VOMITS: The WRC Old Boys are affectionately known as the VOMITS. This name was bestowed upon them by former player and coach Stuart Daily. It is an acronym for Veterns, Old Men, Idiot and TwitS. Stuart tragically passed away after having played a game for the VOMITS. The name is used as it's a fitting description and as a tribute to a lost comrade and teammate.

Pigfest - Oshkosh, WI - 2010

Images: Photo 1 - Photo 2 - Photo 3

Vomits Pigfest Recap: Despite losing several guys before play actually began, we managed to have 12 available to play* and somehow we muddled through. For the first time since the inception of the VOMITs we did not win or tie at least one match in a tens tournament, but not for the lack of trying; more like lack of holding onto the ball as well as a few marginal forward pass calls that could have given us at least one win if not a tie.

Game 1: Stoney & the Bandits several tries, VOMITs 0: Yes we lost to a country cover band. Actually they seemed to be Old Boys from from several Milwaukee area clubs. The highlights were Dan Marz almost scoring and Tooley almost getting thrown out for arguing with the ref, who was widely considered to be less competent than a Chicago alderman.

Game 2: Sheboygan Sharks 3 tries, VOMITs 1: The highlight here was Dennis "Big Cito" Law's break off a loose ruck, quick dummy and side step and quick motor for a score from 30 meters out. Two other potential tries were called back due to questionable forward pass calls. Our "ringer", UW-Whitewater's Brian Heim, took a pass on the wing and blew past his opposite mark, only to have the try reversed. Cito's performance won him the VOMIT of the day award. The Sharks ended up playing in the finals.

Game 3: Oconto one try, VOMITs 0: A decent effort though about half of the match was spent trying to get the Oconto front row to bind properly -- of course the ref penalized us (by us I mean Combat Bob) several times for trying to hold them up so they didn't plant their faces on the turf. Another dubious forward pass call hurt our chances of tying or going ahead.

Despite the results, we had a great day and it was fun to hang out with the WRC guys and see a lot of old friends. It also prepared us for the Stuart Daily Tens upcoming in a few weeks. With any luck we'll have more than 12 guys...

Thanks for playing and for wives and girlfriends who came to support:
Tooley, Dan Marz, Big Cito, Combat Bob Zimmerman, Greg Zukowski, Steve Kirsh, Steve Schoen, Mo Lubasi, Brian Heim, Mike Korb, Joe Pagliara and myself. Also a big guy named Josh who helped us out in a couple of matches.

*Best Excuse for Not Making Pigfest
Choose your favorite!

Larry Stevens: "Joining the Seedless Grape Club"
Larry had to back out once he discovered he had arranged to have some, um, delicate surgery the day before Pigfest.
Jeff Woods: "The dog ate my shoulder"
Woody took his dogs on a run and managed somehow to hurt his shoulder.
Don Pfau: "The dog made me work."
Don unexpectedly had to take on all his partner's Saturday chiropractic patients. Plus Don was going to bring a load of tasty homebrew...which we'll hopefully see at the SD Tens.
Matty Oakes: "The dog ate my transmission."
The transmission in Matt's car blew up in Michigan earlier in the week.
Aubrey Fish: "The dog ate my will to get off the couch."
Apparently there was a Three's Company marathon on TV Land all day Saturday...

Aspen Ruggerfest- 2009

The Traveling Party to the Aspen Ruggerfest included: Steve Kirsh, Dan Marz, Bernie Cantorna, Matt Oakes, Jon Moyer, Aubrey Fish, Big Dave Kruse, Scott Tooly Storlid, Rick Stoughton and Joe Pagiara, all of whom played with Massey Maulers, NZ , over 45s and some picked up matches with other sides who were short; Tim Probst and myself played for Boulder Old Boys over 50s. Dan Marz and Marc Becker played a few matches with Boulder over 35s as well. Terry Godfrey picked up some over 55s matches along with Don Becker. Most of us were at the Aspen Chalet at one end of the pitch, while Tooly, Don and Joe had a nice condo with a hot tub overlooking one of the try zones.

Wee Bob Jafferis had to cancel due to the failing health of his father in law who passed last week. Our condolences to Bob and Marcia.

Greg Zukowski canceled because he couldn’t figure out a way to fly free to Denver because his regular carrier, Cheapo Airways, doesn’t fly there directly. He thought he had a free connection through Minneapolis, Vladivostock and Iceland, but he could only get as close as Des Moines. He then offered to cook to pay his way through steerage. He should be rounding the Cape of Good Hope by Christmas…Someone suggested he pry open his wallet and try to harness the power of the moths that fly out of it...Read More

VOMITS v Frogs - 2009

Frogs 7 tries, VOMITs 3 tries

Thanks to the 16 Old Boys who traveled to the west side of Chicago to play the Frogs, the Condor Old Boys. Hats off to Matty Oakes who was so keen to be at the carpool rendezvous on time that he slept in his van by the Crossroads.

This match report may be a bit off due to heat stroke in the 80 degree weather and we only had one sub so your humble scribbler had to play nearly the whole 60 minutes at tighthead. I do recall that they scored the first time their big center got the ball. Then the first time their big #8 got the ball. Thanks to improved defense, they didn't see the ball in open space again until late in the match.

I believe that Aubrey Fish got us on the board first with a burst up the middle on a pass from Erik Goetz and two stiff arms later.

The Frogs went up again by two tries until flyhalf Timur Yarnall scored, making it 4 to 2 as halftime approached. Then we had a momentary lapse and gave up a try just before halftime.

In the second half, we held our own until a misplayed clearing kick attempt lead to an easy Frog try. Midway through the half, Steve Kirsh began a nice movement then fed Timur who passed to Steve Keup for the score. So it was looking respectable, until the last scrum of the day (I think that was scrum #348) led to the final try on the last play for the Frogs. So 7 tries to 3; not horrible, not great, but it was a fun day especially considering we only had 3 bona fide backs; for the most part it was a good run around. For those going to Ruggerfest in Aspen next week, it was a good indication how (un)fit we are. Now we can prepare for our next match at Rockford, Oct. 17. Time TBA.

Thanks to all who played: Wee Bob Jafferis, Matty "Van Man" Oakes, Mike Ferdig (who drove in from Notre Dame), Tim Probst, Keith Amberg, Joe Wornson, Jeff Woods, Dan Marz, Steve Kirsh, Timur Yarnall, Aubrey Fish, Steve Keup, Erik Goetz, Marc Kennedy, Joe "I'm Really Not a Back But I Play One on TV" Pagliara and Skip "I'm Also Not a Back" Blake. This was Skip's first match with the VOMITs and he said he is likely to return, especially if we don't ask him to play wing again.

Cheers,
Marc Kennedy

Stuart Daily 10's 2009

We finished 1-1-1, and did not make the semi-finals, so we accomplished our goals. Everyone who wanted to play got time though plenty were ready to play more. A fourth game would have been acceptable.

Nice new jerseys courtesy of Don Becker! Thanks to Don and to Dan Marz for the design.

NOTE: There is no photo at this time: the digital camera was accidentally set on “video.” I’m trying to figure out how to extract a photo from the videos taken. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Game 1 Vomits 7, East Side Militia Alumni 7

Fun game in the pouring rain. The Vomits controlled the ball most of the game, taking a 7-0 lead about halfway through the first half on a try off a penalty by scrumhalf Steve Kirsh. He sent the forwards to the left, the backs to the right, then tapped and went up the middle for about 7 yards and the try. Adam “Batman” Wolfe converted. In the second half, the Vomits dominated possession with a series of rolling mauls that stalled just short of goal several times. Joe Pagliara was in goal at one point but was held up. Midway through the half Eastside managed to get the ball to their speedy A-side WRC backs who tied it up. One of the Vomit forwards in the first half enticed Ace Lynn-Miller into punching him, prompting a sin-binning and a nasty note from the AARP. That’ll teach Ace to swing at old, slow, fat people…

Game 2 Milwaukee 6 tries, Vomits 0

Despite knocking on the door several times, we couldn’t score against a side that will be in the national 7’s next week. At fullback Aaron Pairama had a several nice tackles but couldn’t stem the tide. Compton Kurtz at one point attempted to play topless but since no one stuffed dollar bills into his shorts, he put his shirt back on.

Game 3 Vomits 27, Rockford 12

It was hot, it was humid, it was sticky; yet everyone wanted to play. Against a Rockford/pick-up side, the Vomits fared better, scoring 4 tries in the first half behind solid forward and back play. Rich Bergemann, Mo Lubasi, Aaron and Mark Gillen all scored. After switching forwards for the second half to ensure everyone got suitable playing time, winger Timur Yarnall added a score and conversion to counter 2 late Rockford scores.

Thanks to all the Old Boys who played and watched (sometimes doing both at the same time…).

Steve Kirsh (who missed the last game; apparently there was a “Golden Girls” marathon on basic cable),Aaron Pairama, Aubrey Fish, Timur Yarnall, Rich Bergemann, Mark Gillen, Mo Lubasi, Matt Oakes, Dan Jensen, Mike Ferdig, Bernie Cantorna, Joe Wornson, Erik Goetz, Adam “Batman” Wolfe, Jeff “Joker” Jacoby, Scott “Tooly” Storlid, Joe Pagliara, Matt Angerhoffer, Big Dave Kruse, Tim Probst, Dom Sopkovich, Kirk Sorensen, Steve Keup and Jeff Woods (who was dropped the last match); Terry Godfrey (in absentia), Greg Zukowski (present yet still missing).
Old Boy supporters: Buck Buchanan, Herb Paaren, Andy Chitwood, Soupy Campbell (who was all dressed up with wife Bobbi Jo and apparently nowhere better to go), Tom Humphries, Josh Schroeder, Jon Moyer, Steve Cohan and John Paul Hurlock.

If I missed anyone, it’s because I have the attention span of a microbe.

Remember, we have matches this fall:

Sat. Sept. 5, @ the Frogs (Condors Old Boys) Noon (before the WRC-Condors A side match)

Sat. Oct 17, @ Rockford, time TBD

Marc Kennedy, August 2009

VOMIT Tour to Ireland, January 2009

The MUNSTER vs Sale Sharks Match

We visited several pubs in downtown Limerick before the match just because they were there. The atmosphere was great in Limerick before the game; a nice city with plenty of venerable buildings, including many castles and churches. Several members of the Abbeyfeale Old Boys arranged to meet us at the clubhouse of the Bohemians rugby club at Thomond Park. Guys like Maurice, Gavin, Richard and son Philip who would be our water boy at our match the next day in Abbeyfeale, among others, made us feel right at home. ...Read More

Vomits v Rockford Old Boys

The WRC VOMITS (Veterans, Old Men, Idiots & Twits) hosted the Rockford Old Boys (known as the Old Kishwaukeans after the Kishwaukee River that meanders through that hoppin' burg in northern Illinois) before the WRC match against Metropolis on Saturday, October 18.

The final score notwithstanding, both sides had great fun on a sunlit, mild day at the WRC pitch.

Stuart Daily Tens 2008

Nearly 30 VOMITs kitted up and enjoyed a beautiful day for rugby. Blue sky, moderate temperatures, cold beer; lots of knee wraps, shorts that used to fit, athletic tape and Icy Hot. I love the smell of analgesic in the morning. It smells like…arthritis.

The VOMIT roster is conveniently listed at the end of the article for easy cross-referencing by parole officers, divorce lawyers and bail bondsmen.

WRC Old Boys Hold on vs. Condors Old Boys 17-15

In the first annual match between the old boys squads of the Wisconsin Rugby Club (the VOMITs) and the Westside Chicago Condors (the Frogs), the host team hung on for a seesaw 17-15 win. The score was really immaterial; it was a spirited match on the first decent sunlit Saturday since the fall which all enjoyed followed by a great feed and post-match palaver. Many Frogs stayed in town which added to the atmosphere at the Crossroads and later at the downtown Great Dane. We owe it to the Frogs to give them a match in Chicago either in the fall or next spring.

In the match, winger Mo Lubasi scored early off a pass from Dan Marz and it remained 5-0 until the VOMITs scored on a pushover try for a 10-0 lead. The latter was provided with help from the few forward subs the VOMITs had – Marcus Watson and Dave Kruse – who came off right after the score, giving it the best two minutes of their lives. We’ll never hear the end of it from either…I guess we could refer to them as the short yardage “jumbo package” in the scrum. As Marcus walked off the pitch, he vociferously declared that he was done playing rugby forever, though few took him seriously since only Cher has retired more often ...Read More

From One Rugger to Another

“No good deed goes unpunished.”
Often true. But occasionally you get surprised.

Last fall when the Wisconsin Rugby Club’s former coach Adrian McDermott was visiting Madison from NYC, I rode my bike from work at the Memorial Union to join the group meeting him at the Avenue on a Friday evening. As we were leaving, someone at the next table noticed my T-shirt – from the recent Stuart Daily Ten a side tourney that Old Boy Dan Marz created; the “This is your brain on rugby” design.

“Wow,” one of the gentlemen said, “Our daughter plays rugby at Stanford. She’d love a shirt like that!”

So, I took off the shirt and handed it to him, saying something like “from one rugger to another,” adding that I hadn’t worn it before today so it was nearly new. We all had a good laugh and our group left for the next venue, the Weary Traveler.

While waiting at the crowded bar, a woman asked sarcastically if I was making a fashion statement.

“What?”
“You’re just wearing a wind breaker, unzipped halfway.”
I nodded then explained.
“Oh. We just thought that you were some kind of doofus with a midlife crisis…or one of the homeless guys from the shelter down the street.”

I’d forgotten all about it until I got an email in December from Grant Dekker. He asked whether I was the guy who had “given the shirt off his back” for another rugby player he’d never met. I guess he found me via the WRC web site. I replied that I was, and that as a coach and player (OK so I wander around the pitch occasionally as an Old Boy) it was my pleasure. He explained that his daughter Susan loved the shirt, and asked for my address so they could send me a card.

Christmas morning I opened a nice card (view card) from Grant and Susan Dikkers that arrived inside a package that contained a Stanford rugby T-shirt. The card said, “From one rugger to another.”

Marc Kennedy

Lose to WRC in Final
VOMITs Don’t Choke, Make the Stuart Daily Finals

By Marc Kennedy
VOMIT (Veterans, Old Men, Idiots and Twits) Handler

The plan was simple and seemingly foolproof: Assemble a group of aging ruggers (from 30-something to 50-something), play three matches, win one or two but not advance, showing some younger guys that despite our age and expanding waistlines and receding hairlines, we still got a little game. Then, we’d repair, honor and bodies intact, to the shade under Herb’s Hideaway and enjoy the semi-finals from the sidelines. There, we’d quaff a few, and buy Jell-O shots from the Women’s Team and get a head start on telling the same old lies over and over. Read More