Final Score: 22  - 38  

Being the first game of the season, it was clear that there would be a load of handling mistakes and sloppy penalties.  Besides the new front-row with the exception of hooker George Craft 05’, there were many new starters on team on both the forward pack and the backline.  Even though W&L got on the board early capitalizing a string of errors by CNU, the game was still marred by what it seemed to be a million dropped balls and forward passes.  Buck Fletcher 07’, the speedy winger from Bermuda, scored the first try of the season with a text-book outside cut neatly fed by outside centre Mike Di Verio 05’.  Unfortunately, Di Verio would later leave the game after being nailed in the head, but his backup Tucker Laffite 07’ did an admirable job at both the defensive and offensive ends, as W&L took full control of the game after his first career try.

Buck went on to score 1 more try while the backline captain Rory Dowling 05’ rumbled his way to the tryline before his oft-injured shoulder popped out of joint again.  The first half ended with an electrifying end to end try by inside centre Mark Woodward 05’.  Woodward got the ball deep in our own end, turned on his wheels and brushed by 3 CNU players before he touched down the ball unscathed.  Even though the half ended with W&L leading by 17-5 it was apparent that we were capable of much more than that. 

In the second half W&L continued its relentless tackling and effective forward runs but the forward pack support was awful.  There were a few breakaway runs which could have led to more scoring if not for the poor support.  On top of that, the Minks were missing the injured Di Vierio, Rory Dowling and scrumhalf Pat McGlone 07’, who badly sprained his ankle after an amazing breakaway run.  The young Screaming Minks were met with much more resistance in the second half as CNU looked to fight back for some dignity.  Solid tackling and persistent attacks contributed to CNU’s 2 second half tries in the face of mounting pressure from the W&L forwards.  Nevertheless, the Minks picked up their game in the last 10 minutes and with a renewed effort in the rucks and support, 8^th man Tino Tovo 07’, Lafflitte and tighthead prop Whitecar 05’ combined to put up 3 hard fought tries to secure the win for W&L.  With flanker Robert Deconcismo a sensational 4/5 in conversion, the Screaming Minks rocked on to an impressive 43-15 opening rout to the visiting CNU.

Besides all the scorers, there were a few newcomers who had shown great promise and contributed to this victory.  Winger Dave ‘R Kelly’ Coleman 07’ from Ohio (who kept telling me he is Canadian but I am sorry you are not Coleman) was incredibly reliable in the defensive front making mammoth try-stopping tackles all on his own.  His attack was equally commendable, as he was able to pick apart his CNU counterpart like he was a 3^rd grader.  Richard Yancy 07’ showed that he was capable of filling Woodward’s shoes when he graduates next year as he played another mature rugby game with some fine tackling and impressive runs.  Freshman scrumhalf Ian Handerhan filled-in nicely for McGlone and his defensive kicks were at times masterful.  Flanker Dan Ward 07’, locks Joe Green 07’ and Chad Lews 05’ and props Mike Whitecar and Joa Roux were their usual-self tackling and rucking relentlessly throughout the game.                                                         

Final: 43-15