1990s
In 1991, I took over as Head Coach. With a teaching background and college rugby experience, I was thrilled to find out that Greenwich High had a rugby team and was in need of a coach. That was fourteen years ago, and I am proud to highlight with you the team’s experiences and successes. The team’s captains were Brian Quigley and Doug Fainelli. The team responded well to their new coach and we lost a heartbreaker in the final at New Englands.
Volunteering their time and rugby knowledge with me was Michael Thomas and Robert Ingalls. Coach Thomas helped organize a tour to England and Wales again in 1992, where we stayed with the previous hosts- from the touring side of 1989- Abercarn RFC of South Wales. Young Will Thomas (son of Coach Thomas) along with Andrew Herriott, led us through three hard matches in England and one in Wales. The incredible experience of the tour helped the squad improve and culminated with a tough battle in the New England final, placing fourth in the Eastern Championships. New to the coaching staff was a fellow college and men’s side teammate of mine, Sal Augeri. The team thrived with over sixty members.
The following year, 1993 saw Greenwich pack their bags again as we traveled to three stops in Northern California. We captured the Redwood Invitational tournament on the first day of our tour. The experience of a very successful tour (posting a 4-1 record) gave the Cardinals the confidence to redeem themselves by winning the New England title. Though losing in the first round of Easterns, Greenwich was becoming a common name at championships and finished an impressive 14-5-1 season. Captain Timm Nielsen and field captain Per Heilmann helped raise the bar on our level of play. Joining the volunteer coaching staff was other teammate of mine, John Dowling.
1994 would serve up the Cardinals some humble pie as many seniors departed. Captain Fred Delmhorst led us through to the New England semis, but the team finished 5-6-1, something the Cardinals were unaccustomed to.
In 1995, another volunteer joined the coaching staff, Fiore Screnci. Coach Screnci played competitive rugby in Italy; so in 1995, we said “arriva derci” Greenwich and traveled and competed in Rome, Florence and Venice. Captains Dan Ehret and Dave Peterson took their blessing from the Pope and helped us tie Xavier for the first time and capture the New England title.
In 1996 we had the pleasure to reciprocate the hospitality by hosting our friends from Abercarn, Wales. Due to a new administrator that tried to change our schedule after it had been set, which would have resulted in a less competitive schedule, the team was denied the right to compete in the New England tournament. With the exception of this year and this administrator, the tournament has always been an open tournament for all teams. David Applegate was our skipper.
We suffered a great loss when Michael Thomas passed away. In his honor, we began the Michael Thomas Award that is given to the player that carries himself as a true gentleman off the field, while playing tenacious rugby on the field.
1997 brought back a team rich with experience and eager to get back to its winning ways. The Cardinals rucked over the competition at New Englands winning the title and outscoring their opponents 118-7. The team responded with history as they went to the finals of the East Coast Championships and losing a heartbreaker to Xavier, NY by 3 points. Second in the East meant pack your bags, we’re off to the Nationals at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After three nail biting losses in a row, the Cardinals placed 11th in the country winning their last match. Captain Todd Nightingale helped us set many Firsts- first time the A and B side won New Englands, first time to the Eastern final, and the first time competing at the USA Rugby National championships.
1998 was supposed to be a rebuilding year, as 20 seniors graduated. We “rebuilt” by capturing our fifth New England title and another Eastern championship appearance. This time it was Donnie Matturro and Joe Petrone leading the way. Volunteer assistant coaches included a former White Plains RFC standout, Joe Kelly and a 1991 alum, Lenny Siriwardene. Individual history was made as our captain, Joe Petrone, was named to the Under-19 All-American team and toured New Zealand in the summer representing our team and country.
In 1999, Greenwich reached the pinnacle of its success. We put on our Number 1’s (Sport Coats, Khakis and team ties) and toured Ireland and Wales. Stealing a little “Luck of the Irish”, we captured our first European tour victory by knocking off Garryowen RFC of Limerick, Ireland. Our team went on to win its sixth New England title (fourth in a row) and again placed second at the East Coast Championships. This time was very different at BYU in Utah, for which we won the first three nail biters and went on to play in the National final. Greenwich Rugby placed second in the nation. Captains Brandon Margolis and Rich Nightingale led the team out onto the pitch for the national final as the bagpipes played in front of a packed stadium. Rich Nightingale set our single season try record that year with 25 tries and shattered the career try total with 42 tries. First year senior Liam Patrick also made the record book scoring a single season high 164 points. Coach Bob Ingalls retired in 1999. It was only fitting that the team could reach its highest level and give thanks for the nine years of volunteer service from Coach Bob.
Volunteering their time and rugby knowledge with me was Michael Thomas and Robert Ingalls. Coach Thomas helped organize a tour to England and Wales again in 1992, where we stayed with the previous hosts- from the touring side of 1989- Abercarn RFC of South Wales. Young Will Thomas (son of Coach Thomas) along with Andrew Herriott, led us through three hard matches in England and one in Wales. The incredible experience of the tour helped the squad improve and culminated with a tough battle in the New England final, placing fourth in the Eastern Championships. New to the coaching staff was a fellow college and men’s side teammate of mine, Sal Augeri. The team thrived with over sixty members.
The following year, 1993 saw Greenwich pack their bags again as we traveled to three stops in Northern California. We captured the Redwood Invitational tournament on the first day of our tour. The experience of a very successful tour (posting a 4-1 record) gave the Cardinals the confidence to redeem themselves by winning the New England title. Though losing in the first round of Easterns, Greenwich was becoming a common name at championships and finished an impressive 14-5-1 season. Captain Timm Nielsen and field captain Per Heilmann helped raise the bar on our level of play. Joining the volunteer coaching staff was other teammate of mine, John Dowling.
1994 would serve up the Cardinals some humble pie as many seniors departed. Captain Fred Delmhorst led us through to the New England semis, but the team finished 5-6-1, something the Cardinals were unaccustomed to.
In 1995, another volunteer joined the coaching staff, Fiore Screnci. Coach Screnci played competitive rugby in Italy; so in 1995, we said “arriva derci” Greenwich and traveled and competed in Rome, Florence and Venice. Captains Dan Ehret and Dave Peterson took their blessing from the Pope and helped us tie Xavier for the first time and capture the New England title.
In 1996 we had the pleasure to reciprocate the hospitality by hosting our friends from Abercarn, Wales. Due to a new administrator that tried to change our schedule after it had been set, which would have resulted in a less competitive schedule, the team was denied the right to compete in the New England tournament. With the exception of this year and this administrator, the tournament has always been an open tournament for all teams. David Applegate was our skipper.
We suffered a great loss when Michael Thomas passed away. In his honor, we began the Michael Thomas Award that is given to the player that carries himself as a true gentleman off the field, while playing tenacious rugby on the field.
1997 brought back a team rich with experience and eager to get back to its winning ways. The Cardinals rucked over the competition at New Englands winning the title and outscoring their opponents 118-7. The team responded with history as they went to the finals of the East Coast Championships and losing a heartbreaker to Xavier, NY by 3 points. Second in the East meant pack your bags, we’re off to the Nationals at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After three nail biting losses in a row, the Cardinals placed 11th in the country winning their last match. Captain Todd Nightingale helped us set many Firsts- first time the A and B side won New Englands, first time to the Eastern final, and the first time competing at the USA Rugby National championships.
1998 was supposed to be a rebuilding year, as 20 seniors graduated. We “rebuilt” by capturing our fifth New England title and another Eastern championship appearance. This time it was Donnie Matturro and Joe Petrone leading the way. Volunteer assistant coaches included a former White Plains RFC standout, Joe Kelly and a 1991 alum, Lenny Siriwardene. Individual history was made as our captain, Joe Petrone, was named to the Under-19 All-American team and toured New Zealand in the summer representing our team and country.
In 1999, Greenwich reached the pinnacle of its success. We put on our Number 1’s (Sport Coats, Khakis and team ties) and toured Ireland and Wales. Stealing a little “Luck of the Irish”, we captured our first European tour victory by knocking off Garryowen RFC of Limerick, Ireland. Our team went on to win its sixth New England title (fourth in a row) and again placed second at the East Coast Championships. This time was very different at BYU in Utah, for which we won the first three nail biters and went on to play in the National final. Greenwich Rugby placed second in the nation. Captains Brandon Margolis and Rich Nightingale led the team out onto the pitch for the national final as the bagpipes played in front of a packed stadium. Rich Nightingale set our single season try record that year with 25 tries and shattered the career try total with 42 tries. First year senior Liam Patrick also made the record book scoring a single season high 164 points. Coach Bob Ingalls retired in 1999. It was only fitting that the team could reach its highest level and give thanks for the nine years of volunteer service from Coach Bob.