by Felicia Mosley and Terry Moakley
It’s been a while since the United Spinal Association Jets quad rugby squad, co-sponsored by the Association and the New York Jets professional football franchise, have failed to travel to the United States Quad Rugby Association regional playoffs, but it happened in the recent 2003-2004 season. The Jets played in just three tournaments this year, yet they remained a fairly competitive team.
Their season began November 8-9 of last year at the Beast of the East tourney in Philadelphia. The Jets showed a lot of spunk on the first day of rugby, dropping the morning game by nine goals to the Magee (Philadelphia) Rebels, and narrowly losing their afternoon tilt to the Connecticut Jammers, 35 to 31. Sunday’s rugby provided the Jets a measure of revenge as they paid back the Jammers by a score of 40 to 35. Unfortunately, they were blown off the court in the last game of the tournament by Magee, the eventual champs, but because the Jets beat Connecticut by one point more than the Jammers’ margin of victory in their Saturday game against us, the Jets earned second place in a three-team event.
The United Spinal Association Jets ended their regular season on a good note by co-hosting the Connecticut Classic Tournament on February 21, 2004, at New Horizons Village in Farmington, Connecticut.
This round-robin event, also hosted by Gaylord Hospital, featured the Magee Rebels, the Casco Bay (Maine) Navigators, the Connecticut Jammers, and the Jets. The participants included a number of very talented quad rugby players in addition to many loyal supporters of the sport. The Jets beat rival Connecticut in the first contest of the day, but they were subdued in back-toback games by the Rebels and the Navigators in the afternoon. Jilting the Jammers gave the Jets the third place trophy. First place was awarded to Casco Bay and second place went to Magee. George Taborsky of the Jets was picked for the All Tournament Team. In all, the Connecticut Classic Tournament was a great success and we thank all who helped and participated in this exciting event.
Although the Jets regular season has ended, as you read this they are in Montreal, Quebec from April 30 to May 2 for the 2004 Defi Sportif Quad Rugby Tournament. This event features some of the best quad rugby teams from all around the world. The Jets will play in the tournament, recruit players for next season, and hopefully sign up some new United Spinal Association members with spinal cord disabilities. Good luck to the Jets in Canada as they compete against some stiff competition at the Defi Sportif Tournament.
If you are interested in receiving information on the United Spinal Association Jets quad rugby team, please contact Felicia Mosley at 718-803-3782, ext. 273.
Felicia Mosley is Sports and Recreation Coordinator. Former rugby player and Associate Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs Terry Moakley provided additional material for this story.
