Oh Rugby, you've a million ways to be cruel

If there's one thing harder than enduring this streak of narrow losses we've been on, it's having to find new ways to write about it every week. It's times like these when I almost wish I was on any of those other teams in the league who never bother to post their scores, let alone string two sentences together to catalog their exploits.

But then again, it was Churchill who said, "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it". So when the rugby historians dig up the archives of rugby in New England during the early years of the 21st century (which I'm sure will be high on their list of things to do), they're just going to think it was me holding the whole thing together - and then they're going to name a stadium after me, which they will be building to host the 2112 Rugby World Cup that is being held in New England. Oh, how confused proud my great-grandchildren will be.

So, anyhoo, back to the present. Saturday brought Newport to our fair city, riding in on a 1-2 losing record all of their own, having also coughed it up against Charles River and Providence. By all accounts the form book would have had us in a close heat, and sure enough, the game was to be a tough one. Of course, it seems like Newport have spent a little cash on the transfer market since we last met, with one of their acquisition being so new he still had his price tag on.

But hey, both sides were fielding a few changes since we met in the Spring, and them's the breaks. What hadn't changed since then was the pace of the game, which began fast, and stayed on a steady boil throughout. Newport dominated the early possession, and capitalized early with a try down the weak side which they duly converted. Although Portland managed to extract their own fair share of possession, given strong scrummaging and lineouts, they had a hard time breaking the gainline. Nevertheless, thanks to the boot of Andy Nelson, we were able to remain somewhat in touch by way of a couple of penalty kicks.

Glossing over the rest of the first half, which seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, Newport kicked a couple of penalties of their own, and the scoreline at the break was (I think) 13-6.

The second half opened with Portland pushing hard, and they soon found themselves with a lineout in the corner that they were able to maul over for an early try, leaving a very narrow 12-11 deficit. More pressure ensued, and Even Harding dropped a goal from right in front to give Portland a slender 14-12 lead of their own. Clearly rattled, Newport soon gave up another penalty within striking distance, although this time Andy's kick just drifted right to keep the game balanced on a knife edge.

Newport regrouped and began to threaten again, spinning the ball wide in an effort to make a breakthrough. With 10 minutes remaining they found their opportunity, as their full back chipped through a crowd of players to emerge the other side and gather up his own kick and run it in for the score.

With the scoreline now 20-14, Portland were still in with a shout, but the Newport defences held firm, and that's how it all ended. Another tough loss, but unlike previous weeks, this one didn't feel like a gift to the opposition. We'd like to think that Newport was made to work for it throughout.

Man of the Match honors went to Andy Nelson for his (almost) unerring boot, and for his strong performance in the scrum, where Portland dominated and stole several against the head.

The B Side game saw the return of the Killer B's as their fitness and aggression took care of Newport B's by something like 2 tries to 1. Man of the Match honors there went to Josh (the new guy).

Portland get a rest this weekend, and face South Shore away on 10/21.