TAKING 101 NORTH
By this time next week, your faithful scribe will have commuted to the rugby pitch at Stanford University four times in eight days: once for the USA Rugby Collegiate Championships, once for a meeting of the Pelicanrefs, once for the IRB’s NA4 competition, and once for the Pacific Coast High School Invitational.
Not bad for a guy who suffered an ostensibly career-ending injury a month ago!
Such is the concentration of quality rugby events in the Bay Area.
SUMMERTIME EXCHANGES
Mike Gadoua has been selected to represent the Pelican Refs at the Cape Fear Sevens, the premier Sevens event on the East Coast. Mike will be enjoying the fine Southern hospitality the first weekend in July.
Rich Anderson and Joe Androvich will be flying to Calgary, Alberta, for their high school championships the weekend of June 8-9.
Best of luck to these lucky birds!
PACIFIC COAST HIGH SCHOOL INVITATIONAL
The third annual iteration of this event will take place at Stanford University this weekend.
Tournament Director Ray Schwartz has arranged for a solid lineup of teams to compete over two days on three pitches, all day Saturday and Sunday.
Referees for this event have been assigned by the new Pacific Coast referee executive. However, if you would be interested in helping out with running touch, please respond.
An old friend of NorCal rugby, Josh Tameifuna, will be on hand to help coach some of the young referees who have been invited.
Ed Todd will assemble a group of four young USA referees with promise to work the event. Ed, Jerry McLemore and Bruce Carter will be coaching this group, which includes Joe Androvich.
There are two high school games on Friday evening involving visiting Chuckanut Bay, one in Oakland and one in Aptos.
NORTH AMERICA 4 COMPETITION
The second round of the NA4 continues at Stanford this week.
There will be two games on Wednesday, at 4 and 6 PM. These will be refereed by Paul Bretz and Chris Draper. This will be some great rugby if you find yourself playing hooky in this incredible weather that Pelicanland is enjoying.
Chris played for Cal, and began refereeing in the Potomac Society after graduating and moving to Washington, DC. From there he spent several years in Scotland and made it to their national panel. Chris lives in Texas now.
Pete Smith will be one of the touch judges for these games. Rich Anderson and Bruce Carter will be the fourth officials, Scott Wood will be number 6, Matt Eason will be the match commissioner, John Coppinger will be the citing officer, and Dixon Smith will be the IRB match official performance reviewer.
For those who recall the days of The Pelican’s Beak, we are approaching the days predicted by Ed Todd when the officiating team would be approximately the size of an entire referee society.
The NA 4 continues with two more games on Saturday, also at Stanford, at one and three PM.
WE WILL NEED A COUPLE OF FOURTH OFFICIALS FOR THE GAMES ON SATURDAY.
LEARN TO BE A FOURTH OFFICIAL: NCRRS MEETING TONIGHT
The NCRRS will be having a rare May meeting on Tuesday evening, May 8, at the Doyle Family Rugby Clubhouse at Stanford, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
One of the presentations will be on the duties of a fourth official.
We hope to see you there!
COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AT STANFORD
The University of California defended its men’s D1 title on Saturday, defeating BYU 37 – 7. Congratulations to the Golden Bears from Berkeley!
In another rematch from last year’s title game, the Stanford women lost to Penn State by one, 22 – 21. The Stanford backs scored all of their points in the last ten minutes, Penn State having essentially controlled the ball in the forwards for seventy minutes and finally run out of gas.
The women Slugs of UC Santa Cruz also failed to defend their title, losing the D2 match to Iowa State 26 – 19.
Paul Bretz and Pete Smith refereed at the event, with touch judging by Jim Crenshaw, Joe Leisek, Lois Bukowski, Sam Reagle and John Pohlman.
REFEREE RECRUITING BOOTH
USA Rugby sponsored a recruiting tent for coaches and referees. Rob Hendrickson, Mike King and Lois Bukowski volunteered their time to spread the gospel of the whistle.
This effort will be repeated this coming weekend at the NA 4 and the Pacific Coast high school event.
SUPER LEAGUE SEASON WINDS UP
At Rocca Field:
Golden Gate OB 3 – HAYWARD OB 17 Referee: Bjorn Stumer
A fun and exciting afternoon of old boys rugby at Treasure Island, sadly marred by some unnecessary violence that resulted in a red card given to a Hayward player for punching & stamping. Although the Senors put in a good fight and spent quite a bit of time inside Hayward's 22 the visitors, having a large Islands contingent, had too much gas & walked away with a 17-3 win.
The match was played in three periods, two of which I refereed, with a third done by Paul Berman. Bruce Bernstein played for Hayward as well as one of the new refs, whose name I cannot remember. So 4 refs on the pitch at all times - a definite first for me.
Overall, beside the violence, a pretty good day out.
SF/GOLDEN GATE 45 – Santa Monica 16 Referee: Chris Draper
Touch Judges: Dave Pope, Sam Reagle
SF/GG controlled the tempo most of the game scoring 3 tries (one converted) and 3 penalty kicks against 1 try and one penalty kick for Santa Monica to end the first half up 26-10. The second half was more of the same with the home club managing several long driving mauls to add another 4 tries (one converted) versus 1 and a penalty kick for the visitors.
With this victory, SFGG has earned a home quarterfinal to be played on May 19. We will be needing TJs for this one.
HIGH SCHOOL FINAL
Jesuit will be going to Salt Lake City to defend their national high school championship. They will also be shooting for their fourth title in nine years.
JESUIT 15 – Lamorinda 3 Referee: Tony Latu
Touch Judges: Ray Thompson and Rod Chance
Venue: Jesuit High School, Sacramento
Weather: Perfect for Rugby
Field Announcer: Dr. David Miller
Jesuit displayed two vertical banners at the entrance to their field. One said Jesuit Rugby; the other one said USA CHAMP-1999, 2004 and 2006. And this game was another chance for Jesuit to go for another title. But Lamo was in their way, and they frustrated Jesuit the whole game. Lamo drew first blood on a penalty kick and they looked dangerous most of the first half. But they could not cross the line. Jesuit did cross the line at the 30th minute of the first half.
The second half Jesuit put pressure on Lamo and they scored another one in the second half. Lamo fought back but it was too little too late. Jesuit moved on to Utah by winning the game 15 - 3.
What a game, unfortunately only one can move on. If both teams went to Utah and competed in Tier A, only Highland would stand in their way. And they would both rank in the top THREE.
Maybe one day we will send the BEST 16 Teams in the country to the National.
RUGBY ROOTS IN URBAN SOIL
Link sent in by Mike Sagehorn:
http://novometro.com/news_details.php?news_id=2162&is_break=Y#
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
John Coppinger, Scott Wood, Referee Tim Luscombe and Tammy Cowan work the sidelines while UC Davis plays Stanford in the national semi-final.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
