Morris' season began in friendly fashion. Berkshire United drove south from Massachusetts and enjoyed a pre-game pancake breakfast with the home club, raising $1,000 for a local autism group. But once the whistle blew, it was all business, and Morris banked a 71-5 win over last year’s national championship host.

Since the 2014 nationals, where Morris placed second in DII, the team has stayed busy with summer and fall 7s, and sent a host of players to select sides like Atlantis and Rugby New Jersey all-stars. The team had to replace five key starters, but none as important as Tess Feury. Now at Penn State, Feury is one of the most recognizable young players in the game today, and her absence was always going to be felt.

“Tess played flyhalf for us and controlled the patterns of play,” said Morris coach/dad Tom Feury. “With her departure, we have simplified these patterns and moved sophomore Jordan Cowan into that spot. Jordan is a great athlete and is getting comfortable playing ‘traffic cop’ on the field. Otherwise, our game strategy is much the same as it was last year.”

When Feury was busy playing in China at the Youth Olympic Games or winning an LVI title for the Girls High School All Americans, Kat Ramage was right there with her. At the All American assembly in Las Vegas, coach Mollie McCarthy praised Ramage for her infectious, hard-working attitude, which is saying a lot considering the fantastic talent that was on display. Demi Pretorius is another veteran on which the team will lean this year, and the duo featured heavily in Saturday’s game, scoring three tries apiece. Ramage also slotted five conversions.

All told, Morris has nine players who have suited up for all-star teams: Ramage, Pretorius, Tammy Cowan, Allie Mennella, Jess Nagie, Delia Hellander, Jordan Cowan, Alie Ramage, and Roisin Sharkey. In Massachusetts, Mennella, Nagie, and the Cowans all scored tries, while Delia Hellander and newcomer Kelsey Joyce (2) added two-pointers.

“I am very excited with our up-and-coming players,” Feury said. “Our scrumhalf, Jess Nagie, keeps getting better and better. She is very fit, has a great step, and may be the hardest hitting scrumhalf in the league. We have two new girls, both of whom have come up through the Morris Rugby flag programs and are special: Wing Kelsey Joyce has a natural step and wonderful decision-making skills with the ball in hand; and fullback Carola Pellegrino has pace and fearless tackling ability.”

This weekend marks Morris’ first league game, and it’s against a tough Play Rugby team.

“I believe they are the best team in our league,” Feury confessed. “As an academy team, they pull the best athletes from all the NYC-area schools in which Play Rugby runs programs. The coaching is top notch.  Malory Billings and Giovanna Ferguson-Lewis are both top-level players who were featured on the successful Atlantis U15 Vegas squad. They also have some good size and aggression amongst the forwards. Our girls will have to meet them low at the gain line if they are to persevere.”

That game will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. in Central Park – a great venue in which to kick off the season.