New York, NY - In a battle that raged for over 100 minutes, a penalty goal by flyhalf Colin O’Brien in the closing ticks of a 20-minute overtime gave Mystic River a 34-31 win over the Boston Irish Wolfhounds and the 2010 Northeast RFU DI Club Championship.
Kicking played a major role in the match as 19 of the Mystics’ 34 points came from O’Brien’s boot, while flyhalf Mark Tutton accounted for 16 of the Wolfhound’s 30 points.

First Half
The Wolfhounds opened the scoring in the second minute when wing Sean Hibberd touched down in the corner at the end of a 25 meter movement, 5-0.

Mystic flyhalf Colin O’Brien sandwiched penalty goals around one by the Wolfhounds’ Tutton, closing the gap to 8-6, Hounds. The Wolfhounds surged ahead in the 22nd minute when flanker Josh Gold touched down at the end of a 25 meter movement and Tutton converted, 15-6.

An exchange of penalties by O’Brien and Tutton brought the halftime tally to Wolfhounds 18, Mystic River 9.

Second Half
Things changed rapidly after the break as tries from #8 Sean Burgess and center Chris Tofte in the first three minutes, both converted by O’Brien, gave the Mystics a 23-18 lead. A try in the eighth minute by Mystic hooker Carrick Pell at the end of a 50 meter handling movement increased their lead to 28-18.

Tutton and O’Brien exchanged penalties (31-21) and in the 19th minute Wolfhound center Kiwa Oakes scored a try. Tutton converted Oakes try (31-28) and then slotted a penalty goal to tie the match in the 29th minute, 31-31.

A penalty attempt by the Mystics O’Brien hit the uprights in the 39th minute and the game went into overtime.

O’Brien’s kick at the conclusion of the 2nd 10 minute overtime finally gave Mystic River the 34-31 win.

Mystic River 34
Tries: Burgess, Tofte, Pell
Penalties: O’Brien 5
Conversions: O'Brien 2

Boston Irish Wolfhounds 31
Tries: Hibberd, Gold, Oakes
Penalties: Tutton 4
Conversions: Tutton 2

Referee: Phil Griffiths

Third Place
In the battle for third place in Northeast Division I, the New York RFC defeated Long Island 24-20.