We had fun and got the snot kicked out of us regularly. Fod scored the team's first try and Bill got the team's first points. All of our games were away and usually against club sides. When we did play a university side, it was loaded with foreigners. Piggy was the only UMass player without an accent.
We developed a great friendship with Portland
RFC and many of UMO's players went on to play for Portland. After leaving
UMO I began playing for Portland RFC and still waddle around the field
with the Ancient Mariners. This is still a great club with all the
camaraderie you could ask for and a never ending supply of stories. They
usually start like this "Remember when ...."; Many of my favorites deal
with Bill Whiting aka Jabba.
Of course I traveled around in my favorite car. What more could a guy ask for a cool sunny day, rugby, beer, and a caddy w/ a blonde bimbo!
Of course there is Mark "Davo" Davenport Maine's and Portland's world renowned ex-rugger. He is to my knowledge the only rugby player to apply in the SI swimsuit issue.
This is the photo that says it all about why us old guys keep playing - well the forwards anyway!
See if you can match the Ancient Mariners with the 1985 photos.
I also spent four years in Texas playing with the
Austin Huns. The Huns photo shows the
Acunas (at full strength), Suggie, and John "Johnny Hormone" Banks when
they were in their primes and ....
