Eleven of Frederick’s finest took to the sun-dried, concrete-like pitches of the Almost Heaven 7s Tournament this past Saturday. After helping the host team to remove a boulder or two from the pitches, the team promptly set up a tent city with the Frederick Women RFC to provide some relief from the scorching 95 degree temperature. While it was surely going to be a hot, long day resulting in some skin being left on the hardened field, we knew the feast of pork and beverage that awaited us at the end of the day would be a handsome reward.

Frederick Roster
Pete “Goofy Shoes” Ireland
Sean “Una Pelota” Rafferty
Chad “ODB” Ogden
Brian “Bottiglione” Taormina
Jack “Soft Hands” Weathers
Rob “Apple Hiney” Smith
Scott “Little Dog” Shackleford
Scott “Warna Brotha” Wade
Mike “210# hammer behind a 3-inch nail” Tucci
JD “I love t.a.T.u.” Wilde
Jeremy “Big Pimpin Sideburns” Lutz

Pool Match 1 vs. WVU RFC
Despite JD having turned his ankle warming up and missing this match, Frederick put a strong squad on the pitch to get a feel for the competition. In the first half, Dogger and Scott Wade touched down tries with Apple Hiney converting both. Up 14-0 at the half, we made a sub or two and touched down several more tries (Rob, Tucci, and Wade) and notched another conversion by Rob. Final score: Frederick 31, WVU 0.

Pool Match 2 vs. Erie RFC
In the second match, Jeremy played a full game in his first 7s match ever and pulled out a try for his efforts. Four additional tries were touched down: two for Magnum and one each for Rob and Pete Ireland. Pete’s try was quite extraordinary, he quickly pointed out, as it covered some 80 meters. No conversions for the match, with some not attempted with the tries touched down out wide. Final score: Frederick 25, Erie 12.

Pool Match 3 vs. Buffalo/Rochester
In the final pool match, Frederick took on the other undefeated team in the pool. The B/R team was very well drilled and filled with shifty, quick runners. Frederick was convincingly beaten going down 0-45. With that being said, B/R went undefeated on the day and did not give up a single point in any of their five matches on their way to the cup championship.

Plate Semi-Final vs. Pitt City RFC
Having come in second place in the pool, Frederick was pushed into the plate bracket with the second place teams from the other three pools. Frederick was matched up with Pitt City and the first half came to a close with only five points on the board coming off a try by Magnum. In the second half, Frederick got back into the swing of things with three balls crossing the try line (Magnum again, Wade, and JD). Two conversions were tallied off the foot of Wade. Final score: Frederick 24, Pitt City 0.

Plate Final vs. WVU Alumni
In the plate final, Frederick took on a good side with a few hard runners. The WVU Alumni had knocked off Eastern Suburbs RFC (Cleveland) in the semis quite convincingly. To start the match, Frederick worked a nice two on one with Rob and Tucci working the defender nicely and Rob touching down for the five points and converting the kick. The WVU team came back with two quick tries by their best runner, with one of the tries converted. Scott Wade was brought in to firm up the defense and quickly made an impression with a 60 meter try that saw the WVU defender, the aforementioned best player, cramp up trying to stay with Wade. At the half, the match was knotted at 12 apiece. In the second half, the WVU side tired a bit and the Frederick players quickly took advantage touching down four tries to WVU’s one. Tries were credited to Rob, Wade, JD, and Tucci with two conversions by Wade and a final one by Chad. Final score: Frederick 38, WVU Alumni 17.

After the matches, both the Frederick men and women headed off to the post-match pig roast. The Mudlobsters throw one of the best parties around and this year’s event was no exception. The party included three 250 lb. roasted pigs and some 8+ kegs…not bad for the $150 tournament entry fee. I don’t think Magnum was seen without a set of ribs in his hands at any point throughout the evening. Frederick’s own Little Dog had some say in the “Feats of Strength” competition with his innovative cinder block tossing technique having bested the other competitors for most of the evening. The same can’t be said for the “Feats of Stamina” competition as many Frederick players couldn’t quite hold on through all of the festivities and downtown tour. All in all, a great time was had by everyone. Frederick came away Plate champions and Chad came away from a 7s tournament for the first time in three summers without a broken bone or shredded ligament.