| ______________________________ |
It was the summer of 1969 when several young men met at Club,
the Rifles. Some of the original group included: Tim Rabbit, Bill
Cosgriff, Bob Crowley, John Del Negro, Dan Desesa, Paul Rieker
and Phil and Joe Ward.
In the earlier days, the members of the team primarily came from
Chicopee and Springfield. The team's first match was played
against Schenectady, NY. At the time New England was divided
into three divisions. Springfield played in the 3rd division. The
team later played a number of times for the Division 3
Championship.
The team had a handful of experienced players. What they lacked
in talent, they made up for in athleticism and hard play. "We were
successful because we had great athletes who were very
physical" said founding member Paul Rieker. "Typically teams
like Albany and Boston had bigger and more experienced
players. We were sometimes undermanned in the set piece, but
often dominated the play by being extremely physical. Our
aggressive defense frustrated teams often causing them to make
mistakes that we would capitalize on." The team really had two
watering holes, The City Line and St. Mikes in downtown
Chicopee. While the social life at home was fun, the away games
were an experience. "It was a long strange trip, the stories are
outrageous" said Paul.
From Family2Remember.com:
"For me, it all started mid-late 1970's on Autumn weekends at
Lincoln Park in Chicopee near St. Mike's. A bunch of us would get
together for football games and a few brews on a semi-regular
basis. Bob & Bill Regan, Bill Morris, Frank Ruelli, Chuck Momnie,
Jake Claffey, Kevin Hogan, Dave Scaglarini, Frank Hurley, Bill
Kerigan, John Robak, and many others I've surely forgotten (sorry
guys, too many beers) were some of the guys that got together for
football games. Some had been playing rugby for several years
with the SRFC and they handled the ball pretty well with LOTS of
lateraling of the ball. Thats how I became aware of the wonderful
sport of Rugby. I think we really liked it cause it gave us a reason
to party early in the morning with breakfast before road trips all
over New England. There were some real good athletes playing
for the SRFC and everyone had "heart". We wanted to win every
game, but we never took ourselves so seriously that it affected our
partying.....that was what the SRFC was really famous for! You
don't think these touring British teams were coming to Springfield,
MA because of the competitive international rugby we were
playing! After joining the club I met many more friends that are
pictured below. Suffice it to say that I still count more of my life's
friendships from this group of people than any single other life
experience I have had...... The question is whether it was the beer
or the rugby that pulled us together?"
Have you've got a story to tell about the club? Let's capture
it here today before it's long gone and forgotten...
the Rifles. Some of the original group included: Tim Rabbit, Bill
Cosgriff, Bob Crowley, John Del Negro, Dan Desesa, Paul Rieker
and Phil and Joe Ward.
In the earlier days, the members of the team primarily came from
Chicopee and Springfield. The team's first match was played
against Schenectady, NY. At the time New England was divided
into three divisions. Springfield played in the 3rd division. The
team later played a number of times for the Division 3
Championship.
The team had a handful of experienced players. What they lacked
in talent, they made up for in athleticism and hard play. "We were
successful because we had great athletes who were very
physical" said founding member Paul Rieker. "Typically teams
like Albany and Boston had bigger and more experienced
players. We were sometimes undermanned in the set piece, but
often dominated the play by being extremely physical. Our
aggressive defense frustrated teams often causing them to make
mistakes that we would capitalize on." The team really had two
watering holes, The City Line and St. Mikes in downtown
Chicopee. While the social life at home was fun, the away games
were an experience. "It was a long strange trip, the stories are
outrageous" said Paul.
From Family2Remember.com:
"For me, it all started mid-late 1970's on Autumn weekends at
Lincoln Park in Chicopee near St. Mike's. A bunch of us would get
together for football games and a few brews on a semi-regular
basis. Bob & Bill Regan, Bill Morris, Frank Ruelli, Chuck Momnie,
Jake Claffey, Kevin Hogan, Dave Scaglarini, Frank Hurley, Bill
Kerigan, John Robak, and many others I've surely forgotten (sorry
guys, too many beers) were some of the guys that got together for
football games. Some had been playing rugby for several years
with the SRFC and they handled the ball pretty well with LOTS of
lateraling of the ball. Thats how I became aware of the wonderful
sport of Rugby. I think we really liked it cause it gave us a reason
to party early in the morning with breakfast before road trips all
over New England. There were some real good athletes playing
for the SRFC and everyone had "heart". We wanted to win every
game, but we never took ourselves so seriously that it affected our
partying.....that was what the SRFC was really famous for! You
don't think these touring British teams were coming to Springfield,
MA because of the competitive international rugby we were
playing! After joining the club I met many more friends that are
pictured below. Suffice it to say that I still count more of my life's
friendships from this group of people than any single other life
experience I have had...... The question is whether it was the beer
or the rugby that pulled us together?"
Have you've got a story to tell about the club? Let's capture
it here today before it's long gone and forgotten...
| Rifles Team History |
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Images provided by:
Family2Remember.com:
Family2Remember.com:
Support your club,
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quick n easy here:
Stop by and visit us at:
Rusty Muskets
Inaugural Match
May 1, 2010
Rhody Old Cocks vs. Springfield Rusty Muskets
Inaugural Match
May 1, 2010
Rhody Old Cocks vs. Springfield Rusty Muskets
Don't get confused, Rhody's team shirts were late to the match, so we offered our SRFC jerseys of Green & Gold while the
Rusty Muskets revealed the new old look!
Rusty Muskets revealed the new old look!
Help out at practice, be a "post' Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00 – 8:00 Marshall Roy Field • Pottenger Middle School • 1435 Carew Street • Springfield, MA 01104 (Carew St. & St. James Blvd.) Bring mouth guard, water & boots and a practice shirt or heavy shirt to all practices. |