LOTS OF WINNERS IN NORCAL RUGBY

HAIL, PELICUS!

AWARDS BANQUET

The annual season-ending banquet of the NCRRS will be held on Saturday, June 7, at the Bull Valley Inn in Port Costa. Not sure of the time yet – Paul Berman has not gotten back to us.

http://www.maxonline.org/misc/bullvalleymap.htm

Please let Mr. Berman know if you will be attending and how many will be in your party: pzberman@sbcglobal.net

EDITORIAL: ‘UNPLAYABLES’

In my game this past Saturday I managed to prove myself an up-to-the-minute referee: I found an unplayable. The ball wasn’t coming. I announced which player had made it unplayable by color and number, and what infraction it was that he almost committed but for my hipness.

Talk about full circle: many of our referee readers will recall being taught to ‘set your stall’ by calling a penalty when the kickoff came down, and at the first scrum, ruck and lineout.

(Younger refs can’t imagine this – how could you invent a call and have any credibility afterwards? It helps to know that referees did not speak in this era, beyond perhaps saying, “Penalty.” The whistle went, the arm went, and the players ran back ten.

(A captain might later approach and ask what that was for. The ref would say, “Offside” or “Collapsing”, no more.)

We can all agree that that was absurd. Many of us thought so at the time, and were happy when this practice went out of fashion.

Then about ten years ago someone besides the coaches of losing teams started counting the number of penalties. These were evaluators, and they held the referee accountable for all penalties beyond a magic number.

Long aside:

I am reminded of my days with the peacekeeping forces in the Sinai desert.

One of our couriers had driven in to Cairo – six hours each way – to pick up the diplomatic pouch on the bi-weekly flight from Rome.

He killed an Egyptian pedestrian with his official vehicle, drunk while on duty and in uniform. Our command group assembled and looked for options how to deal with this – what if Egypt wanted to throw him into a deep dark hole? Would he be allowed counsel? What to tell his family?

We were informed that he had been released and should be back at our camp in a few hours. It seems there were an average of 30 pedestrian-versus-car deaths in Cairo per month and this was only the 20th that month. Hence, this was to be expected and there would be no point in punishing someone for doing something that was inevitable.

But what woes would have betided this soldier should ten more people have already been killed that month! He would have probably paid the price for all of them. As it was he had ‘only’ the Uniform Code of Military Justice to face for his acts.

Such it is the twenty-fifth penalty that the referee blows, or the thirty-first – depending on what the running average is for that particular competition: that is the one that shouldn’t have been given, the one that proves the ref’s no good, that he has ‘too many penalties’ in his games.

The ref may reasonably protest, “But I don’t determine how many penalties the players commit! I try to prevent them, but have to react when I see them.” He may ask in exasperation, “Should I ignore some altogether?”

And the answer these days is – yes, you should.

Most penalties occur at the tackle. So the preferred solution is to focus on this area for penalty reduction. This is done by the simple expedient of recognizing which player has committed a penalty infraction in making the ball unavailable, waving one’s hand and, presto-chango, the penalty becomes an ‘unplayable’.

The tool of immateriality can’t be employed here because the ball is, in fact, unplayable. The offense is per se material. The whistle is blown, the player at fault is identified and spoken to, and a scrum is awarded.

Let us hope at least that these ‘unplayables’ are meant to be counted towards that player’s tally of repeat infringements. Advantages-gained count towards repeats, immaterial infractions count (probably about one-half), and unplayables certainly should, otherwise these players are getting off scot-free.

This new paradigm is not something invented here in the USA and it’s not something we’ve been asked our opinion of. I’ll referee it, but I won’t like it. And I’ll be happy when fashions change and this flavor of the month is no longer on the menu.

I think not calling material infractions that have been committed is precisely as absurd as making up infractions.

And here’s why: haven’t these players been playing rugby week after week? Haven’t they had a series of refs who adjudicate according to the same Laws and the same guidelines? HAVEN’T THEY ALREADY HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO REALIZE WHAT CONSTITUTES A PENALTY ON THE GROUND? Why should the first 3/5/7 infringers be cut slack every Saturday?

Someone will referee a national club semi-final at the end of this month. He’ll give out a handful of free passes for killing the ball until he deems that the players have had a chance to ‘learn’ what they can and cannot do.

And then the very next day, in the final – the same ref will give some of the same players exemptions from the same Laws just because it’s early in the match.

NORCAL HIGH SCHOOL FINAL

MOTHER LODE 10 – Jesuit 8 Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Touch Judges: Jim Crenshaw, Nick Priscott (NERFU)
Fourth Officials: Preston Gordon, Chris Tucker

The NorCal High School championship was played in front of a significant crowd at the end of the first day's play at the PCIT High School tournament at Stanford.

Both teams were physical and committed, but frequent substitutions and wholesale knock-ons slowed down the match considerably in the first half. (Even the players started joking about the knock-ons: one requested that I penalize anyone who knocks-on).

Jesuit led 0-3 at half. In the second half, both teams improved their handling and spun the ball wide to create more space. Mother Lode scored to lead 5-3 and Jesuit scored to lead 5-8, but Mother Lode scored once more to finish ahead 10-8. Much thanks to Jim Crenshaw and Nick Priscott for their assistance as TJ's.

PACIFIC COAST INVITATIONAL

Under 17:
Liberty 12 – Sacramento 29 Referee: Eric Rauscher

So I showed up Saturday morning to see if I could help out, and I ended up running four games of touch. Then I showed up Sunday morning, but since there were only a dozen or so games, I thought "maybe I won't end up doing anything, but that's okay." So I helped set up fields and bring out water, but someone asked "so do you ref, also, or do you just run touch?" and I said, "Yeah, I ref." so they said, "Well, okay. We're going to give you a game." So I ended up doing the U.17 championship.

Sacramento came out strong and quick in the first half, and scored two tries within ten minutes. Then Liberty came back in the last part of the game, converted a try, so the half-time score was close, 7-10. I was told that the halves were supposed to be twenty-five, and this caused some consternation, so I called the captains and suggested to them that if they wanted to play a longer second half they could, but we ended up playing a twenty-five minute second half also. Once again in the second half, Sacramento came out very strong, and scored three tries in ten minutes. And then once again, Liberty came back towards the end of the half and scored another try. So the final score turned out to be 12-29. But the game seemed closer than the score would indicate. Liberty played very well, and never gave up. I was also impressed with Sacramento's kicker, who slotted several difficult conversion kicks. All in all, I had a very enjoyable time doing the game. And the tournament was fun.

Sierra JC 15 – WILLAMETTE OLD BOYS 51 Referee: Bruce Carter
The Sierra JC only formed in March after the D2 college season was over, but already they’ve played half a dozen games by keenly going after fixtures.

The Willamette Old Boys/Barbarians are a group of guys who played high school rugby together and still assemble for an occasional run.

This match thus met the definition of a ‘friendly’ in every sense: not a league competition, not between rivals or near-neighbors, no history in the fixture at all.

And so it went: spin the ball, take it into contact, help the opponent to his feet.

The Barbarians scored at 8, 14 and 17 minutes and it looked like the interval might continue to decrease, such was their organization vis-à-vis the defense they faced. But Sierra had a meeting in the in-goal during the conversion and came out a better-prepared team.

After that they gave a pretty good account; the subsequent scoring only had them down 30-15.

It is a real joy to work with players who clearly love the game and in many instances are still in the first blush of that love. Let’s hope they now have it as bad as their ref.

No other reports were received. There were just over a dozen teams and as many refs.

RUGBY THE WEEKEND OF MAY 10-11

Pacific Coast U23 women:

Pelicans –Loggers/Utah Referee: Pete Smith
No report received.

Grizzly Probables – Possibles Referee: John Pohlman
No report received.

PLAYOFF SEASON

SUPER LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS MAY 17

NYAC – SF/Golden Gate Referee: Tim Luscombe
Boston RFC – Chicago Lions Referee: Ed Gardner
Belmont Shore – Boston Irish Wolfhounds Referee: Paul Bretz
Charlotte – Denver Barbarians Referee: Davey Ardrey Touch Judge: Matt Eason

USA RUGBY MEN’S CLUB PLAYOFFS MAY 17-18

This weekend in Austin, Texas most of the best teams in US rugby will be gathering to winnow the fields.

Northern California will be represented among the competitors by Hayward, the Olympic Club, the Sacramento Capitals and the Reno Zephyrs.

There will also be Pelicans on the pitch in the persons of referees Aruna Ranaweera, Pete Smith, Tony Redmond, and Don Pattalock.

Division One:
Pool A
Olympic Club – Aspen
Maryland – Palmer

Pool D
Las Vegas – White Plains
Los Angeles – Life

Pool C
Hayward – Austin
Mystic River – Pearl City

Pool B
Park City Haggis – South Side Irish
Long Island – Glendale

Division Two:
Pool A
Brandywine – Clinton Muddy River
Sacramento – North County Gurkhas

Pool D
Detroit Tradesmen – South Shore Anchors
New Orleans – Tulsa

Pool C
Riverside – Hartford
Charleston – Wisconsin

Pool B
Jacksonville – Albuquerque Aardvarks
Norfolk Blues – Red Mountain

Division Three:
Middlesex – Fort Worth
Eagle Rock – Michiana
Jersey Shore – Montgomery
Montclair – Reno

PACIFIC COAST HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS

There are two separate playoff systems leading to national championships this year, one for single-school teams and the other for multi-school teams:

Single School Playoffs:
This will consist of a single game, to be played at Jesuit:
Jesuit – Christian Brothers Referee: Jim Crenshaw

Multi-school Playoffs:
These will be played Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Semi-finals:
Mother Lode – United
Lamorinda - Highland

(The Pacific Northwest has chosen not to participate in high school playoffs above the local level.)

END OF SEASON COLLEGE RANKINGS

These are taken from eRugbyNews:

Women D1:
1 Stanford
2 Penn State
3 Navy
4 Texas
6 Chico State
9 UC Davis
22 California

Women D2:
1 Shippensburg
2 UC Santa Cruz
3 Norwich
4 Delaware
22 Sacramento St.

Men D1:
1 California
2 St. Mary's
3 BYU
4 San Diego St.
12 UC Davis

Men D2:
1 Radford
2 Coast Guard
3 Salisbury
4 Utah Valley
9 Santa Clara
16 Cal Maritime

NorCal placed eleven college teams in the top one-hundred by this reckoning.

WHEN TECH GIANTS COMPETE, YOU WIN

Those of you who remember poring over Google Earth when it was released, watching the hours fly past as you sat mesmerized, well – you are in for another treat!

Microsoft has released WorldWide Telescope. It’s free. As the universe is to the Earth, is it that much more fascinating. Stargaze into an endlessly deep and self-explanatory sky...

For the uber-nerds among us, those who know will want to find the Mandelbrot Planet and there they can lose themselves in endless self-symmetry.

http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/

THIS WEEK’S PHOTO

The referee no longer struggles alone.

Andrew Ormsby, Jim Crenshaw and David Williamson man the cameras on the terrace at the Doyle Family Rugby Clubhouse at Stanford.

HAIL, PELICUS!

For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris

BIG GAMES FOR CAL AND STANFORD

HAIL, PELICUS!

AWARDS BANQUET

The annual season-ending banquet of the NCRRS will be held on Saturday, June 7, at the Bull Valley Inn in Port Costa.

By popular demand, we will be returning to the restaurant that hosted us last year. Mark your calendar and make your plans!

http://www.maxonline.org/misc/bullvalleymap.htm

AREN’T WE LUCKY?

One of your scribe’s old friends from East Coast days was at Stanford for the college finals. Among other envious comments he said, “You are lucky to live where there’s so much good rugby.”

Regular readers of Hail Pelicus will have encountered the rhetorical question ‘Aren’t we lucky?’ here often enough to consider it something of a tag line. But our friend’s comment engaged a train of thought.

On a personal level, I worked very hard to excel in medical school back in Georgia to earn acceptance into my first-choice residency program in San Francisco. And that was specifically because the Bay Area was where the good rugby was in the seventies. Everyone who read Rugby magazine knew that! And I’m sure I’m not the only one drawn to live in this area by the bouncing ball.

But more than that – ‘good rugby’ does not spring up out of the ground anew in Northern California simply because the calendar flips its pages. It’s not like living near Yosemite or Yellowstone or in Hawaii, where the primary attraction can be taken for granted.

Thomas Jefferson wrote: “I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”

The fact that this remains the epicenter of ‘good rugby’ decade after decade is not as a result of some birthright. It is the result of endless work, unswerving dedication, sweat, hard miles and long hours on the part of thousands of players and hundreds of administrators.

Consider: Is Jack Clark ‘lucky’ to have coached his twentieth championship team? Have the many NorCal players at every level who have achieved the goal of playing on a team that won a national title just been ‘fortunate’?

While the Pelican Refs may indeed individually consider ourselves lucky to have so many good teams to referee, I do not believe it is a stretch to say that we and our predecessors have had something to do with this fortuitous state of affairs. In allowing players to attain their dreams by facilitating safe, fast and fair contests consistently throughout their careers, providing them the same level of officiating that they will face as they progress through the post-season, we have kept up our corner of the constantly-rising ziggurat of Northern California rugby.

SUPER LEAGUE

Santa Monica 10 – SF/GOLDEN GATE 70 Referee: Paul Bretz

Golden Gate qualified for the playoffs by shellacking the Dolphins in SoCal this past weekend.

The two teams began the season on opposite tacks, Santa Monica going 3 – 0 and SFGG opening 0 – 2. But all that is forgotten now.

SFGG will be a wild-card team. They will play on the road May 17 but their opponent is yet to be determined.

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS

MOTHER LODE 26 – Lamorinda 19 Referee: Jim Crenshaw
Touch Judge: Ray Schwartz, Ray Thompson
The first semi-final if the high school playoffs Friday night in El Dorado Hills between Mother Lode and Lamorinda was expected to be a very exciting match. In fact, it exceeded all expectations, with many exciting moments provided by both well coached and well disciplined teams.

Lamo came out of the gate charging, surprising ML with their intensity. ML seemed to be unaware that they, indeed, needed to tackle their opponents. Lamo's backs ran through a number of ML tackler's attempts and led to the first try of the match about 5 minutes in.

During the setup for the kick from the corner, the ML captain had a 'come to Jesus' meeting under the posts with his team. The kick was short and after the ensuing kickoff, ML seemed to have decided that tackling was an integral part of the game.

The effect was some big hits by both sides, with both sides testing the other's mettle. ML was being pressured about half way through the half, but an errant pass and some great open field running and passing gave ML its first try just a little outside of the right post. Conversion good, game on!

For the next few minutes ML's defense pressured Lamo, but Lamo kept possession and then broke free with some nifty open field running and passing of their own, to score and convert, taking back the lead.

The next 10 minutes provided many probes by both teams, but ML ran another try in just before halftime and converted to make it Mother Lode 14 Lamorinda 12 at the break.

The first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half was an intense affair with a couple of goal line stands, followed by forced turnovers and long possessions by both teams. ML prevailed first, with an unconverted try in the corner.

Lamo stepped up the pressure and after at least 3 held up in goals, ML committed an offside at the goal line. The very alert captain and #10 for Lamo quick-tapped at the mark and dove in under a couple of ML players for the try. The kick was good and we were tied up at 19 with about 5 minutes to go.

Both teams again showed great intensity, but with about a minute to go, ML prevailed scoring a converted try. We had about 10 seconds left in the match when the Lamo captain kicked off.

What followed in the next 5 minutes was the most intense and highest paced moments of the match. Lamo maintained possession and kept pressuring ML, a couple of times getting well within ML's 22, only to have some excellent defense by ML push them back out of the 22 towards mid-field. An errant pass by Lamo and a heads-up kick to touch by ML kept us from having to have a kick off to determine a winner.

An excellent match, well played match, with very few penalties and no cards, just wide open rugby!! Both sides should be very proud of their accomplishments this year!!!
Final score: Mother Lode 26, Lamorinda 19

Christian Brothers 8 – JESUIT 31 Referee: John Pohlman
Touch Judges: Phil Akroyd, Tom Franzoia
Let me start by poising a question: Why does Northern California High School Rugby only get one berth in the National Playoffs? In the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to referee loads of high school games. Golden Gate, Lamorinda, Jesuit, Christian Brothers, Santa Rosa. I would bet any of these would make it to the national final eight. Jesuit did not even qualify for one of the top two spots in their conference, but looks to qualify for the nationals. By my count 40 of the players on Cal's 51 man roster come from the Northern California high school system. O.K. you got my point.

Eileen rode out with me to Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento. We arrived around 3:00 for a 4:00pm kick-off. The field was getting its final touches. It looked like CB had put up new goal posts and lined a fully regulation field next to their football field. It temperature was heating up to around 80 at kick off.

The fans were three-deep surrounding the pitch. It was a great Catholic rivalry. Some called it David verses Goliath. Jesuit has about three times the enrollment of Christian Brothers. But CB had won the earlier match. I had refereed both teams’ semi-final match last week. It looked like a coin toss to me. Jesuit looked bigger and played a very structured game. CB had three deep-strike backs who believed they could score from anywhere.

I'd be missing the collegiate finals at Stanford for the first time in six years. But at kick off, three minutes early, there was no place I would rather be. Thirty players psyched to the max. Coaches, fans, relatives and school supporters lined the field. Two quality TJ's. As the American Express commercials says "priceless."

Jesuit won the toss and wanted the ball. Jesuit's tight five were bigger to a man that CB's. The Jesuit forwards controlled early possession and Captain and inside center Kellen Holmes finished off the first try ten minutes in.

Both my touch judges said there was a bit of scrappy, jersey tugging, pushing going on after the ball moved away. I pulled both captains aside and asked them to urge their players to be positive and stop the knickknack stuff after play.

Well at 23 minutes I saw my 26 year old English TJ Phil with his flag out. CB's #13 had been grabbed by his jersey after a play, he responded by pushing the Jesuit player. But then as he ran back to play he took a side step and stomped a Jesuit player on the ground. This was done in front of the Jesuit sideline and within a minute of me talking to the captains. Yellow Card.

Two minutes latter Captain Kellen finished off another try. Kellen scored three tries throughout the day. All with weaving steps which shifted would be tacklers allowing him to power through. But what really made these scores possible was the field position the Jesuit forwards worked so hard to gain.

#13 came back onto the field at 33 minutes and scored at 34 minutes. #13 James Jones had scored four tries last week against Santa Rosa. This time he chipped over a defender the ball bounced two inches from touch and three feet from the try line. It then bounced over the try line flag into goal where Jones beat the defenders to the ball.

Half time score Jesuit 14 Christian Bothers 5.

Jesuit's forwards were bigger than CB's but just as athletic. CB strength is in tackling and aggressiveness. Well they tackled very well. But CB's forwards could not counter ruck aggressively against the big large and athletic Jesuit front five. Jesuit started to dominate the lineouts. Forcing CB to go for goal or run penalties rather than kick for touch and lose a line-out.

The first twenty minutes of the second half saw CB attempt three penalties converting one. At twenty minutes in Jesuit just wore CB down for another score. Jesuit scored two more in the last ten minutes, with captain Kellen getting his third.

Final score: Jesuit 31 Christian Brother 8

Thanks for allowing me to run with two tremendous high schools. I also graduated from a Catholic grade school and Catholic High School. I appreciated the discipline needed to control your emotions in a high charged rivalry. Thanks to the fans for their positive energy. Thanks to the coaching staff for their control.

UPCOMING HIGH SCHOOL GAMES

May 10:
The Northern California high school final:
Mother Lode – Jesuit Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
This will be played this Saturday at Stanford at 6:15 PM, as the featured match at the Pacific Coast High School Invitational Tournament.

Mother Lode has already qualified as the NorCal’s representative to the multi-school team playoffs.

May 10-11:
Pacific Coast High School Invitational Tournament at Stanford
All day, both days.

May 17:
Pacific Coast single-school championship game:
Christian Brothers – Jesuit Referee: Tony Redmond
These are the two top single-school teams in the Pacific Coast.

USA RUGBY COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

For the third year in a row, the finalists of D1 men and women were the same four teams: Cal, BYU, Stanford and Penn State. In fact, Stanford and Penn State have now met in the final four years in a row. As there has been a lot of turnover among the players on all of these squads, it is clear that coaching is the difference for these elite programs.

Friday - Division I semi-finals:

PENN STATE 41 – Brown 7 Referee: Chris Draper
Touch Judges: Matt Eason, John Coppinger

STANFORD 40 – Navy 20 Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Touch Judges: Pete Smith, John Pohlman

CALIFORNIA 41 – St. Mary's 31 Referee: Dana Teagarden
Touch Judges: Mark Ormsby, John Coppinger

BYU 42 – Colorado 13 Referee: Ed Gardner
Touch Judges: Bruce Carter, Pete Smith

Saturday – Finals:

Division II:
SHIPPENSBURG 47 – Minnesota-Duluth 0 Referee: Dana Teagarden
Touch Judges: Tony Redmond, Bruce Carter

RADFORD 25 – Utah Valley State 14 Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Touch Judges: Jim Crenshaw, John Coppinger

Division I:
STANFORD 15 – Penn State 10 Referee: Ed Gardner
Touch Judges: Jim Crenshaw, John Coppinger
This was the only close game of the weekend, and former Pelican Zinzan was fortunate to be the referee. He had a tiger by the tail.

Stanford brought out their band, their Tree, and their cheerleader/dancers for this one. It was loud and raucous throughout, like college sporting events should be.

Stanford scored two tries in the first half to go up 10-0. The second try was under the posts, so when the kick was taken the crowd assumed it was good. The roar was such that it was impossible to tell whether the referee’s whistle had gone. Certainly those of us who watch for such things didn’t see the TJs raise their flags. But two points went up on the scoreboard.

The perspicacious Zinzan noted this discrepancy at the next lineout and had it corrected.

This proved critical to the drama when Penn State came back in the second half to tie the game with about ten minutes left. Nobody wanted to face overtime on such a hot day, already playing their hearts out.

The intensity rose. The crowd was brought up out of the seats repeatedly with near-breaks and saving tackles by both teams.

Stanford worked the ball patiently downfield through intelligent kicking by their #10, multiple phases by their forwards, and smart containment and handling by their backs.

Finally the ball found the weekend’s star player, wing Jessica Watkins, who scored just as the clock rolled over to all zeroes.


CALIFORNIA 59 – Brigham Young University 7 Referee: Chris Draper
Touch Judges: Tony Redmond, Bruce Carter

OTHER GAMES

Lady Pelicans U19 (trialists) vs. UC Davis Women
Pioneer Park, Davis, Sunday, 2pm

On the same weekend the Amazons travelled to the Pacific Northwest to take the Pacific Coast qualifier for the Girl's HS National Championships, the remaining NorCal Girls HS coaches and players were busy preparing for their post-season ahead.

Last weekend saw two matches played at TI's Job Corps Field. The Amazons played a final tune up game that day. This Sunday saw an open tryout camp held in the morning, followed by (4) 20-minute periods of spirited play vs. UC Davis (a National quarterfinalist), who fielded about 6 of their A Side players.

Throughout the first period, the Lady Pelicans held their own nicely giving up only one try, making plenty of big hits, and creating lots of turnover ball. But the floodgates opened in the next period, as subs were made and Davis was now fully warmed up. The last period saw some players swap teams and a few young ladies played new positions. Tonya, a former Davis High star and now at UCD, scored at least 4 tries on the day. But this was all about the youngsters.

Adrianne Rubiaco of Mother Lode (A U19 Lady Eagle who played at Budd Bay last year), Jennifer Sever of Alameda and Sarah Towne of Fortuna High all played outstanding rugby, and may make for a devastating back row combination in the weeks ahead. Jennifer played her first minutes ever at #8 and yet looked like a natural. Many other girls did quite well, and all played with increasing confidence and intensity as the match wore on. A growing experience for all.

The selfless effort put forward by coaches Tina Watts (Fortuna), Suzanne "Tank" Iwatate (Davis) and Rod Chance (Mother Lode) is matched only by Pelicanland's own Paul Berman, last year's Alameda coach, and this year stepping back in to serve as Director for this new Lady Pelicans program.

To everyone's best knowledge, there has never before been a Girls U19 select side, but with opportunities to compete ever-increasing, these stalwarts are doing their best to extend the season and create Elite Player Development pathways. Some Amazons may choose to join the three sides to be entered this weekend ahead at the 4th Annual www.pacificcoastinvitational.com, but that remains to be seen. Regardless, these ladies will be tested versus an Oregon Select Side, and Alex Goff's Budd Bay Steelheads, who will travel to Stanford with two full sides!

In the weeks ahead they play another trail match at St. Mary's, and then travel to Portland June 27-29 to compete in a large Select Side tourney. These young ladies, and their coaches, need all the love and support we can muster. Direct any donations toward program director Paul Berman at pzberman@sbcglobal.net.

They have to start from scratch, but by this time next year the Lady Pelicans U19s will have in place a well-worn and battle tested set of jerseys, a lot of wonderful memories, and probably more than a few youngsters who will go on to make the USA Rugby Age Grade Select squads.

Phil Akroyd’s Big Day:

Thought I’d send brief reports regarding past weekend games:

Sat 5/3 10.30am – All Star selection game held at Will Rogers Middle School.

Approximately 35 potential All Stars showed up early at Will Rogers Middle School to run drills in the early morning heat. The players took the extremely firm pitch in their stride and played a fast, open expansive game, resulting in an abundance of tries.

The overall atmosphere was of fun and enjoyment with many of the boys sharing jokes at scrums and taking the opportunity to throw caution to the wind and keep me running from end-to-end. As the game progressed, the teams became more balanced with a total of eight tries scored in the first half. The pace didn’t die down as a further seven tries were scored in the second half. Although the final score was irrelevant, it’s worth noting that 87 points were scored in total. Great stuff!

Sat 5/3 12.00pm – Sierra Junior College v. UC Davis II at Will Rogers Middle School.

I believe that this was Sierra’s seventh or eighth game since forming a team and as I took charge of their first ever game, it was interesting to see their progress. It was clear to see that they have progressed significantly, both in defense and attack, but still need to gain match experience. The Davis team included a few first-teamers and their player/coach, with their “old-heads” proving superior. Some creative backs moves also helped and they put four tries past Sierra in the first thirteen minutes, without repost. Sierra scored a try in each half but went in 32 – 5 down at half-time.

Davis held the gas-pedal down in the second-half and ran in a further five tries. Final score: UC Davis II 56-10 Sierra Junior College.

Sat 5/3 4.00pm – NCRFU Playoff Jesuit @ Christian Brothers

I had the privilege of TJing this game. I’m sure John Pohlman sent a full report but I wanted to say what an enjoyable game it was. Great weather, big spectator presence and two good teams. A fantastic way to end a full day of rugby.


Now looking forward to Stanford this weekend.

BELATED REPORT

April 26:
Señors 31 – Hayward Old Boys 31 Referee: Dave Heath
Bjorn had originally been assigned this game, but in a moment of madness had decided to play, so he asked me whether I could cover the game. So at the scheduled kick-off time of 10:30 on Saturday the game would have been 7-a-side, but by 10:45 the two sides were able to muster 30 hale (and some very hearty) players between them. The second old boys game was on the pitch at 12:00 so the two teams agreed two twenty minute halves with a bit added on 'if there was time'.

In near perfect conditions we had an excellent game. The first half saw 2 tries apiece, with SFGG shading it by a conversion to lead 14-12. The players were complaining that there was too much advantage being played, but it made for a fast flowing game that saw every-one grateful for the half-time whistle.

The 2nd half continued in the same vein, with another 6 tries being shared evenly between the two teams, except this time with Hayward taking the kicking honours by two conversions to one, making the final score a very creditable 31 all.

Bjorn played a sterling first half at hooker, and was the epitome of politeness and correctness. His absence was very noticeable in the 2nd period as he absented himself to ostensibly 'manage the bar'.

WHAT TO DO?

As the rugby season is over for most referees, except for watching the big dogs do the playoffs, how to utilize all of our free time?

You get to the Internet the same way you get to Carnegie Hall – practice, practice, practice.

This is a fellow who must have nothing but time on his hands, but at least he has something to show for it:

http://www.snotr.com/embed/612

THIS WEEK’S PHOTO

Frank and Clarice Merrill hosted the tournament officials from the college finals at their home on Friday night.

L to R: Ed Todd, Scott Wood, Tony and Deidre Redmond, Frank Merrill

HAIL, PELICUS!

For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris

SEE YOU AT STANFORD

HAIL, PELICUS!

ALL HAIL JOE ANDROVICH

The Grizzly Panel has a new cub: Joe Androvich has been promoted to B3 by the Pacific Coast Rugby Referee Society.

This was announced by REO Matt Eason pursuant to receipt of a report on a game that Joe refereed at the collegiates in Albuquerque.

Ave Androvich!

LAST CALL FOR AVAILABILITY

With the 2008 fifteen-a-side season winding down, this is the last time we need to know who is available.

There are a few games this coming Saturday that will need refs. Please let us know if you would like to referee.

Also, the Pacific Coast High School Invitational will be held at Stanford on May 9-11. This event will be assigned by the PCRRS, but there will almost certainly be availability for a number of NorCal refs. Let us know whether you would be able to referee on any combination of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.


EAST MIDS EXCHANGE: REPEAT TOURISTS WELCOME

Those of you who have been on exchange to the East Midlands are welcome to go again. Please put your name forward if you are interested. We also could use an evaluator or referee coach, and spouses/significant others are also invited.

How often do you get a chance to go to Europe on a most-expenses-paid vacation with plenty of rugby and refereeing thrown in as a bonus?


COMPETITIVE REGION ONE PLAYOFFS

Olympic Club, Hayward, Haggis, Las Vegas and Los Angeles have qualified for the sweet sixteen. This will be played May 17-18 in Austin, Texas.

The Sacramento Capitals, Red Mountain, Reno and Bend will be joining them deep in the heart of Texas.

Los Angeles 12 – OLYMPIC CLUB 65
OMBAC 49 – San Mateo 24
LAS VEGAS 41 – Haggis 20
Belmont Shore 18 – HAYWARD 68


SUPER LEAGUE

Senors – Hayward Old Boys Referee: Bjorn Stumer
Bald Eagles – Silverhawks Referee: Chris Labozzetta
We know how many of our readers have been anticipating the results of the two old boys curtain-raisers, but we have to inform you that the referees have not sent in any reports nor has anyone let us know who won.

The Hail, Pelicus! editorial board regrets our deficiencies.

SF/GOLDEN GATE 58 – Old Puget Sound Beach 7 Referee: Dave Peters
Touch Judges: Aruna Ranaweera, John Pohlman

Golden Gate is tied for first place in its conference on the basis of won-loss record, but is fourth by points. However, this weekend SFGG plays a team below them in the standings while two of those above have to play each other. A win on Saturday against Santa Monica should guarantee them the playoffs.


HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFFS

Santa Rosa 15 – CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 24 Referee: John Pohlman
Touch Judges: Joe Leisek and Ray Schwartz

High School playoffs for the only sport to crown a national champion started this Friday in Santa Rosa. Yes rugby is the only high school sport to have a national champion.

The drive from Fremont to Santa Rosa on a Friday afternoon was the only drawback. But Eileen and I arrived around 5:00 PM for a 7:30 PM kick-off.

The game was played at the Cardinal Newman Football field. Good grass, decently marked and a few hundred fans.

What a game. I think everyone felt this would be a fierce competition.

The game started three minutes early. Too much adrenaline, too much excitement to wait any longer, plus the players were ready to go.

Santa Rosa kicked off and started a brief kicking match. The first few possessions were all kicked for territory. This somewhat surprised me. Santa Rosa had at least four very large football players from their championship football run in the forwards. Christian Brothers had three backs who seemed to be able to score with each possession.

The game settled down. Lots of big tackles. The CB made lots of tackles on the big strong SR forwards. CB's aggressive play cost them a penalty 26 minutes into the half for the first score. CB's #13 James Jones, my man of the match, scored a try right before half time.

At half time Joe, Ray and I discussed the very competitive first half. The questions were could CB keep making the tackles on SR's big forwards. Could SR keep making the tackles one CB's outstanding backline.

Half time score CB 7 SR 3.

Well the second half answers were yes and no. CB's #13 Jones, a water polo player, scored three more tries. SR's big props scored two.
The real difference in the game was CB's aggressive play and making the tackles on the powerful SR forwards. SR's backs just could not constantly break the gain line. Nor could they contain the #13 Jones.

This was a fun exciting game to watch, play and referee. These two teams showed great discipline and spirit.
Final score CB 24 SR 15.

Golden Gate 31 – JESUIT 32 Referee: John Pohlman
Touch Judges: David Heath and Chris Labozzetta

Last year at the end of the season I recapped how many blowout games I had refereed. It seemed that a 20 point game was close. That was last year.

On this absolutely beautiful Saturday for rugby, Golden Gate was hosting Jesuit in a high school playoff game.

Let me recap how this game came to be:
The South Bay Conferences #1 & #2 teams were not allowed to move into the playoffs due to activity at last week’s game. This allowed South Bay #3 and #4 or #5 would step up. #3 played Lamo. #4 and #5 were not available. Someone suggested Sacramento's #3 perennial powerhouse Jesuit step up.

So it was agreed Golden Gate would host Jesuit, but would this be a friendly or a knockout game? I called GG coach Mike Caravelli and he informed me yes this was a knockout game.

That type of grit impressed me. GG could have had a bye, or could have played for fun against a team that had beaten them earlier in the year. But if you want to be the best, you not only need to beat the best, but act the part.

Game on!

I arrived at Treasure Island around 12:00 for a 1:15 kick off. The second of two Old Boys games was being played. Good amount of fans, great weather and possibly the most scenic field location in...well, anywhere.

Golden Gate got on the board early with a penalty kick six minutes in. #15 Sean McHugh was five for six in kicking attempts. One of the stars of the game. Jesuit's #13 Kraft picked up a misplayed GG ball and scored two minutes later. Jesuit's backs scored another try dotted down by #14 Bovill.

Golden gate seemed to have had enough at this point. It seemed like they turned it up to a man. GG's standout #8 Danny Barrett started the scoring at 17 minutes. GG scored two more tries in the last ten minutes of the first half to take control. At 24 minutes #6 Mike Morello scored followed a few minutes later by GG's #11 Cameron Spenor. GG's #11 was warned for taunting the defenders as he dotted the ball down.

GG seemed to be taking control of the game. In scoring, field position and ball possession.

Half time score Golden Gate 24 Jesuit 10.

Jesuit came out strong to start the second half with a quick forward try finished by #2 Turner. GG were verbally getting fired up, but as we all know, letting your opponent back into a game can be dangerous. Jesuit's number #8 Fugina finished off another forward try five minute later.

Score GG 24 Jesuit 20 with twenty minutes to play.

GG's #8 Danny took off with another try, slipping tackles, stiff arming tacklers and stretching out for a score a few minutes later. McHugh slotted the kick to remain perfect for the day.

GG 31 Jesuit 20.

Again GG seemed to relax.
Did I mention there was no quit in Jesuit? Jesuit's #1 Kai finished off another strong forward movement with a pick and drive which resulted in another score. Jesuit converted their first kick of the day.

GG 31 Jesuit 27.

At 21 minutes GG's flanker was sent off with a yellow card for repeat infringements at the tackle. The rest of the game was just plain good, hard, fun rugby. No momentum shifts just big hits and loads of effort. Jesuit scored their last try at 30 minutes.

Jesuit 32 GG 31.

GG stepped it up to a frenzied pace. Playing the last five minutes in Jesuit’s twenty. GG was rewarded with a penalty at 34 minutes. The kick was thirty meters out to the left of the goalposts. A challenging kick but GG's kicker was perfect to this point in the game. GG went for goal and missed by inches. One of the many advantages of having quality referees as touch judges was we all three saw the kick wide by inches and there were no comments.

Everyone seemed quite interested in the time remaining, about 45 seconds. The Jesuit kicker asked could he kick it straight out. I said yes but there is time for at least one more play. GG got the ball. Immediately getting it to game breaker Danny. Jesuit made the tackles, but GG continued recycling. Finally after seven phases the GG backline felt the pressure and mishandled.
Game over.

Jesuit 32 Golden Gate 31.

Thanks to the players for letting me be part of one of the most exciting and entertaining rugby matches.


LAMORINDA 55 – Peninsula Green 17 Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Sunny and hot on the artificial turf at Miramonte HS in Orinda. After a 15-minute delay to address jersey color-clash, the playoff match got underway: 35 minute halves. Forward exchanges were fairly balanced, but Lamorinda's speedy backs created large holes in the Peninsula Green defense to lead 27-7 at half. The second half was more of the same until the last 10 minutes when wholesale substitutions by Lamorinda allowed Peninsula Green to fight back with two tries at the end. Lamorinda won comfortably, 9 tries to 3.


MOTHER LODE 22 – Marin 10 Referee: Joe Androvich
No report received.


PCRFU PLAYOFFS D2 AND D3 IN FRESNO

The Sacramento Capitals and Red Mountain will represent the PCRFU in the D2 nationals May 17-18, while Reno and Bend will be the representatives for D3.

D3
RENO 47 – Mission 20 Referee: Eric Zimmerman (PNW)
BEND 51 – Camelback 12 Referee: Terry Helmer (Minnesota)
Championship: RENO 46 – Bend 28
Consolation: CAMELBACK over Mission by forfeit


D2
Pool A
RED MOUNTAIN 41 – Seahawks 11 Referee: Jim Crenshaw
Touch Judges: Mike King, Terry Helmer
Fourth Official: Dan Wilson
Fresno lived up to its reputation this weekend, as we had 94 Saturday and 96 yesterday.

Saturday I was assigned the Red Mountain - San Jose match. Red Mountain was too much for San Jose taking a 12 point lead early in the first half and never looking back. The first Red Mountain score came off of mishandling by San Jose 5 meters from the Red Mountain goal line, with the ensuing 95 meter run, to score at the other end. San Jose mishandled again at mid-field for another Red Mountain score. San Jose kicked a couple of penalty goals about mid-way through the half, but Red Mountain powered back with 2 more trys to make it 24 to 6 at halftime.

San Jose started off strongly in the second half with an unconverted try early, but that was all they could muster. Red Mountain controlled the rest of the match scoring 3 trys.
Many thanks to Terry Helmer and Mike King for running touch and to Dan Wilson for being the #4


EAST PALO ALTO 27 – Snake River 25 Referee: Mark Zetterberg
Championship: RED MOUNTAIN 41 – East Palo Alto 24
Consolation: SEAHAWKS 27 – Snake River 26


Pool B
SACRAMENTO 32 – Tempe 19 Referee: Don Pattalock
PORTLAND 31 – Provo 17 Referee: John Meyers (South)
Championship: SACRAMENTO 18 – Portland 17
Consolation: PROVO 36 – Tempe 23 Referee: Jim Crenshaw
Touch Judges: Don Pattalock, Dan Wilson
Fourth Official: Giles Wilson
Sunday I was assigned the Tempe - Provo match. It was a back and forth match, with Provo scoring a converted try and Tempe scoring an unconverted try. Provo scored another converted try with Tempe answering with a penalty goal. Tempe scored anonther penalty goal to get within 3, but Provo scored and unconverted try near at about the 33rd minute, to make it Provo 19 - Tempe 11 at the break. A couple of late first half yellow cards to Provo for repeat infringement meant Provo would start the second half with 13.

Tempe came out strong in the second half scoring an unconverted try at about the 5 minute mark and them scoring a converted try about half way through to take the lead 23 to 19. Provo kept trading yellow carded players as, seemingly one would come on about the time another would commit another repeat infringement and head over to spend 10 minutes of quality time with the #4 official Giles Wilson. Provo was finally back to full strength at about the 25th minute and quickly put up a converted try and them a couple of unconverted trys to end the match.

Again, many thanks to Don Pattalock and Dan Wilson for running touch and to #4 Giles Wilson.
Great job by everybody this weekend!!


PLAYOFFS THIS COMING WEEKEND

NorCal High School Semi-finals:

Mother Lode – Lamorinda Ref: TBA
4 PM Saturday: Christian Brothers – Jesuit Ref: TBA


USA Rugby Collegiate Championships

Friday - Division I semi-finals:

11 AM: Penn State – Brown
1 PM: Stanford – Navy
3 PM: Cal – St. Mary's
5 PM: BYU – Colorado

Saturday – Finals:

Division II:
11 AM: Minnesota-Duluth – Shippensburg
1 PM: Radford – Utah Valley State

Division I:
3 PM: Women’s winners from Friday
5 PM: Men’s winners from Friday


OTHER GAMES

Junior Varsity: Santa Rosa 21 – CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 36 Referee: Ray Schwartz
Friday Night, under the lights, Cardinal Newman High

Partly because I am just a fan of good rugby, partly because I am still recruiting sides to join the PCIT, and partly because my wife was down in Fresno for the Men's Playoffs... and certainly to join John and Joe, I hopped on my trusty motorbike and headed out to Santa Rosa Friday afternoon, to run touch with Joe Leisek, and for John Pohlman.

I am now 12 months and one week post surgery on my right knee. I had torn the articulate cartilage from my femur, and needed multiple microfractures and extensive rest and recovery. Post surgery, it took quite a while for that reality to set in. I wondered if I'd ever run again, but started running touch in February, occasionally overdoing it, but getting stronger and more stable over time. I had put the knee under test increasingly over the last two weeks.

I enjoyed helping John. The scene, under the lights at Cardinal Newman High, was pretty energized by perhaps 300 fans and 50 players on both sides. "Bubba," Christian Brothers' outside center, scored 4 tries, and John looked to me for confirmation on two of them. Rosa had some great players, but weak links in a just a few key positions.

As the A Side ended, it was clear John and Joe would take off, but both sides wanted to play another. I asked both sides to please provide a ref, but none came forward. Against Kat's better judgment, I borrowed Joe's flags, and grabbed my whistle, promising to never keep up with any breakaways!

Brothers kicked off, and Rosa scored from a driving maul that covered 40 meters, making it look very easy. I figured this would be high scoring, but a little defense, please! Brothers came back through superior play at scrumhalf, in the centers, and with a more tenacious pack. The score reached 24-7 at the half, with Rosa enjoying little quality possession over the last 25 minutes. My knee seemed fine.

Early in the second half I found reason to caution each side once for repeated infringements at the tackle, but otherwise this was a spirited and well-played game. I was content to allow extended periods of play without the whistle, several reaching 3 minutes, and one nearly 5. Rosa came back to score two converted tries to make a game of it (I was impressed with Carmelo, their substitute flyhalf), while Brothers closed out the second half scoring to take a convincing 36-21 victory.

Aftermatch I spoke with Brothers' inside center, a track star, who had just missed getting his eligibility completed in time to join his varsity side's playoff run. He executed some nifty try producing moves, and displayed great strength, speed, balance, confidence, and joy! Both sides had nearly a dozen kids who could start or at least contribute to most other Varsity sides in NorCal. A sign of good health for both clubs in the years ahead.

It was pleasure to be back.


THE KIND OF COVERAGE WE DESERVE

Just as the Sacramento area leads the nation in the caliber of high school rugby, so the Sacramento Bee consistently provides excellent coverage of our sport.

This is a feature on the Sac Valley championship match, which was refereed by Jim Crenshaw:
http://videos.sacbee.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=1833120


THIS WEEK’S PHOTO

Paul Bretz and John Coppinger had a fine time in the Caymans. We have photos of them standing in the surf holding the William Webb Ellis Cup.

Here are, from left to right, Alister Robertson(Cayman), Derek Stoltz (Canada), Tony Spreadbury, Paul, Roy Harvey (Canada) posing in front of "Bill" at a NAWIRA fundraising dinner.

HAIL, PELICUS!

For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris

SET YOUR WATCH AND START YOUR COMPUTER

HAIL, PELICUS!

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER REFEREED BY A PELICAN

Paul Bretz will be refereeing one of the first matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup on Wednesday, April 23, at 2:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time.

And you can watch it live right here:
www.caymanrugby.com

SEVENS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT ROCCA FIELD

San Francisco/Golden Gate has been awarded the 2008 USA Rugby Men’s Club Sevens Championships, to be played August 9/10.

The ‘offseason’ just got a whole lot sweeter!

EAST MIDS EXCHANGE: REPEAT TOURISTS WELCOME

Those of you who have been on exchange to the East Midlands are welcome to go again. Please put your name forward if you are interested. We also could use an evaluator or referee coach, and spouses/significant others are also invited.

How often do you get a chance to go to Europe on a most-expenses-paid vacation with plenty of rugby and refereeing thrown in as a bonus?

COMPETITIVE REGION ONE PLAYOFFS

‘NorCal’ teams went 3-1 against the top four from ‘SoCal’ (note Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are not in California). Five of the eight teams involved will advance to the USA playoffs, those five to be determined after another round of games on April 26.

San Mateo 0 - LOS ANGELES 36 Referee: Dave Pope
Touch Judges: John Pohlman, Dave Heath
On a very windy day at San Mateo High School, Los Angeles Rugby club defeated San Mateo 36 to 0. For the first 30 minutes of the game San Mateo did its best to intimidate LA Rugby club. There were some huge hits and some very hard running. LA absorbed it all and managed to dominate field position going into the upfield part of a mostly cross-field wind. San Mateo committed several penalty offenses deep in their own end and LA converted three of them to lead 9 - 0. 10 minutes from half time, the San Mateo #10 picked up a yellow card. In the remainder of the half, LA scored one unconverted try.

The second half I expected San Mateo to begin to run the ball more effectively, but it was not to be. LA continued to absorb the big hits, and applied pressure. In the second half this pressure led to more tries. LA scored 3 tries, two converted and kicked one additional penalty. One of the tries was a maul that LA drove about 10m for the score. The final try was a strange one. LA spun the ball about 10m from the goal line. As the ball was about to be passed to the winger, he started to stumble. When the pass got to him, he was unable to close his arms on the ball. Completely missing his upper body, the ball struck the winger's knee, bouncing forward into goal. The winger went around the last defender and touched it down.

The second half was marred by more cards. San Mateo's #2 received two yellows (thus a red), while LA lost their #11 for 10 minutes. All in all, it was a very impressive performance by LA.

OLYMPIC CLUB 73 – OMBAC 10 Referee: Chris Tucker
Touch Judges: Anna McMahan, Rob Hendrickson
4th Official: Giles Wilson
The sun shone down on Pepsi Field in Hayward where Jim and I were doing back-to-back CR1 matchups. That was the good news on the weather front, the bad news was wind gusting to 30+mph and a chilly temperature. The latter was more of a problem for the crowd than the game itself, but the wind played havoc with the kicking game on both sides, and later with some of the equipment.

From the kickoff it was clear that O Club had come to play, running in 3 quick scores before we had really got started. The OMBAC captain berated his players, pointing out that they weren't even tired. This spoke not so much to the effort of OMBAC -- their hearts and bodies were clearly in the game, but more to the overwhelming superiority of the O Club team. They got quick ball, banged out several phases and spun it wide for the backs to touch down. This pattern continued for much of the match.

That said, OMBAC did get on the board with some good sustained pressure later in the first half, and with confidence somewhat restored they went in search of a bonus point. They added a second try in the second half when O Club were reduced to 14 after repeated encroachment over the offside line from their prop and then down to 13 not long after for the same offence as their flanker showed he was a slow learner. That was all OMBAC could muster, however, and O Club rounded the day off with a couple of tries as time wound down. One particularly noteworthy effort saw the right wing launch himself over the top of the corner cone (flag posts were not provided by Hayward.) Anna helped out mightily by telling me in which order things happened -- in this case the ball was grounded before the cone was skittled and a try was given.

And that was pretty much that. Thanks to TJs Rob and Anna, and to Giles who did sterling service as 4th official. A pizza and a beer awaited for the start of the next match with Crenshaw in charge.

On the sidelines chatting with the OMBAC and O Club guys, we watched the tough encounter between Hayward and Las Vegas. The visitors had apparently lost some of their edge according to OMBAC, and this was clear in their mostly fruitless search for the location of the gain line. The wind eventually got the better of this contest, with the goalposts themselves eventually collapsing. This left the comical sight of two Hayward supporters being instructed to sit as counterweights on the base of the posts for the rest of the game. You see something new every time. Regardless, Jim, Anna and Rob did a fine job! It was good to watch a match for once :)

HAYWARD 15 - Las Vegas 8 Referee: Jim Crenshaw
Touch Judges: Anna McMahan, Rob Hendrickson
We had a real barn burner in Hayward Saturday. Both teams came to play, very physical and lots of big hits. Las Vegas played some great defense, but so did Hayward.

Hayward had a try disallowed for foul play in the first half, but came back a few minutes later with a penalty goal. The wind was blowing almost straight across the pitch making it almost impossible to kick to touch on one side. It was blowing so hard, that the ball would blow away from the mark, if it was put down on the pitch. A couple kicks for touch against the wind traveled at least 20 yards beyond the touch line only to be caught about 20 yards in field. It made passing and fielding kicks a real adventure for all concerned.

One of the Hayward centers earned a trip to the bin for repeated infringement with 5 minutes to go in the half. Las Vegas took advantage of the bin by scoring a try in the corner. Any kick not directly in front of the posts had almost no chance and this one was no exception and missed.

Las Vegas led at half time 5-3.

Hayward came out very hard in the second half and shortly after the sin bin was over, ran in a try from about 30 meters out, taking back the lead. About half way through, Las Vegas had a penalty kick in front of the posts.

It was still tied 8-all with a minute and a half to go, when a Hayward wing intercepted a pass about mid-field and scored under the posts. He had great pace and no one was going to catch him. He had also got Hayward out of big trouble earlier, receiving a pass in goal and outrunning 3 or 4 Las Vegas players to get out to almost mid-field where the Las Vegas fullback was waiting.

Las Vegas tried to come back after Hayward's try and got inside the Hayward 22, but turned it over and Hayward kicked to touch to end it. Final score was 15 to 8.

Great match, but it would really interesting to see these two teams play on a windless day. I think we'd see a lot more scoring.

I'd like to thank Anna McMahan and Rob Hendrickson for running touch and Giles Wilson for assisting as the #4. They all did an excellent job!!

HAGGIS 41 – Belmont Shore 33 Referee: Tony Redmond
For the record, Haggis won 41-33 in a tremendous game – probably the best that I have had the pleasure of officiating in the US (at club level – the U Cal v U British Columbia game was better). Haggis scored 7 tries and Belmont Shore scored 5... Not bad at all.

HIGH SCHOOL REGULAR SEASON ENDS

Three high school conference championships were decided last weekend.

The Skyhawk conference had a formal championship match, whereas for the Sac Valley and Bay conferences it just worked out that way: the last game of the season determined first place.

Sacramento Valley Conference:
MOTHER LODE 31 – Christian Brothers 28 Referee: Jim Crenshaw
We had one of the best high school matches I've seen in a while Friday afternoon.

Christian Brothers was hosting Mother Lode for the Sacramento Valley championship. This was a BIG game for 3 teams in the Valley conference. Christian Brothers was undefeated and Mother Lode had 1 loss going into the match. A win by either team would mean that team would be the Valley champion and the number 1 seed heading into the playoffs. The other story was the fact that a loss by Mother Lode would knock them out of the playoffs and allow Jesuit to join Christian Brothers in the playoffs based on the head to head tiebreaker format.

The game was being played at Granite Regional Park on their new artificial turf. Both teams seem to enjoy the very fast conditions. ML scored first, but CB came right back to tie it at 5 all. The game was hard and fast, with first one side attacking until the defense forced a turnover and then the other would do the same. CB scored again on a penalty kick, but just before the end of the, half ML scored in the corner to make it 10 to 8 at the half.

CB must have had a fire lit under them at halftime, as they scored two quick tries to start the second half, but they were both near the corner, so the conversions were missed. ML scored a try about 20 minutes in and converted to make the score CB 18 ML 17. CB got going again with 2 more unconverted tries to go up by 11.With their supporters, including a large contingent of Jesuit players, cheering them on, CB seemed to be in control and was content to just cruise home with the victory.

Somebody forgot to inform ML that they were beaten, as they scored a converted try with about 2 minutes to go. After the deep kickoff ML kicked the ball back inside the CB 22. CB was under pressure and the ensuing kick by CB found the ML fullback instead of touch. The ML fullback ran through, around and past seemingly all of CB players, well at least 5 or 6 of them, before scoring under the posts. The kick was unnecessary, but was converted anyway, to end a great match. Final score: Mother Lode 31 Christian Brothers 28.

Bay Conference:
Lamorinda 10 – SF/GOLDEN GATE 22 Referee: John Pohlman
Touch Judges: Edward Barfels, Paul Berman
Two of the Northern California and US powerhouse high school teams faced off in their last league game this Friday at 6:00PM at St. Mary's College. Both teams had qualified for the playoffs, but were still keen on playoff seating and pride. Neither team had ever swept the other. GG had beaten Lamo by one point earlier this season.

When I arrived around 5:00pm both teams were warming up. I had the fortune of recruiting two Pelican referees to run touch and control the sideline. Ed Barfels and Paul Berman did a great job of running touch. The sidelines were heated but well controlled with no issues.

Lamo started fast. Both teams are well coached with outstanding athletes. Lamo backs looked a bit more polished. The Lamo backs broke the gainline throughout the game, but failed to finish off tries due the GG cover support.

Lamo captain Bo #10 started the scoring with a penalty two minutes in. Twenty minutes latter the first try of the game was scored by the Lamo backs.

Lamo controlled most of the possession and first half. A GG back intercepted a pass at 30 minutes to score GG's first try.

Half time Lamo 10 GG 7.

At half time I had a word with the GG coach and captain to discuss their teams losing their feet and creeping offside.

There was a pretty strong wind throughout the game. The wind favored GG in the second half. The second half was again very well matched except for a couple of points. Lamo mishandled a couple of opportunities. One of which, allowing a GG player to knock the ball out of the Lamo player in goal breaking up a try.

The GG cover defense ran down some Lamo line breaks by the backs.

And the most obvious GG captain #8 Danny taking over the game. Danny scored three tries in the second half. All of them shedding tacklers along the way. The last two while GG's #7 was in the bin for repeat offenses.

Final score GG 22 Lamo 10. Good luck to both teams in the playoffs.

Skyhawk Conference Championship Match:
East Palo Alto - San Mateo Referee: JC Van Staden
This well-attended and hotly-contested game had to be abandoned thirty seconds from full time when a try by one team put them into the lead and a brawl ensued which was joined by spectators from both sides.

Both teams have been suspended at least for the remainder of the season.

The Skyhawk conference also held a third-place game before this one, which turns out of course to have been for first place. Note the irony at the end of this report.

PENINSULA GREEN 46 – Live Oak 8 Referee: John Pohlman
Touch Judges: Frank Merrill and Hennie Strydon
Peninsula Green hosted Live Oak in the consolation match for the South Bay conference at Woodside High School. This was the opening match with the final between San Mateo and East Palo Alto.

Peninsula Green was too strong for an undersized Live Oak side. PG forwards especially the props were much bigger. It was a testament to former prop and Live Oak’s coach Bart Nielsen that Live Oak won most of their scrums. PG's fullback scored two trys in the first half with some elusive running.

Two of the highlights of the game were watching PG's coach Paul Negus talking to the team at half time. Paul has just recently had back surgery and should have been home in bed. But instead came out to watch and then coach his team getting around with a walker.

The second highlight was running to a line out and seeing my touch judge Frank Merrill on his cell phone. Frank being the ultimate multitasker, he did a fine job TJing and being match commissioner for the many playoff games throughout the Bay area simultaneously.

PG slowed down for the beginning of the second half and LO's fullback scored a try 15 minutes in. But PG scored four unanswered trys in the last ten minutes.

Final Peninsula Green 46 Live Oak 8.

I was a bit disappointed to have leave Woodside High School to go run touch for the D1 playoff game between San Mateo and L.A. The next game looked to be a great one pitting two predominately Polynesian teams, San Mateo versus East Palo Alto. There looked to be well over 100 fans in a very festive mode. It reminded me of the feel at the International San Diego 7's.

Peninsula Green is now the conference champion and Live Oak the runner-up. They will both play on the road since their opponents will have been higher-rated at the end of their respective regular seasons.

NorCal High School Quarterfinals this weekend:

Friday, 7:30 PM at Cardinal Newman:
Santa Rosa - Christian Brothers Referee: John Pohlman

Saturday:
10 AM at Miramonte:
Lamorinda – Peninsula Green Referee: Aruna Ranaweera

Time not known:
Mother Lode – Marin Referee: Joe Androvich

SF/Golden Gate does not have an opponent as we go to press. Live Oak would not be able to travel to the nationals should they win through and so have elected not to participate in the playoffs.

GAMES

Thursday evening, 7 PM, at Hayward Adult School
D3 Playoff:
MISSION 40 – Vacaville 15 Referee: Joe Androvich
(Score approximate from memory.)

Mission advances to the Pacific Coast playoffs in Fresno this weekend.

SF FOG women 10 – Sandhurst 0 Referee: Phillip Ulibarri
Touch Judges: Bjorn Stumer and Kevin (?) Fog Coach

Day of Sand and FOG!

It was a gorgeous day by the Bay with a light breeze and temperatures in the low 60's. I drove over on Friday night and stayed with the ever gracious Frank and Clarice Merrill, making my Saturday commute to the Treasure Island pitch short and sweet. As I arrived at the old checkpoint I noticed the Sandhurst bus right in front of me. We both pulled over - I thought they were lost, but they were all too keen for the traveling photo op, and why not it was for me and I'm sure for them a most brilliant view of the City. See attached photo. After a quick jog onto the DO NOT TRESPASS dock and a brief conversation with the TI Police Officer who inquired, "What the hell do you think you guys are doing?" Sandhurst's shutters clicked away and SF's finest quickly adjusted his attitude upon hearing the British accents from players, managers and coaches.

Off to the pitch. Sandhurst Women took advantage of the locker room while the men chatted up the group of female netball players outside the clubhouse and before you knew what happened a challenge netball match was on. But back to the game played in heaven...The ground was in great shape but the Fog had to be reminded that the flags needed to be posted before start of the match. During pre-match briefings the ref was made aware that Sandhurst had never played with contested scrums and they had no front row replacements. The Fog offered props should Sandhurst need a substitute. The flags were posted in an expeditious manner and we were set to go - right on time. Sandhurst seemed fitter than the Fog but way less experienced. Some players never touched a ball until their military training began, and even then they don't play more than 6 months together until they move on to other duties.

Play was pretty even into the first quarter, but it was obvious that Fog had played together a while and were a lot more fluid from both loose and set pieces. A yellow card was issued Fog's #6 sixteen minutes into the first half for a late tackle. It was the only blemish on an otherwise good game. Fog's inside center and Sandhurst's scrum half had outstanding games. Fog scored two converted trys in the first stanza, but the game was scoreless in the second half.

Final score 10 - nil to SF Fog Women.

Thanks to Bjorn for calling touch and for greeting the Sandhurst bus with a smile and for letting us all know he was getting the beer on ice! I mean, there are priorities!

SFGG Developmental 0 – ROYAL MILITARY SANDHURST 88 Referee: Tom Zanarini
Referee Coach: Kat Todd-Schwartz
Thanks to Kat Todd-Schwartz for the match evaluation. Not much else to see here. SFGG did put up a fight in the second as the score at the end of the first half was 57-0.

They came close a couple of times but just couldn't finish against the talented and fit Academy.

Fog B – SFSU
Fog A – Marauders
Fog A – SFSU
Fog B – Marauders

(Not sure who reffed or how these went.)


Girls HS selection – Girls HS selection Referee: Rob Hendrickson
I didn't ever really understand what was going on, but it appears that several HS girls’ teams combined (Alameda, Mother Lode, Davis & Humboldt) to create some sort of NorCal team to go along with the Amazons to the high school finals? I reffed the initial blue v green team pairings with 25 minute halves to allow the NorCal v Amazons to have 30 minute halves.

Blue 43 (7) v Green 0, ref Rob Hendrickson
Blue dominated this initial pairing.

Amazons – NorCal girls HS all-stars Referee: Chris Labozzetta
No report received.

USA Women’s Challenge Match

EMERALD CITY MUDHENS 15 - Belmont Shore 10 Referee: Preston Gordon
A 0445 wake-up call had me out of the house and on the way to SFO to catch my early morning flight to Seattle, where I was met by one of the ladies from the local team and driven to the pitch in Redmond, WA. The field was in very good shape, but a little short. Other than the rogue gopher(s) at work, everything looked good.

However, getting to the game 2 hours early meant that I got to inspect the pitch and then get changed while being first rained, then hailed, and finally snowed on (no shelter at Marymoor Park). The sun then filtered through the clouds for a bit before the entire process was repeated (all of this at between 35-45F). However, I had paid close attention to the forecast and was prepared for the weather and cold.

We started on time at high noon, and before too long each side had notched one unconverted try. Sideline support was plentiful and boisterous, and we even captured the attention of many of the people there to watch a lacrosse game on the adjacent field. Both sides were playing a very even and well-contested game, although I had to have a few words with the captains twice to prevent some repeated silly play (offside at the breakdown, players leaving their feet, etc). Some of this stuff was probably due to the wet pitch.

The second half began just as another leading edge of a thundercloud was passing through. There was no lightning, but the temperature dropped about 20 degrees in a minute, it nearly got dark, and 2mm hail was being blown sideways down the long axis of the pitch at about 30mph. Of course, that's when one of the players needed a minute for an injury, so we all stood around freezing in the miserable weather for a little bit while she was attended to.

Once that was out of the way, two more tries were scored. The Mudhens got on the board first in the second half at 44', followed in the 50th minute by Belmont Shore. Neither kick was good, but one did bounce off the uprights (although that may have been the penalty attempt later; I can't recall exactly).

A frenzied contest ensued as each side tried to put the game away, but came up short. There were more than the usual number of knock-ons - again, this was probably because of the wet weather. One ball was held up in in-goal, we spent about 20 minutes camped inside the 22's, but the closest attempt was saved for the penultimate play of regular time, when one of the Belmont Shore backs broke through a couple of tackles and went 30 meters, getting within about a foot of scoring a try before she was finally pulled down by an opponent. The Mudhens recovered, kicked to touch, and that was it at 10-10.

Challenge matches can't end in a draw, so it was a good thing I had asked the match organizer what to do in this case. We played 2 more 10-minute halves (just like the second half, but with no scoring), and then it was time for sudden death. Again there was an even contest, until at 105' the Mudhens were awarded an attacking scrum 5 or 10 meters from their opponents' goal line. One of their players picked up from the base, dodged a tackle, and grounded the ball on the goal line with a couple of opponents hanging on, right at my feet.

A wild celebration ensued after the try was awarded to end the game with the score at 15-10 to the local side. The USA Rugby paperwork was signed, warm/dry clothes were put back on, and after a while we retired to the Kangaroo & Kiwi for the post-match function. In addition to the women's teams, both OPSB and OMBAC showed up after their Super League tie. I was reminded again how small of a world rugby really is when I ran into 2 former teammates from Arizona, one now playing for each of those sides. After absorbing some good refereeing philosophy from Tom Coburn, it was time to head back to the airport for the flight home (which was slightly delayed due to bad weather, of course).

Many thanks to Jon Leehr and Mark Roberts, the PNRFU referees who came out to touch judge on this day of strange weather, and also to Shannon Nielsen, the match commissioner, who (happily) nearly stepped in and ran touch herself. I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to fly up to Seattle and back the same day to be a part of this outstandingly well-contested match.

PAUL CASSIDY’S TOUR REPORT

Paul Cassidy of Edmonton and the Alberta association spent ten days in Northern California and managed to work in a couple of game for us:

Friday April 11th 2008
Lamorinda vs. Scotch College (Perth Australia) – U19 Juniors
Because of the fact that I was still working myself into game shape, I wanted to get to the game in plenty of time to have a good warm-up. I was on a work training course in Fresno, so I cut out early to avoid the rush hour traffic I expected in the San Francisco/Oakland area. Due to my error on an assumed kick-off time and total avoidance of the rush hour, I managed to arrive to the venue 3-1/2 hours early! As it turned out...the Australian team did the same!!

This game marked a couple of firsts for me. First game refereed in 6 months and first game I refereed on “field turf” artificial surface. Fortunately, I did bring the right footwear for the surface so it was not really an issue. We did have to make some adjustments to accommodate the pitch since it was 100 yards long, using the wider touch lines for soccer resulting with incomplete goal lines since the lines did not intersect. As for the game fitness, well let’s just say I was constantly checking my watch to see if it had stopped because I was doing a lot of panting for being only 10 minutes into the match.

I was very impressed with the quality of play from both teams but it really was a game of 2 different halves. In the first half, both teams used their best players and the Lamorinda team dominated in the forwards and their backs showed a lot of grit and determination. For me, there were times when I had to remind myself that these were only Junior players. Most of the tackling was hard and punishing. Lamorinda appeared to be in control of the game by jumping to a 17 – 6 lead but an unconverted late try by Scotch College made the half time score 17 - 11.

When the second half started, I soon realized that there was, essentially, two different teams were on the pitch. The Lamorinda side was obviously not as strong in the forwards but the Scotch College side seemed to maintain a steady balance of skill throughout. Lamorinda scored 2 more tries (one converted) but Scotch College scored 3 tries bringing the score to Lamorinda 29 and Scotch College 28.

Unfortunately, on the last play of the match, a Lamorinda player came screaming offside at a lineout and the Scotch College kicker easily split the uprights to steal the game from the home team. Final Score: Lamorinda 29 Scotch College 31.

I would like to thank all of my California Colleagues who arranged and supported me during this match. Bjorn Stumer for offering me the game and Pete Smith to suffered through the 2 hour traffic gridlock coming from San Jose to run touch for me. Cheers to you both for giving me such a gem of a game.

Finally, I must offer an extra big THANK YOU to Pete and Leah, for their kind hospitality given to me and my wife, Jo-Anne, on the previous Sunday. This is what rugby is all about!

Saturday April 12th 2008
Santa Rosa vs. Golden Gate – Men’s Division 2
Fresh off of my refereeing season debut the night before, I found myself in Santa Rosa (1 hour north of San Francisco) in Sonoma Country. The venue was ‘For Pete’s Sake’ field which is home for the Santa Rosa Rugby Club. With a clear blue sky and a forecast of 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) I was glad they decided to move the kick off up to 11 am.

This game was the last of the season for both teams with no playoff implications but they both played it hard and no quarter was given. Santa Rosa was more organized from the opening and capitalized on Golden Gate’s occasional defensive errors. By the end of the first half, Santa Rosa was ahead by a score of 29 – 10.

Despite being down on the score, Golden Gate did put in a much better effort and held the home team scoreless in the second half. Unfortunately, they only managed to score an unconverted try and a penalty kick to make the final tally Santa Rosa 29 – Golden Gate 18.

With the match over by 12:30pm, my TJ (Ray Schwartz) decided to take me on a little tour of a few vineyards before we ended up at the Santa Rosa Rugby Club’s luau. I was very impressed with the hospitality and entertainment provided. This was a very unique celebration of the game with good food, friends and entertainment. This was truly unforgettable.

I would like to thank, once again, the efforts of Bjorn Stumer and Bruce Carter for arranging this match for me. I must also offer a big Thank You to Ray for showing me the sights and tastes of the Sonoma wine country and extend the same to Kat Todd for taking Jo-Anne on a day tour of Sausalito. Cheers to you all!

Paul Cassidy - Alberta Match Officials’ Association

BELATED REPORTS

Sat., 12 Apr 2008

HS Girls League Game: Alameda Riptide RFC 15 vs. Davis Lady Devils RFC 12
Referee: Paul Berman
Venue: Lincoln MS, Alameda, Kick-off 1435; field firm under foot
Weather: Hot & sunny
Comments: Open running rugby! Davis on the back foot for much of the last 25 minutes defended their goal line valiantly.
Point spread: Alameda - 3 tries Davis - 2 tries, 1 conversion goal

Boys JV Game: Alameda Islanders HSB JV RFC 36 vs. Piedmont PITTS FROSH RFC 21
Referee: Paul Berman
Venue: Lincoln MS, Alameda, Kick-off 1625; field firm under foot
Weather: Warm & sunny
Point spread: Alameda - 6 tries, 3 conversion goals Piedmont - 3 tries, 3 conversion goals

Match Report: Sat., 5 Apr 2008

HS Boys League Game: Alameda Islanders RFC 27 vs. Berkeley Rhino RFC 5
Referee: Paul Berman
Venue: Lincoln MS, Alameda, Kick-off 1730; field firm under foot
Weather: Warm & sunny
Comments: Saving the best till last! The finest try of the match was engineered by the Rhino's, fourth phase ball pick & drives down the left wing lead to a superb try. The final score in this hard fought contest.
Point spread: Alameda - 5 tries 1 conversion goal Piedmont - 1 try

SFGG 74 – De La Salle 0 Referee: Chris Labozzetta

JV: SFGG 40 – De La Salle 10 Ref: Labozzetta

THIS WEEK’S PHOTO

At the college playoffs in Albuquerque, the Pelicans flocked just after Pacific Coast society president Dave Pelton presented Grizzly referee pins to Don Pattalock and Aruna Ranaweera.

Standing, L to R: Pete Smith, Don Pattalock, Dave Pelton, Bruce Carter, Joe Androvich

Kneeling, L to R: Scott Wood, Aruna Ranaweera, Eric Rauscher, Dave Williamson, Matt Eason

Present but not pictured: Ed Todd, Mike King

HAIL, PELICUS!

For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris

NEWS BORNE BY BIRDS

HAIL, PELICUS!

BIG SATURDAY

If you are not one of the many Pelicans who are flying away this weekend, you’re in luck: there’s lots of good rugby to help out with or simply enjoy.

The Skyhawk Conference will have its championship game, San Mateo hosting East Palo Alto. JC Van Staden will referee this crackerjack game at 12:30 at San Mateo High School. We’re certain he’d appreciate a couple of touch judges.

Over on Treasure Island two sides from Sandhurst (British military academy) will be playing: Women – Fog (Phil Ulibarri) at 1 PM and Men – SFGG developmental (Tom Zanarini) at 3 PM. These will be at Rocca Field.

Meanwhile, on the Job Corps field (pending confirmation) will be the NorCal girls’ high school post-season tournament. This one needs some referees.

When all of that is over, referees, touch judges and spectators alike can point their vehicles at Hayward where all three CR1 matches will take place on the Mt. Eden Park pitch (order to be determined): Hayward – Las Vegas (Jim Crenshaw), San Mateo – Belmont Shore (Dave Pope), Olympic Club – Santa Monica (Chris Tucker).

This is a chance to see the highest-level club rugby in the USA, right here in your living room. And – you can ref and/or run touch earlier in the day.

Please let us know if you can help referee the girls’ high school tournament.

LATE APRIL: TRAVELING TIME FOR PELICANS

April 17-27:
2011 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in the Cayman Islands:
Paul Bretz and John Coppinger

April 18-20:
Pacific Coast assignments to CR1 Playoffs: Tony Redmond in Salt Lake; Jim Crenshaw, Dave Pope and Chris Tucker in NorCal. Appointed touch judges: Anna McMahan, John Pohlman, Dave Heath, Rob Hendrickson

USA Rugby Women’s Challenge Match: Preston Gordon in Seattle

USA Rugby college playoffs in Albuquerque:
Pete Smith, Aruna Ranaweera, Don Pattalock, Joe Androvich, Bruce Carter, Matt Eason, Mike King, Eric Rauscher, David Williamson, Mike Malone and Scott Wood

Super League games: Dixon Smith at Belmont Shore, Bryan Porter in Chicago

April 26:
Exchanges: Pete Smith to the Texas championships, Roberto Santiago to the All Saints Tournament in St. Cloud, Minnesota. (Scott Wood will also be there.)

Super League TJs: Bruce Carter in Santa Monica, Matt Eason at Rocca Field

Super League Assessors: Dixon Smith at Rocca Field, Bryan Porter in San Diego, David Williamson in Santa Monica

EAST MIDS EXCHANGE

Seats are still open for the East Mids exchange, September 17-29. This won’t cost you anything but vacation days and will be the best rugby experience of your refereeing life.

MANY PATHS UPWARDS

John Coppinger has been appointed as a citing commissioner for the world cup qualifiers to be held in the Cayman Islands the next two weekends. Paul Bretz will also be refereeing at this event.

Northern California has long been represented among international referees, touch judges and assessors. The last few years our members have branched out and gained appointments as fourth, fifth and sixth officials, spotters, and now citing commissioners.

Congratulations to John and Paul.

PACIFIC COAST HONG KONG EXCHANGE
March 21-31 2008
Exchangee: Don Pattalock

When the appointment came for this inaugural exchange to Hong Kong, especially in and around the infamous HK 7’s, I jumped on it right away. A short 15:50 flight from LAX to HKI was all it took and I was on the ground ready to go. Bernard Fienberg (HKRFU Referees Manager) met me at the airport and swept me to the hotel via train/taxi. A light breakfast, shower and change of clothes, Bernard picked me up and delivered me to Kings Park (home of the HKRFU) for their annual “Country of Origin” tournament. The Country of Origin tournament is primarily composed of players from HK who are playing rugby for clubs in one of the 7 leagues in HK. For this tournament, the players group up into their countries of origin and play a round robin 10’s tournament. There were teams of New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, Hong Kong, England, France and Australia. Several of the players are professional (contract) players in HK specifically to play for the upper tier clubs. It was a great competition with exceptional skill and spirit by the players. I refereed 4 games including the final between NZ and IRE. The NZ side was head and shoulders above the rest of the teams and walked away with the trophy. A couple of beers and a good night out for some Chinese food (what else) and day one (or day two if you count that International Date Line) was over.

Day two: Easter Sunday. I was originally scheduled to referee at the Girls Super Sunday matches that afternoon; unfortunately, being Easter Sunday and all, the matches were canceled. So I headed off to the HK Football Club for lunch with Bernard and Gabriel Lee (local super referee). The HKFC is an incredible facility located under/within the HUGE horse racing facility in Happy Valley. The club facilities range from luxurious to outrageous with the rugby pitch as the centerpiece of the club. After lunch, Bernard was off to keep working on arrangements for all the referees arriving for the HKFC 10’s and the iRB referees for the HK 7’s so Gabby took the lead and we grabbed a ferry over to Lantu Island to visit the world’s largest (erect) Buddha and an old fishing village named Tai O. Great day out. Lots of dried seafood in Tai O, Gabby bought several interesting delights for us to eat at the local market (a theme that would continue right through my trip).

Day three: Originally scheduled to referee HKFC v UCLA women at the HKFC; unfortunately, UCLA couldn’t get their side together, so the game was canceled. Not to worry, Gabby was running her coopers test to prove her superior fitness so that she could achieve the iRB Touch Judge appointment. So I headed off the Aberdeen Stadium to help Bernard administer the test. Gabby blew the test away and earned her iRB jersey that day. Another lunch at the footy club then another day out in HK. A little stroll around the street markets in Kowloon where I was asked “do you like smelly tofu?” I replied, “Depends what it is smelly like.” Anyway, we sampled several mysterious street delicacies and wandered through the markets. As evening arrived, we took the tram up to the Point which overlooks HK. As the sun went down, HK’s lights came on and the spectacle that is HK came to life. High rise buildings everywhere, including on top of the Point! What a sight.

Day four: Another ferry ride out to Lamma Island with Rob Buckley (HKRU Referee from IRE). Great 1 hour hike from one side of the island to the other for the best seafood I have ever eaten. Live lobster, hand selected from a sidewalk tank, 20 minutes later was served at the table to be devoured. Ferry ride back to the footy club for a HKFC 10’s referees meeting in preparation for the tournament that started the next day.

Day five: Kowloon Rugby Fest. This is the 10’s tournament for the rest of the teams since the HCFC 10’s is a mostly professional affair now. Lots of teams from all over the globe having a great time playing rugby and drinking beer. Refereed 3 matches then headed over to the hotel for the Women’s International 7’s referee meeting where we would get instructions for the following two days. Referees from Switzerland, Ireland, Thailand, HK, China, Canada, Arabian Gulf and the US. In addition to your author, Pete Wienkelbaur from the Heart of America TU was invited as the US representative to the IW 7’s. Dinner that night with the referees’ society with all the visiting iRB and HKFC 10’s referees.

Day six: Women’s International 7’s played at So Kon Po. So Kon Po is adjacent to HK Stadium and is a great facility. Teams from Canada, France, Kazakhstan, US, China, Hong Kong, PNG, Singapore, Thailand, Netherlands, Japan and the Arabian Gulf were fired up and ready to play. I was assigned France v Kazakhstan as well as a TJ in several other matches. Following the WI 7’s, we headed over to the Footy Club to watch the semi-finals and finals of the HKFC 10’s. Huge fast athletes hurling themselves into unbelievable collisions with each other; what a sight and feel. Pat McNally was sitting in the stands enjoying the action (Paddy Mac was shadowing the iRB referees manager for the HK 7’s). Nice dinner out in Time Square with Paddy (and friend), Pete and Gabby.

Day seven: Final day of the Women’s International 7’s. Refereed PNG v Singapore and PNG v Thailand as well as running touch for several of the other matches. Following my last match, I grabbed a shower, changed and headed to the big stadium for the Friday night portion of the HK7’s. HK is bigger than the other iRB circuit venues in that it has 20 teams (instead of 16) and is played over 3 days rather than 2 everywhere else. Also the stadium seats 40k and was sold out back in December. My assignment for the tournament was as a subs bench official. I was quickly fitted with a radio harness that allowed me to hear the referee’s open mic as well as communicate substitutions and sin-bin substitutions with the referee. The opportunity to work with professional coaches and players in a setting like HK was a highlight of my 26 years of rugby. My first real challenge came in the 4th game of the night when the South African insisted he could substitute a player on a penalty. This was not the case and eventually the rule of law won out over shear pressure. Following the conclusion of the final match of the evening, I changed and headed over to the “running man bar” in the stadium for the Women’s International Dinner and Reception. Couple of beers and I was off to the hotel for a well-deserved night’s sleep.

Day eight: Up early and off to the stadium for day 2 of the HK 7’s. With my virgin voyage under my belt, I was even more excited to get back on the pitch with the professionals. The day started off with a referee briefing from the iRB Referee Manager, then everyone was turned loose to be great. In a day with non-stop action, I enjoyed my time communicating with the coaches, managers, referees and players as well as the HK referees who make this rugby spectacle happen without a glitch. Confrontation of the day; the Russian coach had completed his 3 and final substitutions and then attempted to replace one of his props. The NZ sub-bench officials informed the Russian coach that he could not make any additional subs, but he insisted he could replace an injured prop. The match ended and with the officials winning out and the Russian coach asking where he could lodge his complaint. I had been watching the action from the other bench with interest; I grabbed the tournament rules and headed over to diffuse the situation. I pointed out to the Russian coach that in 15’s he was absolutely correct; however, in 7’s the law was different and front row certified players were not a requirement, thus the front row replacement law was different. With this explanation he was happy the thanked all the officials. With this, I turned to my NZ colleagues and simply said that it takes an American to sort out the Russians.

Day nine: Knock-out rounds. Tension was high on the field and benches as the win or go home matches began. Today I was on the big headset communicating with the control tower relative to subs and sin-bins as well as all other field related matters that required coordination. In one of the quarter final matches between SA and AUS, there was a yellow card issued to an Australian player for a punch. Following the match, the SA coach asked how long he had to make a citing report; he was told 30 minutes. About 25 minutes later he arrived back at my station with his laptop in hand and stated that he would like to make a citing of the Australian player. I radioed up to control to report the citing request and asked how I should proceed. My request for instruction on how to proceed was met with a considerable delay, so while we were waiting, the SA coach opened his laptop and played the incident back for me frame by frame. It was a punch for sure. After several minutes I escorted the coach up to the control tower and the citing officials room. Once the coach was handed over to the citing officials, I was back to my post for the semis and finals. The excitement in the stadium rose steadily in anticipation of the NZ v SA final. The Stadium roared, danced, sang and cheered for three days and everyone was exited for the finals. NZ won the match and the cup presentation and fireworks ensued. An incredible sight to witness while standing in the middle of the pitch. Following the presentations, a quick shower and into my #1’s for the players dinner reception. Lots of fun and conversation throughout the dinner, then it was off to Wan Chi (bar district) for a good night out.

Day ten: Little plane ride and I was home again spinning from the experience that is Hong Kong and the HK 7’s.

Foot note: Everyone who I had the pleasure to work with was professional, enjoyable and incredibly accommodating to me. The hospitality I enjoyed was second to none. The best for me was being able to spend time with the HK referees who have been running the HK 7’s for 31 years now and learn from the best. In fact, the HK referees have taught the iRB how to run a tournament. Experience that can’t be beat. Hope to visit HK again soon to see good friends and enjoy everything the HK and rugby have to offer.

GAMES

Women’s Territorial: GRIZZLIES 20– Mid-Atlantic Referee: Tony Redmond
Touch Judge: Eric Rauscher

Both teams showed that it was the first time that the players had come together this season to represent their respective regions. Too many knock ons, forward passes, and other interruptions to play resulted in a lot of scrumming practice for the forwards at the expense of anything more positive. Grizzlies led 5-0 at half-time despite having only paid two visits to the opposing 22m in the entire half. Mid-Atlantic were more expansive in the second half and managed to score two good converted tries, but they found that Grizzlies were also more effective as they managed to score three times, the last coming two minutes from time as the result of a block down close to the line.

The men’s D2 season came to a close this past weekend. Three teams advance to the Pacific Coast playoffs, which will be in Fresno April 26-27: East Palo Alto, Sacramento Capitals, and San Jose Seahawks.

SACRAMENTO CAPS 29 – Seahawks 21 Referee: Jim Crenshaw

Seconds: Sacramento 19 – SEAHAWKS 67 Referee: Chris Tucker
Thanks to TJs: Scott Wood, Jim Crenshaw

A game of two halves, as British pundits are wont to call the round ball game. Well, that's what this was -- an entertaining first, fast and fun as the Caps scored a couple of tries and the visiting Seahawks put up 4 thanks to some strong backline play (aided and abetted by a couple of locals found loitering around Danny Nunn park.)

The second half was less entertaining, turning into a rout by the visitors as the heat began to drain energy away from the players (and the ref). Dehydration was a problem -- 88 degrees is a little hot for rugby, especially when you come to the pitch without the requisite 2 litres of Gatorade. My own darn fault: dehydration made for slow running and slow thinking.

As it was, the Caps scored a consolation try after 30-some minutes, and their captain agreed that enough was enough. Restart, knock-on, time.

EAST PALO ALTO 37 – Baracus 7 Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Touch Judge: Preston Gordon
91F degrees, sunny, and dusty in my first trip to East Palo Alto (not counting IKEA). EPA was adventurous with ball in hand, running, passing, and chip-kicking all over the place to lead 20-0 at half. EPA's physicality on offense was impressive, but Baracus was not afraid to make the big tackles. Both teams demonstrated good mauling technique with several long drives. Despite the massive hits and break-neck pace, both teams should be commended for playing a clean match with quickly recycled ball and good sportsmanship. In the end, the home team won this entertaining encounter comfortably, 5 tries to 1. Much thanks to Preston Gordon who provided excellent support as TJ.

Seconds: EAST PALO ALTO 24 – Baracus 12 Referee: Preston Gordon
The match was a full 80-minute one (finally, in a B game) and was very clean and fun to referee. Running around in the 90-degree heat on a field with little grass but lots of dirt and pebbles reminded me quite a lot of some places in Arizona!

SANTA ROSA 29– SF/Golden Gate 15 Referee: Paul Cassidy (Alberta)
Report by Cary Bertolone:
Visiting ref Paul Cassidy of Edmonton, Canada was on hand at For Pete's Sake in Santa Rosa for the 11:00am kick-off w/ 75 degree weather, sun and blue skies. Paul had a great game with good clean rugby as the product of his efforts.

The Santa Rosa pack dominated the first half and created lots of crowd pleasing scoring for the home team. They scored 4 tries to San Fran's one with the score 24-10 at the half.

San Francisco got with it in the second half and their pack actually dominated; but it only led to one try for each team with an ending score of 29-15, Santa Rosa.

Soon after, both teams and Paul Cassidy attended a Santa Rosa Rugby Hawaiian Luau with piles of food, Hawaiian dancing and plenty of beer that lasted for hours. A fun day for all!!

ARROYO GRANDE 63 – Fresno 5 Referee: Dan Wilson
Videographer: Bruce Carter
The central coast certainly lived up to its beauty and splendor this weekend. The hills were beautifully green, the sky was clear and the heat was on. Arroyo Grande had an official temperature of 90 degrees, but since we were about ten miles inland, it had to have been in the mid 90’s. As Bruce Carter stated, “This is 7’s weather”. The day was touted as an end of season celebration with AG’s awesome tri-tip to end the day. Being that it was the last game of the season and neither team was making the playoffs, numbers were light and both sides were filled with players that had barely seen the pitch this season much less practice. As well all know, when the whistle blows, all the other stuff is forgotten and we play ball.

AG started off the scoring with a penalty kick within the first four minutes. When Fresno missed a return penalty kick a few minutes later, the game seemed like it would be a closely fought match. Looks, as they say, can definitely be deceiving. Fresno put on a clinic of how to badly miss players and not follow through with tackles, resulting in AG not having to spin the balls too much to the backs. When they did spin the ball outside, the Fresno backs followed suit dictated by the forwards and seemed to forget how to tackle. When things go downhill, they start to spiral. Starting at the 15 minute mark, AG scored six tries, three converted and added on another penalty kick for good measure. Halftime score- Fresno 0 – AG 44.

The second half was a little closer more due to the emotions that started to become involved with both teams. AG still kept finding its way into the try zone, but Fresno was able to put together one long, supported run that included both backs and forwards. Yes, Fresno was on the board with an unconverted try. Overall, the game was still a fun game to referee even though the score was absolutely lopsided. The team for Fresno was definitely not the Fresno team of yesteryear.

My thanks to Bruce Carter for filming the game and giving his evaluation of my performance. Full time score: Fresno 5 – AG 63.

AG/Fresno 5 – CAL POLY seconds 22 Referee: Bruce Carter
Cal Poly has good numbers; they won’t all get to play in Albuquerque this coming weekend. So while the squad had a full morning practice session on the adjacent pitch in the morning when it was still cool (90° at noon), the reserves returned later to get a run against those Arroyo Grande and Fresno players who chose to play against the dying of the rugby season’s light.

It was not an auspicious beginning for the Combined side – at the first scrum the Mustang halfback threw a little head fake as he picked up the ball, then ran twenty meters up the center of the pitch untouched to score with 38 seconds gone.

The last try was equally memorable: the Cal Poly #5, quite a useful player, took off upfield. All of his opponents had been running around in the hot sun and dry wind for several hours at that point. They weren’t necessarily of a mind to be attempting to tackle a big fit fellow.

Given the turnstile nature of this try, the referee decided to blow the game early on account of the aroma of tri-tip wafting to our nostrils.

On the way home, already fully in the camp of the beefeaters, we saw a bumper sticker that we can wholeheartedly endorse:

SUPPORT BEEF – RUN OVER TURDUCKEN

UC Davis – San Francisco State CANCELED

San Jose State 20-ish – ALUMNI 80-ish Referee: Anna McMahan

SANTA CLARA 27 – Stanford 10 Referee: Bryant Byrnes
On a hot afternoon in Santa Clara, the Lady Broncos beat a good Stanford second fifteen.

Good red zone defense kept this a low scoring game. Santa Clara was up 12-0 at half. Stanford brought it to within 7 with about 15 minutes left, but the Lady Broncos had more gas in tank and scored twice for the final tally. A contested and well played game.

SUNDAY

SoCal Griffins 0 – MARFU Development 5 Referee: John Pohlman

Combo Griffin/Grizzly 0 – MARFU 7 Ref: Pohlman

HIGH SCHOOLS

Friday

Rancho Cordova Lancers 8 – CHRISTIAN BROTHERS FALCONS 39
Referee: Scott Wood
Location: Cordova High School

On the hottest day of the year (to date), I got the opportunity to referee at Cordova High School for the first time since the Pelicanrefs.com tournament in 2002(?). Lancers have constructed a wonderful, full-sized pitch with high posts.

Both teams are well coached in different ways. CB runs a traditional warm up session whereas Lancers incorporate Rochambeau (rock-paper-scissors) into its pre-game. This was a distraction to CB as one coach said, "Ignore them. That's their JV team distracting you. Their Varsity side is warming up farther away." This wasn't true but certainly got the CB players back into focusing on the game.

The teams are well disciplined and demonstrate good athleticism. Early on, poor tactical decisions--allowing the ball to hit the ground off kicks and ill-advised passing--resulted in turnovers. Nonetheless, CB maintained constant pressure on the Lancers. Three unconverted CB tries to one Lancers penalty goal put the visitors leading at half 15-3.

The second half opened with CB exploiting the smallest of gaps and sprinting around the pitch. With another try in hand, CB was again five meters out when Lancers #7 decided to come offside and molest the scrum half before the ball was out. Off he went to the bin for a professional foul. This provided the Lancers with an opportunity to play a 14-man defense of which CB took advantage scoring another try.

Lancers were undeterred and capitalized off the ensuing kick off to force a turnover and attack down the side of the field. The hosts were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch earning a lineout five meters from goal. The referee warned CB about numbers in the lineout and to "lose one" to no avail. CB stole the lineout and was penalized for numbers. Lancers took a quick tap and was tackled by a CB player who chose to neither retreat to the goal line nor wait to be put onside. His transgression was viewed as a professional foul and the teams were even at 14 players each. Lancers scored easily off the next phase but were unable to convert.

With time waning in the match, CB turned up the speed and started dashing around the pitch scoring two tries, including the final one with a run that started five meters out and demonstrated speed that BALCO clients would envy.

Clean and competitive. It's hard to ask for more. Kudos to the teams for their participation. Dan Rose did a good job despite comments from one (or two) Lancers supporters. Afterward, we convened at the "Coach's Table" at Mountain Mike's for refreshments.

Elsie Allen 14 – SANTA ROSA 22 Referee: Joe Leisek
Touch Judges: Ken Jacobson, Oscar Hernandez
A large, noisy crowd filled The Lobodome on a stunningly warm evening to watch the last game of the Redwood Empire Conference season. It's always a big game when Elsie Allen hosts their conference arch-rivals, the combined Santa Rosa-Cardinal Newman club. But this time there was a league title at stake and several elaborate playoff scenarios to be resolved. (The referee understood few of these but was glad others did).

For the visitors, it was simple: A win meant the Redwood Empire Conference championship and a first-round home playoff game. Santa Rosa had defeated all comers this season, including a come-from-behind win against an excellent Marin team, but Elsie had been playing very well in the latter stages of the season. Both teams had recently beaten Canadian opponents: Elsie as hosts for two matches, Rosa as tourists on Vancouver Island, where they posted a 3-0 record.

Rosa's success was due mainly to their size and strength in the forward pack, which includes several all-league linemen from the Cardinal Newman football team, and their excellent halfback-flyhalf combination of Joe Silvestri and Andrew Bartlett. This year Elsie found themselves with a young team in rebuilding mode, but their combination of speed and technical skill (especially tackling) is always dangerous. Both teams feature excellent coaching: Rosa by Lynn Meister and Denis Bruno, Elsie by Alan Petty and Tyler Ahlborn.

The early stages of the contest featured Rosa dominating possession, but nearly all of it in their own half. They retained the ball very well and ran right at the Elsie backline, which is always a gamble given the home side's swarming defense. There was little kicking, as Rosa instead continued to try to penetrate the Elsie backline. There was a long stretch early in the game where there were no stoppages at all. Finally, Rosa broke through. From a ruck near the Elsie goal line, a Rosa prop crashed forward and passed the ball to a loose forward who scored the game's first try. Rosa scored another try in the first half off a quick-tap from a penalty about 10 meters from the Elsie goal.

The visitors scored twice in the second half; first with a try that came from a quick maul formed by Bartlett and a crashing wing, the second through a penalty kick. Elsie stormed back late in the half with two converted tries, the first from an intercept just inside their own 22 meter line. After the second try brought the score to within 22-14, the crowd was electric. But the final whistle soon came and Rosa had earned a conference championship.

Afterwards, with the teams gathered at midfield, both head coaches spoke. Meister said his team may have had the physical edge, but Elsie showed real heart and played with intensity for 70 minutes. Petty said though the loss hurt, his team would be on the sidelines cheering for Rosa during the playoffs.

An inspiring night of rugby.

Thanks to Ken (Rosa) and Oscar (Lobos) for running touch.

Saturday:

LAMORINDA Frosh/soph 30 – Oakland Warthogs 7 Referee: Bryant Byrnes
A warm day in Oakland and everyone had fun. One of the newest youth clubs invited one of the most established to have a go. Lamo showed up with their typical hoard of players, many of whom volunteered to play for the other guys.

It was a pleasure to see Eddie Lopez, former Old Gael, getting a new club going. Bo Myersiek was his typical good-humored self.

Humboldt girls HS – Mother Lode CANCELED
It is a tribute to the strong rugby spirit of Pelican Refs that three people volunteered to referee this match when it was announced.

So don’t anyone go thinking that it was called for want of a qualified official!

PENINSULA GREEN 41 – College Park 26 Referee: Sandy Robertson
Green dominated set pieces and controlled possession while College Park made the most of their opportunities pulling to within 10 points with about 10 minutes left before conceding a late try that left Peninsula Green comfortably ahead.

Hayward 27 – LAMORINDA 31 Referee: Tom Zanarini
First let me thank Bruce and Pete for reassigning me to this match. I was originally scheduled for the Santa Rosa v SFGG b-side but it seems SFGG is not able to put forth a competitive B-side lately so I was fortunate to pick up this high school match.

Hot day on an open and dry pitch. Lamorinda were a bit sore warming up due to their Friday night match v an Aussie touring side who were great sideline spectators for Saturday. Once the posts were set and the field lined we were able to kick off only half an hour late.

Hayward came out fighting and scored the first two tries at 32 and 25 minutes (remaining). Lamo got their bearings and returned with tries at 20, 12 and 0. One converted each put the halftime score at 17-12 for Lamo.

Second half was a bit more interesting. Lack of discipline by Hayward got the best of them and ended up a man down due to repeated infractions. #13 was cautioned for not wrapping then shortly after returning was sent off for the same. Scores by Hayward at 30 and 28 minutes were quickly put to rest by a recharged Lamo squad who had many seniors playing possibly their last match in green.

Lamo scored at 12 minutes and 9, converting both. Hayward fought back to score at full time, but missing all their conversions in the second half put them out of the running. Great game by both teams. I was told after that Hayward is made up of majority freshman! This team is one to watch in the coming years.

Thanks to all the coaches and supporters for a great rugby day!

SF/Golden Gate 0 – MASSEY HS New Zealand 38 Referee: Joe Androvich

UPCOMING

Thursday evening, 7 PM, at Hayward Adult School
D3 Playoff:
Mission – Vacaville Referee: Joe Androvich

If you would like to run touch for this one, please contact Joe.

BELATED REPORT

Saturday, April 5:
VACAVILLE 29 – Humboldt 17 Referee: JC Van Staden

WOW, is probably the only way to descri