One in a Milliken: Special Talent Leads Wilton Wallabies To Victory in Portland

The Wallabies is a term that strikes a chord with Rugby fans everywhere. Images of Australian victory and David Campese storming down the wing usually come to mind.  However, a club team in the Northern state of Maine, USA may be about to change that.

The Wilton Wallabies are a club team led by Maine Rugby icon Woody Hanstein.  The team is primarily composed of alumni from the University of Maine-Farmington and they are ably captained by Flanker Tony Solis.

The Wallabies played their first ever competitive game as a club on Saturday against Portland RFC at Deering High School in Maine.  It was a case of being thrown in at the deep end for Hanstein's men, as Portland were coming off a successful fall season in which they fell just short of the playoffs.

Wilton announced their arrival on the Maine Rugby scene with an upset 19-10 over the powerful Portland team, and Center Mike Milliken was at the heart of a great performance.

A fired-up Wallabies team crossed the line first when Chip "Tank" Burnham broke a number of tackles as he bulldozed over the line for an early lead.  Milliken converted the try with a drop kick from the touchline, a conversion that was described by nobody in the crowd as "spectacular."

With their confidence building, Wilton spread the ball wide and a nice move released Isaac Hutchinson down the wing to send the traveling Wallaby crowd into raptures.  The lead was stretched to 14-0 when Milliken produced a drop goal conversion from the other sideline as Johnny Wilkinson seethed with envy over the Atlantic.

Portland are renowned for their strong pack led by Flanker Kieran Lyons, and it was the Portland forwards that dragged them back into the game.  After going through the phases, Scrum-Half Colin Talbot picked up the ball and burrowed over the line from five meters out.  The conversion was missed to leave the Wallabies with a 14-5 lead.

Portland were forced to defend for long periods, and took advantage of a Wallaby turnover when Kiel Becker streaked from the halfway line and touched down.  The conversion was again missed and the teams went in at half-time with the Wallabies leading 14-10.

The second half was a physical affair with Portland entering the Wilton 22 on numerous occasions only to be held off by stern defense. 

With the game seemingly entering a pattern, a moment of the magic from Mike "One in a" Milliken broke open the game, and sent the crowd into raptures after a few moments of silent awe.  Milliken gained possession inside his own half and showed a frankly inhuman turn of acceleration to find himself on a clean break.  Milliken executed a baby loop then raced clear to extend the lead to 19-10.

Milliken grounded the ball and celebrated in front of the "B Well" masses who had walked to the game bare foot from Lewiston to honor the start of the "March Into May" physical activity campaign.

The conversion was missed thanks to a huge gust of wind that was not present before or after the kick. It was arguably not the only force of nature on the field that day, as Milliken continued to marshal the Wallabies closer to a victory.

Despite hard running on both sides, neither could penetrate in the final stages and as the whistle went, Coach Hanstein was celebrating leading his men to a famous inaugural win.