9/13 Loss to Old Gold

The second match of the season, and first home match, was against arch-rival Old Gold. New-and-improved Fox Street Field was brimming with a home crowd on a sunny day, a perfect day for rugby. Portland got off to a great start, with both backs and forwards making strong advances into Old Gold's end of the field. Old Gold went up 3-0 on a penalty kick, however, and penalties continued to keep the Boys in Blue out of the try zone until midway through the half. Fred Hayman dove in after juking a few backs off a set piece within the 22 meter line. Back and forth play ended the half.

The second half was a slug fest in every sense of the term, and not until late did Old Gold capitalize on a picked-off pass an an 80-meter try. Portland couldn't mount enough of an offense in the final minutes to even the score. Final score: 15-5.

Portland has another home game this Saturday against Providence, 1:00 at Fox Street Field.