2009 Mayor's Cup Results

The bleachers were full, bursting with colors as players wearing their international team jerseys awaited their next game. Play continued as teams were eliminated from the tournament and despite a few tears many remained among the supporters to cheer on the other teams. Additionally, a World Rugby Shop sponsored "Rookie Rugby Challenge" and a Velocity Sports Performance run SPARQ fitness area kept players engaged, and indeed very active even outside of game-play.

The introduction of the three different trophies this year enabled more teams to experience the thrill of playing in a semi final or final and possibly taking home some silverware. The Bowl and Plate finals for each age group were fantastic affairs with some excellent rugby, sportsmanship and dedication on show. Two schools new to rugby in PS/IS 218 in the Bronx (Japan) and PS 156 from Brooklyn (Italy) took the Bowl awards for middle and elementary divisions respectively. Pelham Rugby Club had plenty to celebrate when their elementary and middle school teams scooped the awards in the Plate Finals both representing Australia.

This then set the stage for the main event of the day - the Mayor's Cup Final – which was to be contested in the middle school bracket by two of the most successful flag rugby teams since Play Rugby USA's inception. Last year's Mayor's Cup champions IS 392, from Brooklyn and representing Romania would play this winter's CHAMPS tournament winners PS 279 from the Bronx representing New Zealand. What happened next will live long in the memory of everybody at the tournament. As all eyes focused on the main pitch the "Romanian" team lined up along the half way line linking arms whilst the "New Zealand" team arranged themselves in a formation very familiar to rugby lovers around the world. The group of 11, 12, and 13 year old boys and girls from the Bronx in an effort to identify with the culture and history of New Zealand rugby performed the famous Haka - word for word, move for move. The crowd was mesmerized and a massive roar of cheers and applause filled the stadium when they finished the traditional Maori war dance.

The standard of rugby matched the build up and both teams traded tries in the first half showing fantastic team work, skill, and athleticism to cross the white wash. In the second half the Brooklyn based team from IS 392 showed why they were last year's Mayors Cup winners displaying some unbelievable pace, agility and coordination that allowed them to pull two tries clear of their cross-town rivals. The Kiwi representatives PS 279 determined to get back in the game and never giving up bombarded the Romanian defense as wave after wave of black shirts attacked. However, the well organized defensive line didn’t breach and 392 held on to a well deserved back-to-back Mayor's Cup title.

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