Category: News

D2 traveling – D3 Battles Ruggerfest

This year marked the 67th annual St. Louis Ruggerfest and being the two time champs the Bombers were looking for a three-peat.

Ruggerfest consisted a lot of the familiar teams from St. Louis, but were low on out of state teams because many of the teams had league matches that weekend. The Bomber’s D2 squad fell under that same category as they traveled to Kansas City to take on KCRFC.

With only a month away from playoffs teams are trying everything they can to secure a playoff spot and the D2 side needed a big win to secure theirs. The Bombers not only needed to win but also get any bonus points to move up in the standings. The Bombers were able to do both with a big win over KCRFC 50-14.

Back in St. Louis the D3 first match was a repeat of last year’s championship match against the Arkansas Griffins. Both teams have a lot of new young players but was still a very tough fought match. The Griffins took the lead in the first half 5-0 but after a few adjustments in the second half the Bombers took the lead and the win 7-5.

Photos

The Bombers would face the Royals in the second match of the day but would fall 17-40 and be placed in the 3rd place match on Sunday. Sunday’s match would be a repeat against the Griffins for 3rd place in the tournament. The Griffins took advantage of the Bombers penalties with score the majority of their points with kicks. It wasn’t looking too good for the Bombers but they were able to score a try before half to cut the lead down. The Griffins would get their own try and the Bombers were now in need of two trys to win. The Bombers kept fighting and had some huge runs that would help them take the lead late in match and win 3rd place in Ruggerfest.

Schedule

This weekend both sides have matches with the D2 traveling to Omaha and the D3 at home against the Rowdies. The D3 match will be a Forest Park with kick off at 3pm. Come on out and cheer the Bombers onto victory.

Half Way Through the 2nd Half

We are on the final stretch of the spring season and only a few weeks from the start of local and regional playoffs.

To recap, both Bomber teams won their home opener as the DIII side shut out Franklin County 42-0 and the DII reclaiming a victory against the KC Islanders 29-7.

The DII side would travel to KC to take on the DI KC Blues in a friendly match. The Bombers were first on the board but despite best efforts would fall 10-38. It was a good match to attend and would help the Bombers make adjustments on exposed areas. The DIII side also had an away match against Kohlfeld in Cape Girardeau. The score was close throughout the match with the Bombers down, but the Bombers were able to take the lead with only a few minutes left winning 18-17.

Both sides were back in St. Louis with league matches at Forest Park. The DIII side faced the Royals first but would fall 7-45 to the Royals. The DII side would face the Ramblers in the second match of the day and would defeat the Ramblers 102-0.

Photos

This week the Bombers DII side will travel back to Kanas looking for another big win as they take on KCRFC.

Schedule

This weekend also marks the 67th Annual St. Louis Gateway Ruggerfest. The event will be held at Creve Coeur Park with the first matches starting at 9am. The Bombers are reigning champs the last two years and the DIII side will be representing the Bombers as we look for a three-peat. More info can be found at http://www.stlouisruggerfest.com/ and bracket info here.

First Practice / Coach's Note

The second half of the season starts tonight, February 3rd, with the first practice of the spring season. Practice will be every Tuesday and Thursday at Willmore Park in South City starting at 6:30pm sharp. You can come early to play touch before hand Everyone is welcome to come participate as we get ready for our first game in early march.

Practice Location

Coach’s Note:

“Tonight is our first official club training of the season. It was a very solid effort having such consistent numbers out over the winter break and I guarantee we will be in a better position come playoff time because of that, so long as we bring that same enthusiasm and intensity into the season.

We have about 55 – 60 “Active Players”, who are all expected to be there tonight. Sessions will be planned around these numbers. — Note also that attendance from here on will be factored into selection decisions for games. We are always needing more players so please keep bringing people out.

Thanks,

Ben”

The only things required for practice is a good pair of boots, mouth guard, and water. If you are new to the club you will need to see Neal Ford to be CIPP’d with the Bombers and added to the distribution list.

Be ready to work as we look forward to seeing everyone at practice.

Weekly Newsletters

If you haven’t noticed yet the St. Louis Bombers have started a Weekly Newsletter. These newsletters will give a brief review of the previous week, what to expect this week, standing, and any other news related to the club. You can find the newsletter box on the homepage or select “Newsletters” under the “About the Bombers” menu.

Bombers vs Islanders

To recap the last couple of weeks the Bombers have had some bumps along the way. After a win in Chicago the Bombers DII side had their first league match against the KC Islanders in Kansas City, but would fall 13-27 to the Islanders. The DII side faced the Lindenwood Lions the following Friday in a friendly match at LU. The Bombers struggled against a very fast LU team and loss 12-88. The DIII side had their second league match against the Belleville Rowdies and ran up the scoreboard with a 56-14 win.

October is Domestic Abusive Awareness month and the Bombers held a fundraiser and food drive for our first Ladies Day on October 11th. The DIII side fell 5-32 in a tough match against the Royals while the DII side had a huge win 50-12 over KCRFC.

Bombers vs Rowdies

Photos

This upcoming weekend, the Bombers have their Alumni Weekend at Lucier Park. Both sides have league matches as the DIII side faces Kohlfeld and the DII side takes on the Ramblers. There will be a large tent with BBQ, beer and half time entertainment. Kickoff is at 1pm.

Calendar

Own the Bar will be held at Colombos Bar & Tavern on October 25th after the last home match of the fall season.  Both sides will have big league matches next Saturday.

Schedule

Make sure to “Like” the Bomber’s Facebook page stay up-to-date with day to day stuff. Also check back on Tuesday’s for the weekly newsletter.

John “The Jet” Henley – Bomber Rugger – Mizzou Football Great

Jet Henley (left), Mizzou Rugby game 72On Sunday, August 24, one of the University of Missouri’s all-time football greats, John “The Jet” Henley, (Wide Receiver – 1969-72) and former Bomber (Winger, 1972) passed away at his home in San Bernardino, California.  He had been battling liver cancer for 2 years.  Jet had a stellar gridiron career at Mizzou including the school record for most receptions, All-Big 8 and All American Honors. .  He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1972, but did not sign, opting  for a successful law career.

Little did the MU Athletic Department  know, that during his playing career at Mizzou, Jet was burning up the rugby pitch (under an alias of “David Mojack” ) as a winger for the Missouri Tiger Rugby Team during the off-season. Football players were forbidden to play rugby.  It was there that Henley was recruited along with Jim “LC” Dierker (Bombers 1971-80) by Sterling Hayden,  Mizzou Rugby Player/Coach, to play for the St. Louis Bombers.

Both Henley and Dierker were “guest” players on the famous or infamous Bomber tour to Charlottesville, Virginia to play in the classic Commonwealth Cup Tournament. This elite tourney featured the top teams in the U.S., United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.  With 9.3 hundred yard sprinter speed and able to hit like a line-backer, Henley complemented the Bomber Black team of incredible size and toughness, who welcomed both of the Mizzou recruits.  The Bombers did not win the tournament, but left a huge impression on the Eastern Rugby Union on and off the field.
Henley-double-newspapersIt was on that wild East Coast tour, that tall tales were spun about “stair diving, chandelier eating, keg stealing, and the “Flight for Life”.  One such story was about Henley and Dierker “dining and dashing” from a McDonald’s with 100 hamburgers and fries for a “free” team dinner.  Or when the tour bus was pulled over in Indiana, where a Bomber (Jet/Dierker suspects to this day), was accused of throwing a full beer can out the window, and hitting a “Hoosier” in a pickup.  The Highway Patrol ended up arresting the bus driver, leaving the team and bus stranded on the roadside.

Jet Henley, to his dying day, was always proud of his St. Louis Bomber pedigree, whether wearing his black game jersey or T-shirt, or traveling to San Diego in 2006 to see the Bomber Super League Game against OMBAC.

In one of his last conversations with Dierker, just a few weeks before his death, Jet, recalled the Bombers saying, “ Hey, how are  Kyle and the Bombers doing?   Next time I get back to St. Louis, let’s swing by Thurmer’s for a cold 9-0-5.  I love those guys.”  God bless John “The Jet” Henley.  They don’t make them like that any more.  A Bomber for life and beyond!