the Blues had defensive break downs in the backline and could not hold the outside pressure of the supporting Grand Rapids players. Traverse city played well, but not at the level that Grand Rapids was playing on this day. Traverse City needed more to work with this past spring, as poor numbers at training, turned into poor performance in the set play and overall fitness of the team which turned into our losses. Personal off-season reflection and discipline will be the key to our success in the fall. Traverse City has raw talent that needs to be developed, but players must report to training to exercise the development going on. The COMMITMENT is the key. I have many plans for training and I am limited with the lack of bodies needed to support the drills and flow of our squad. Stay positive and train hard as the dividends will pay off for our upcoming fall league season. See you in August. BLUES SCORING: Seamus - #15 - 16 points (1 try, 4 conversions and a penalty) BJ Brick - #8 - 10 points (2 trys) Josh Benghauser - #2 - 5 Points (try) Last Match Results: Blues 17 Sarnia 32 Traverse City came to play at 3PM (game delayed till 4PM) and the tough forward pack of the visiting Canadian team proved to much, as The Sarnia Saints (10-1 in 2008 and newly promoted to Division 2 in the Toronto League) started there pre-season match with a decisive victory over the Blues in an exhibition match. Sarnia controlled 90% of the scrums and 70% of the Line-outs holding the Blues to a lone try in the first half of Saturdays contest leading 17-7 and the end of time and . The Blues threatened many times but mishandleing turned into badly effected rugby. The Blues started the second half with a few subs to off-set the Saints in the strong pack. The Blues couldn't shake the tough quick, rucking from the oppoosition. Sarnia scored off what seemed apparent knock-on's - twice and put another across the line on a long breakaway by there fullback to seal the victory. The Blues scored a very nice consolation try in the second half by former Alliance standout Winger Corey Parschall, as he took a nice offload by Ratukalou on the west side of the pitch and darted 30 metres past the Saints winger for the final points of the match. On a happy note the Blues reserve and resident old boy Sam "The Man" Mathews filled in for an injury for Sarnia scoring off loose play for 5 points for the opposition. Traverse City's next home game against Grand Rapids on May 23rd at 1PM. Out-Center Seamus Ratukalou led the Blues with two try's (10 points), Griffin Benson (fullback) was 1-3 in conversions with 2 points. Man of the Match - Steve Poilitis 4/25 Blues @ Grand Rapids - Cancelled by GOD 4/18 NMU @ BLUES - forfiet 112-5 4/11 BLUES 27 Tri Cities 10 Blues Traveled down to Midland to play the Barbarians, thanks to the Old men Dan and Sam the Blues were able to pull off a victory against the stingy Tri Cities side. Dave Wenkle led the Blues with two try's, while Nick Prop -fropper, Benghauser and Griffin Benson put in additional try's while Benson kicked a conversion for a 27-10 victory. The Blues are 3-1 after 4 matches this season. 3/28 - Blues went 2-1 in Nashville @ Nash Bash 2009 SPRING SCHEDULE - all
home games at the Civic Center unless posted.
3-28/29 Nashville Tournament, Tennessee (2-1) Wins 19-0 Queen City, 32-0 Purdue and 25-26 loss to Lincoln Park. 4/4 @ Flint Rouges RFC (Cancelled - Weather) 4/11 @ Tri Cities Barbarians (W 27-10) 4/18 NMU Moosemen Home (W 112-5) 4/25 @ GR Gazzells (Cancelled by GOD) (Travelled w/ 19 but Thunder and Lighning forced us into Beer drinking) 5/2 Sarnia Saints (ON, Canada) + Old Boys Home (L 17-32) 5/9 Open 5/16 @ Toledo Invitational - NOPE 5/23 GR Gazzells Home (L 31-52) 5/27 Sevens Training Begins 6/17 Beach Rugby (Weds. 6:30PM) 6/21 TEAMNESS TRAINING (Every Sunday @ 2PM; location TBD)
MIDWEST NORTHERN CONFERENCE (Scores) 10/18- Lost 15-23 Saturday vs Kalamazoo Dogs RC - Kalamazoo, MI 1PM Traverse City started out strong nailing a sideline penalty kick by fullback Griffin Benson at the 10 min mark, KZOO answered with a cheap try off of some illegal playing on the ground by KZOO and the overweight ref - way out of position. KZOO went up 7-3, and later scored off of a botched "Mark" call by Benson, he screamed Mark and everyone heard but the ref???? KZOO 10-3 at the half. Traverse City answered with a try under the posts by Seamus Ratukalou and a conversion by Benson to even the score at 10 all. Kalamazoo kicked a penalty in front of the posts 22m out and went up 13-10, minutes later a gap on the defense was left wide open outside the center and the fullback sprinted for the goal line and passing to the in-center in support for 5 more going up 18-10 with 25 minutes left. Traverse City pressured, but could not convert the pressure into points. With about 5 mins left the Blues handling errors turned into anther 5 points for Kalamazoo as there wing kicked through the bobbled pass for 5. Dave Wenkle scored a late try breaking free from a breakdown in the corner as time ran out a few minutes later and so did there hopes of the playoffs. Score ending: KZOO 23 Blues 15 Man of the Match - Griffin Benson for crafty kicking and attack... TRY'S Ratukalou Wenkle CONVERSION: Benson -1 of 2 PENALTY: Benson -1 of 2 10/19 - Won 29-16 SUNDAY VS MICHIGAN FEMMES RC - Ann Arbor, MI 2PM The Blues have been looking forward to this match all season as Michigan once again showed NO CLASS. The referee was an hour late and the game started at 2PM instead of the scheduled 1PM kickoff. Minutes into the first half - the Blues once again started the match with there ace kicker Griffin Benson hitting a side bending penalty to go up 3 to nill. Michigan answered with a try, conversion and a penalty to go up 10-3. at 25 mins. TC took over and drove there pompous asses all over the place along with stifling defense, the young Blues took control and never looked back! Prop Harold shields broke free from two tackles then dished the ball to oncoming winger Glen Hassenmyer who then passed back to Shields to come away with 5 points under the posts.Benson converted and the score was then tied at 10-10. The next minutes before half the teams traded penalties and the score was 16-13 at the half. Some motivational nudging at the half is all it took as Traverse City relentlessly pressured the Michigan squad into what seemed to be confusion? The gassed Michigan squad started killing the ball in the rucks and Benson who was having a career day took a penalty at the 45m line and cleared with plenty of space above and about 20m distance! Score was evened at 16, 5 Minutes later, Benson tried again from huge distance at 55m and missed to the left of the posts. From there on it was all Traverse City as skilled grub kicks in the scoring zone by Benson and Beehler got TC another penalty (Benson) and try by Lock Chris Wright over the line top go up 21-16 with about 7 mins left in the game. In the waining moments Benson hit another penalty from good distance 24-16. with two minutes left, Michigan mishandled a ruck pass, which then heady veteran Steve Politis scooped up the ball and dove over for the exclamatory points of our season - 29-16 and victory was ours as the final whistle blew. Man of the match: Griffin Benson (14 points) TRY's: Politis Shields Wright CONVERSIONS: Benson 1 of 3 PENALTIES: Benson 4 of 6 TC 17 - Ft. Wayne 24 Traverse City lost a heartbreaker in the final minute of play to 1st place Ft. Wayne. The match started with Ft. Wayne scoring a try and conversion and going up 7 to nill. The following possesion they kicked a penalty at the 35 m line to go up 10-0. Then Traverse City came on strong and dominated ball possession and again with forwards securing ball and twice threatening the tryline, while once being held up (apparently) in the try zone. A marginal call by the referree. The score would stand at 10-0 at the half. The second half was once again dominated by the forwards of the Blues. They put together multi-phases of rucking to create a break for Prop Harold Shields scroing a 30 m try and then again scoring from about 20 out, both conversions sailed to the left. Flanker Steve Politis followed an aggressive 6 phase attack with the third try and Seamus Ratukalou converted. The Blues were smelling victory going up 17-10 holding the Ft. Wayne squad to minimal attacks at the gainline and looked as a victory was ours. With only 5 minutes to go, the Blues were penalized near the 22 for a high tackle and gave Ft. Wayne a chance to put it together for a try and a conversion tying the game at 17 all. The final kick was stolen by TC as possession became paramount, after two phases of recycle ball - the ball was fired to the backs, Fly half Seamus was looking to create some space outdside, however, an ill advised pass wide, instead went to the oncoming Ft. Wayne out-center with an intercept , who then ran 40 m to the try line for 5 and a conversion as the final whistle blew the shock was eminent: Blues 17 Ft. Wayne 24. Try's- Harold Shields - 2 Steve Politis - 1 Conversions- Seamus Ratukalou - 1 Blues execute 46-6 over Flint Progression is the key to this season. The Blues have worked hard to transition there game plan into points along with valuable fitness improvement. We took control from the beginning of the match, by relentlessly pressuring The Flint Rouges winning 46-6. Champ Bodell (2 yr. Wing) came in the 2nd half, scoring 3 times from support positions. Traverse City smelled the try line all day as Steve Politis (flanker), Josh Benghauser (Hooker), Harold Holmes( prop), Steve Wilkerson (flanker), Mike Amon (C) additionally put it over for 5 points each. Seamus Ratukalou (two conversions) was named Man of the Match for his consistent command from Flyhalf. Griffin Benson kicked a conversion and placed the Blues in great position with his touch kicks. The forwards deserve a huge "atta boy" as they controlled the possession for the Blues to a tee as we spent 75% in attack mode on there end... The rookies are really coming into their own as well as Ben, Big Kieth, Derrick, Glen, Joe, J-B-Love and Ryan all performed well to help the team to victory today. Our subbing went well and we all supported and focused on the same goal - the try line... Great Victory and a great support crowd on hand to watch today. Thank you. Try's Champ Bodell - 3 Steve Politis - 1 Mike Amon - 1 Joch Benghauser - 1 Harold Shields - 1 Steve Wilkerson - 1 Conversions Seamus Ratukalou - 2 Griffin Benson - 1 9/19/08 Barbarians 31-10 over Blues The Tri-Cities Barbos experience killed the young Blues as Traverse City suffered the first loss in three weeks on the road. The game was dominated by Traverse City, but we just couldn't find the try line! We possessed the ball most of the game but couldn't transition it into points. Coach Dell'Acqua stated expected changes for the upcoming home matches. Our slow ball is looking good - but our backline is needing some TLC and aggression to win out! The Blues had two new players score there first try's... Try Scorers: Wing - Ryan Heary - 5 Wing - Jesus M. Sullivan - 5 9/13/08 - Blues win big over FSU/ WMU selects 43-5 Griffin Benson (1st 5) led all scorers with 18 points scored a try and kicked a penalty and missed 1 of 6 conversions to lead the Blues in an exhibition match in sheit weather conditions at Ferris State University. Other try scorers: Griffin Benson - 1 Steve Politis -1 Josh Benghauser - 1 Derrik Councilor - 1 Mike Amon (C) - 1 Chris Wright - 1 Conversions Griffin Benson - 5
Phil Thiel selected to USA Hawks NA4 tournament. July 10th in Oregon. Traverse City's Phil Thiel named to USA Eagle developmental squad.
The developmental squad includes 16 players from the Rugby Super League, the premier level of rugby competition in the U.S., as well as a handful of Division I Senior Men’s Club and Collegiate Club players who impressed selectors during the spring season. This addition to the men’s schedule provides a prime opportunity for the USA team to develop an expanded player pool leading up to the summer competition season. “Increasing the size of the Elite Player pool from which the Eagles will be selected makes competition for places more intense and develops a healthy rivalry within the squad,” USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville said. “It’s important that all of our elite players have an opportunity to compete against elite opposition from other countries and the visit of the England Counties will ensure a larger group of athletes are challenged to play in June.” The Select
XV will be led by head coach Mike Tolkin, along with assistant coaches Ron Laszewski (forwards) and Chris Osentowski (scrum)
and Lex Maccubbin as the manager. Both matches between the Select XV and the England Counties XV, the representative flagship of the County and Community game outside the Guinness Premiership, are slated for 7 p.m. (EDT) kickoffs. Coverage of the match-up will be delivered LIVE online via the USA Rugby Network. Admission to the matches on June 6 and 9 is free, but donations will be accepted to support Play Rugby Inc.’s youth development program in NYC. In the week leading up to the USA matches, from May 31 – June 7, Play Rugby USA will host National Rugby Week, featuring free non-contact rugby activities and competitions in nearly 50 schools throughout New York City. Rugby Week will culminate in the inaugural Mayor’s Cup, also at Baker Field Athletic Complex on June 7, where more than 24 teams from around the New York City area will compete from 12-4 p.m. For more information on Play Rugby USA, visit www.playrugbyusa.com.  Traverse Bay Blues Rugby Football Club was established in 1973 in Traverse City. The Blues play in Division III within the Midwest Rugby Union. We develop players who learn to love the sport known for its honor, sportsmanship and camaraderie. Sponsoring a player helps to advance the sport within the community. The club very much appreciates its’ sponsors, please join us and help us to achieve our goals in 2008. All sponsors get a listing
in our annual tournament program. Mauler: $50-100 · Invitation to “Homecoming Game” and party Fall 2008 · Sponsor listing on website
Rucker: $150-$300 · Invitation to “Homecoming Game” and party Fall 2008 · Sponsor listing on website and annual team t-shirt available to public
Try Scorer: $300 + · Invitation to “Homecoming Game” and party Fall 2008 · Sponsor listing on website and annual team t-shirt · Team merchandise · Logo on all Advertising
Sponsor donations are made to the Grand Traverse Rugby Club 501 (c) 3 charitable organizations and are tax deductible. Please send checks to “GTRC” at P.O. Box 1659, Traverse City, MI 49685 or with a player of the team. Please fill out the information request below and select your amount. ~Thank You
Contact: Chris Anderson if you need more information. You're help is greatly appreciated
and assuredly goes to a wonderful organization. Dial 231.392.4652
Hero - Mike Coco for his undying efforts to keep the club intact and safe.
Goat - Seamus Ratukalou for being SEAMUS - Get out to training!
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