GRR: Morris
Although New York and New Jersey award separate 15 titles in the spring, the ranks thin in the fall as other sports contend for athletes’ attention.
Last year, Virginia won the Pittsburgh Challenge Cup (aka Mid-Atlantic Regional Cup Tournament) over Empire City 6-0, and that two-penalty-goal loss is not something the New Jersey/New York City-based team wants to repeat. All-star head coach Tom Feury has assembled a star-studded coaching staff and pooled some good talent for a run at the trophy this weekend.
It was tough for the Morris U18 girls team to properly celebrate its New Jersey State Championship, as its competition didn’t enter the final at full strength. In fact, Morris was supposed to play South Jersey in Sunday’s final, but the standings runner-up had whittled down to four healthy CIPPed players, and third-place Union competed in its place.
Morris surprised itself in its 52-5 win over the Play Rugby Academy during the teams’ first league match of the season. The New Jersey side had expected the New York City-based team to be its toughest competition - especially since the teams' last meeting in a 5-0 win to Morris - but the home side proved well prepared.
Morris' season began in friendly fashion. Berkshire United drove south from Massachusetts and enjoyed a pre-game pancake breakfast with the home club, raising $1,000 for a local autism group. But once the whistle blew, it was all business, and Morris banked a 71-5 win over last year’s national championship host.