BILLET NEEDED
Have you ever been on exchange? Were you hosted and did it add to your enjoyment of the experience?
Would you like to go on exchange, and be interested in accumulating some Brownie points that might come in handy?
Two exchangees will be coming to Pelicanland on the weekend of September 19. One, Kimberley Godeseth from Alberta, will be hosted by the Zanarinis. The other, Anthony Yeo of the SCRRS, needs a home away from home.
Anthony’s game will be the Triple Threat hosting Tempe, to be played at Granite Park in Sacramento. Please let us know if you can help out – otherwise we’ll have to get him a hotel room, and that’s not the best way to maintain our reputation as a desirable exchange destination.
ASSISTANT REFEREE NEEDED SUNDAY
The All Blues undertook their title defense last Sunday in Minnesota, defeating the Valkyries 38 - 0.
This Sunday, September 13, the other Minnesota premier league entrant will be in town.
The All Blues will host the Twin Cities Amazons at 10 AM on the GAA fields on Treasure Island. Paul Bretz has been appointed to referee. We have one AR but of course that means we need one more.
Please let us know if you would like to run.
PLEASANTON SCOTTISH GAMES
Report by Roberto Santiago
APTOS 12 – Stanislaus 5
The match was very competitive throughout especially in the first half which due to penalties by the defending team went beyond the halfway time mark. With about one minute left in the first half Stanislaus had a set piece ten meters from the Aptos try line. As play progressed Stanislaus came within inches of scoring but were denied each time. A penalty five meters out gave Stanislaus new life as one of the Aptos defenders was caught out of position while confronting the ref with "But I thought you said that was the last play!" Yeah kid, but not when you commit the infringement to stop an attack. Moments later the Stanislaus ball carrier knocked-on. This would have been the last action (with a shout out to R Scott) if not for the Aptos player who scooped up the ball and ran up the sideline for a full field try. I constantly marvel at how much talking players can do while allegedly giving a full effort to playing the game. The take away here is don't argue with the ref because that last play may the one where your teammate runs for the only score of the half. Aptos scored again six minutes into the second half but did not convert. One minute before the final whistle Stanislaus put one over to avoid the shutout.
GAELS 26 - Aptosislaus 5
The Gaels came out looking like a team set for the regular season opener rather than friendly. It showed on the score board (aka the paper I keep in my pocket) as well. Diablo came out and scored three converted tries in the first half to nothing for the mixed Aptos/Stanislaus side. After scoring another try with thirteen minutes left the Gaels made it a point of pride to preserve the shutout. Aptosislaus never backed down though and put one over with thirty-five seconds left on the clock. In retrospect sending out a group that had played a match already and then watched a rousing game of shinty to play a rested and non shinty-coma-induced Gaels side may have left little doubt as to the outcome on the score sheet. But it seemed that everyone had a good time. I especially enjoyed the day as there is nothing like having a national panel ref playing all day making calls just before you process them. Having confirmation of my calls (just before I made them) was like having a little referee coach in my ear (that everyone within 20 meters of the pitch could hear too). All joking aside, this fellow who didn’t get hurt, was a great resource after the matches.
Thanks to all three teams for a fun day.
CR1 GAMES
SF Fog 10 – BELMONT SHORE 35 Referee: Preston Gordon
No report received.
TRIPLE THREAT 35 – Seattle 17 Referee: Phil Akroyd
T.T – 6T, 1C, 1PK
Sea – 2T, 2C, 1PK
It’s Saturday lunch time, so it must be women’s league rugby at Granite Park. After ARing the Triple Threat last weekend, I was out in the middle this weekend. I knew that the TT can play, after they easily saw off SF Fog women a week ago. If Seattle brought a decent team, there would be a chance of a high-quality game.
I wasn’t disappointed.
We kicked off in 80 degree weather, but the rubber pitch seemed to add about 20 degrees. The first 20 minutes were brutal, with collision after collision, hard hit after hard hit. The style of teams and my willingness to let the game flow meant that there were very few stoppages in the first half, however, a penalty in front of the posts after a couple of minutes was slotted over by the TT captain. It took at least twenty minutes for a further point to be scored, which was a break-away try for the home team after a sloppy kick to touch by Seattle. Another try just before half seemed to deflate the travelers who were unaccustomed to the NorCal heat. TT was up 15 to 0 at half.
The second half reinforced the trend of the first half, which was a collision-fest in the middle of the field, followed by forty meter sprints when the respective teams had sucked in enough players to the midfield. Although the Triple Threat scored six tries, Seattle had the most impressive, with a flat crash ball in front of the posts, about fifteen meters from the try line. The Seattle center went in under the posts and TT didn’t lay a hand on her.
Seattle clearly have a good team and if the two were to meet again in the winter, with no issue of heat, the game could go either way. This was a hugely entertaining game for me and I had great fun out there in my first game of the season. I counted three possible broken fingers, several cases of cramp, a concussion and no complaining.
Thanks to Eugene Baker and a svelte and slender Rod Chance for ARing, Donal Walsh for meaningful words and the two teams for reminding me why I missed reffing for the last two months. When is the next game???
Sunday
Sacramento Amazons 12 – SEATTLE 52 Referee: Rich Boyer
I arrived at Luther Burbank High School to find only the Amazons. The Seattle team thought the game was at a different location. Perhaps they were still smarting from their loss the day before.
The game commenced shortly after Seattle's arrival. The Amazons dominated the first ten minutes, scoring an easy try by the inside center. Seattle's defense seemed timid, and offensively the team was not clicking. Seattle scored and converted a try off a rolling maul, but then gave up a 90 meter try to Burbank's new winger. My thoughts were that the Amazons would dominate this game.
How wrong I was. Seattle implemented expert rolling mauls, and their ball possession and fitness soon began to show. Flanker Black and eightman Miller were especially prominent during the mauls, at the breakdowns, and on set scrum plays. Flyhalf Marty threw perfect flat passes time and again to an expertly bursting #12. Captain Rose (#13) paired well with the inside center and made numerous breaks and tries. The loosehead prop jackaled a number of balls.
The Amazons were much bigger, but Seattle's well coached team simply strangled the Amazons of possession. Seattle, although lacking the Amazon's physicality, were technically precise.
The end of the first half saw Seattle leading 33-12.
The Amazons would not back down and showed bursts of good play in the second half. Their fitness was sorely lacking as Seattle's dominance continued. The Amazons had very good passing, but the Seattle defense always had the overlap, and they were nearly always first to the breakdown.
Seattle flyhalf Marty began kicking expertly to space. One kick died at the 5 meter line a few meters from touch and was taken by the Amazon wing, who was overcome by three chasers, one of whom took the ball and scored a try. Marty made the conversion 5 meters from touch. She only missed one conversion on the day.
A number of men's high school and college coaches could learn from Seattle's game plan. It was obvious that they had practiced numerous hours together; they all communicated; and they were all on the same page. It wasn't "crush the other team", rather, it was hands through the tackler, offload flat passes to an always bursting player, unselfish play, and communicate.
It was a very clean game and both sides had smiles on their faces at the end. It was a nice group to referee. Seattle 52-12.
CIPP REGISTRATIONS FOR 2009 HAVE EXPIRED
2009 CIPP memberships expired August 31. The NCRRS has 19 registered participants as of Tuesday morning.
Go to www.USARugby.org
Click on Registration ’09-’10 just below Welcome in the column on the left.
Take the first option: Create/Renew Individual Membership. Go from there.
REMEMBER to print out the liability waiver. This needs to be signed and submitted in hard copy to our treasurer, Jim Crenshaw, with your $10 annual NCRRS dues.
UPCOMING
The Hawaii invitational has been canceled for 2009. The Harlequins have promised to keep us in their plans for 2010. Pray for the economy.
October 3: Chico State alumni games
October 10: Reno (fifteens) tournament – four pitches, all day. Lots of refs needed.
October 17: Society training meeting at AGM at St. Mary’s
October 31: Stanford Tens, and the Baracus Tens on Treasure Island. We’ll need every available ref this Halloween
November 7: Mittry Memorial Tournament in Redding
November 14: Level One referee course at Sacramento State
November 15: Touch Judge and Assistant Referee courses at Sac State
November 21: Chico Holiday Classic
SAN FRANCISCO GOLDEN GATE SPEAKER BANQUET
The San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club presents: The Grand Rugby Banquet
Featuring Guest Speaker: Wallaby Legend John Eales
Eales played lock for Queensland Reds and Australia
55-cap reign as captain of the Wallabies
Won the Rugby World Cup twice in his illustrious career, first in 1991, and later skippering his country to victory in 1999
St Gabriel’s School
2550 41st avenue
Saturday October 17
6:30 PM
Proceeds to benefit Bay Area Youth Rugby
Tickets include three course dinner, wine and entertainment
To Purchase a seat or table
Tickets: Individual $125 or Table of Ten $1200
Contact: Paul Keeler (415) 362 1010
sfggcoach@gmail.com
This will be in the evening after our AGM. If you’d like to attend and sit at a ‘referee table’, let us know and whether you’ll have a guest. It’s for a good cause!
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
Walter enjoys the weather and the view at the Scottish Festival.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
