HAIL, PELICUS!
Your scribe is off to Aspen first thing Wednesday morning, for the tournament that wraps up the summer and kicks off the fifteens season for much of the country. We have a lot of dear friends among the Eastern Rockies cohort, and a lot of fond memories of tournaments past.
Referees in California now have the women's clubs and the college sevens seasons to satiate our rugby jones for the next few months.
TRI-TIP SEVENS
One of the most rewarding Sevens weekends on the calendar found ten California refs in lovely San Luis Obispo Saturday, September 8.
For Eric Rauscher and Bruce Carter, who carpooled down from Salinas, the weekend started out as Occupy SLO. We were told we'd be staying at a place that shall remain nameless, different from where the other refs were. Desirable location - two blocks from the first stop on Saturday's pub crawl (which we would miss), and when we pulled up we saw a very nice B&B.
We also saw that the office closed at 8 PM. Some guests in the reading room let us in. They said, the open doors are the rooms without guests.
Four rooms had open doors. Two of them had invoices and keys on the bed, with names that didn't match anyone in the rugby universe. So we slept in the other two rooms and, not wanting any uncomfortable scenes, made sure to be gone before breakfast was laid on.
The Tri-Tip goes back at least thirty years, when it was called the Pismo Beach Clambake. It was neither in Pismo, nor at the beach, nor were there any clams involved. Since then, as the Tri-Tip Sevens, there is plenty of both tri-tip and Sevens.
Almost too much Sevens, if there could ever be such a thing. Thirty-seven teams had eighty-one games scheduled. Remember: ten refs. And then there were half a dozen friendlies among the teams that didn't advance to the knock-out rounds.
Some of the - ahem - more experienced players stepped up to ref these add-ons, plus one of the official games, so the refs ended up with exactly eight games apiece.
SoCal: Mike Adams, Schalk Erasmus, Marquise Goodwin, Cullen Lowe, Mark Richards and Neville Smeda
NorCal: Bruce Carter, James Hinkin, Pete Smith, Eric Rauscher
Hosts SLO won the men's bracket and the Seahawks won the women's. After everyone had played or reffed a lot of games on a long day (8-5:30), the poor tri-tip didn't stand a chance.
SATURDAY GAMES
NorCal Triple Threat 24 – SEATTLE BREAKERS 26 Referee: Lee Salgado
Very exciting game that went back and forth, especially in the second half. Both teams had a few players that have sported the USA rugby jersey so it was a fast paced, hard hitting game. Nor Cal started off strong, but the Breakers fought back all game and finished strong up the middle.
BERKELEY ALL-BLUES 20 – San Diego Surfers 17 Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Assistant Referees: Preston Gordon, Jen Tetler
Opening day of the 2012 WPL season. Warm, sunny day at Morton Field in Vallejo. New laws in effect. Exciting, back-and-forth game but both teams squandered scoring opportunities. San Diego led 8-10 at half and Berkeley scored an opportunistic try off a botched San Diego drop-out to eke out the narrow win with 2 minutes remaining. With no time remaining, San Diego worked multiple phases and almost scored, but Berkeley forced a knock-on just short of the goal-line to preserve the tense win. Much thanks to Preston and Jen for their help as AR's.
SUNDAY GAME
SF Fog 7 – SEATTLE BREAKERS 12 Referee: Jen Tetler
The Fog Women squared off against the Seattle Breakers (not the Mudhens) this Sunday at high noon (the Breakers has played NorCal on Saturday...apparently eeking out a win).
Both teams started off with a few unlucky knock ons in the first few minutes...the start of quite a few scrums and a chance to really practice the new engage call. There was some great back and forth, but both teams supporting strong runners and getting it out wide.
Seattle scored the first try about 15 minutes in with an outside run to score in the corner, which led to an unsuccessful conversion. They scored again towards the end of the first half off of a kick into the endzone that was chased and touched down by their 9. The first half ended 12-0 Breakers.
The Fog was not to be dissuaded though. They had held Seattle with some excellent defense, especially off of some tactical kicking, and they held up at least 3 potential tries. The Fog came out in the second half with a beautiful piece of continuity to score and convert in the first few minutes.
That was the last time anyone would score, though there were a few more close opportunities by both teams. Fog's 13 almost cherry-picked a couple of passes that were subsequently knocked on, and Seattle botched a penalty kick for touch very close to the tryline that ended up as a 22 drop.
Overall, it was an exciting and well-played game with some fantastic moves and great defense by both sides. A much better showing for the Fog than the last time they played Seattle.
Final score Fog 7 - Breakers 12
REFEREE OPPORTUNITIES
Saturday, September 15:
Sacramento Lions Tens tournament, with women’s teams playing either tens or sevens. Four refs so far. Need another three or four.
Saturday, September 29:
St. Mary’s Sevens – need four or five refs
SF Fog hosting Emerald City Mudhens
Sunday, Sept. 30:
NorCal hosting Mudhens in Santa Rosa
Saturday, October 6
Three alumni games at Chico State that need refs
Sunday, October 7
All Blues - New York game needs ARs
Two alumni games at Stanford need refs
Friday-Saturday, October 12-13
Fiji Day Sevens on Mare Island in Vallejo
Saturday, Oct. 13
Stanford men's Sevens from 9 - 5
Three-team round-robin at UOP from 10 - 2
Saturday, Oct. 20
Donkeyfest in Ukiah - needs three to four refs
Sunday, Oct. 21
Stanford-Cal women's sevens - six games or so
ANNUAL REGISTRATION WITH USA RUGBY DUE NOW
It is time to register with USA Rugby for 2013. Old registrations expire on August 31.
https://membership.usarugby.org/default.aspx
You need to register here. Your 'club' is the NCRRS. Print out the waiver, sign it, and mail it along with $10 dues to:
Jim Crenshaw
c/o Delta Supply
1248 East Oak Avenue, #D
Woodland, CA 95776
Then you'll be current with NCRRS and USA Rugby for the coming twelvemonth.
NCRRS AGM AND FIRST 2013 TRAINING MEETING
REO Preston Gordon has announced that our first meeting for the 2012/13 seasons will be on Saturday, November 17 at the SFGG clubhouse on Treasure Island.
Ed Todd will be a guest speaker, and the ever-popular Coaches’ Panel will also be featured.
Mark your calendars now, starting at either 9 or 10.
BEGINNING REFEREE COURSES ANNOUNCED
We will be hosting Level One match officiating courses at the following dates and places. Spread the word!
Sunday, October 7 in Dixon
Sunday, November 4, in Moraga
Sunday, December 2, in San Jose
Registration is available at www.USARugby.org, click on Officiate the Game.
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
No photo. Penelope Pelicus took the camera with her to Zion National Park. The economists among you will understand the principle of maximum utility.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
REFEREE GRADE NAMES CHANGING AGAIN
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Referees and Laws Committee changed USA Rugby referee grade nomenclature at its AGM in August, 2012.
RESULT
The net result is that we will revert to C and B grades, such as existed until four years ago.
L3, 2 and 1 will now be C3, 2 and 1. All T referees will now be B referees.
RECENT (August) GRADE NEW (September) GRADE
L3 C3
L2 C2
L1 C1
T B
What follows, for those who are interested, is our rationale and the alternatives that were considered.
RATIONALE
Confusion has reigned for the past few years because of the following:
Referees are graded L3, L2 and L1 (this L stands for Local)
Referee courses are L1, L2 and L3 (this L stands for Level)
For assignments and grading purposes, matches are L1 through L7 (this L stands for Level)
Reports written on referees are L1 and L2 reports (this L stands for Level)
[These are formally known as Coaching Reports and Evaluation Reports, but even those who write them often refer to them as ‘level one’ and ‘level two’ reports.]
Beginning referees often assume that completing the L1 course makes them an L1 ref. Who could blame them? Those contemplating becoming referees are often confused by the whole nomenclature.
People at the national office who have to field these confused phone calls complained. Those of us who deal with the confusion at the local level (that word again) across the country sympathized.
It was accepted that the L designation had to go. What to replace it with?
ALTERNATIVES
S was suggested, meaning Society. But the territories are also Societies. S seemed random.
L-level referees referee Community Rugby. Why not C referees? It made sense for thirty years to call those working in the first few grades C referees. So this decision was made: the first grade awarded will again be C3, with the first two promotions being to C2 and then C1.
That left us with C1 referees who earned promotion joining the T panel. The problem with that is that some Territories have already dissolved and others soon will. The T could be left as a vestigial designation, standing for something that only used to be.
Here’s the problem: the rugby playing organizational universe is moving toward having two divisions of administration. Geographical Unions do not belong to Territories. They belong to USA Rugby. Two levels.
Referees continue to need three divisions, corresponding to the three divisions of grades. There are those awarded by the local society, now called C, and the various Panels awarded by USA Rugby, with those referees capable of doing matches above the GU but below the national in between. We still need a T-Panel equivalent.
Hence: C for Community, B to be alphabetical and in line with what used to be, and then the national Panels, Squads and Groups. Plus, C and B are not tied to particular words used to designate organizational levels such as GUs or Zones, which may change in the future.
APOLOGY
We of the R&L are aware that we may look foolish changing this back after changing it with such fanfare only four years ago. We feel foolish. We also feel compelled to make this change, and feel that it will serve us well in the future and will minimize confusion.
For the Referee and Laws Committee
Bruce Carter, Chairman
The Referees and Laws Committee changed USA Rugby referee grade nomenclature at its AGM in August, 2012.
RESULT
The net result is that we will revert to C and B grades, such as existed until four years ago.
L3, 2 and 1 will now be C3, 2 and 1. All T referees will now be B referees.
RECENT (August) GRADE NEW (September) GRADE
L3 C3
L2 C2
L1 C1
T B
What follows, for those who are interested, is our rationale and the alternatives that were considered.
RATIONALE
Confusion has reigned for the past few years because of the following:
Referees are graded L3, L2 and L1 (this L stands for Local)
Referee courses are L1, L2 and L3 (this L stands for Level)
For assignments and grading purposes, matches are L1 through L7 (this L stands for Level)
Reports written on referees are L1 and L2 reports (this L stands for Level)
[These are formally known as Coaching Reports and Evaluation Reports, but even those who write them often refer to them as ‘level one’ and ‘level two’ reports.]
Beginning referees often assume that completing the L1 course makes them an L1 ref. Who could blame them? Those contemplating becoming referees are often confused by the whole nomenclature.
People at the national office who have to field these confused phone calls complained. Those of us who deal with the confusion at the local level (that word again) across the country sympathized.
It was accepted that the L designation had to go. What to replace it with?
ALTERNATIVES
S was suggested, meaning Society. But the territories are also Societies. S seemed random.
L-level referees referee Community Rugby. Why not C referees? It made sense for thirty years to call those working in the first few grades C referees. So this decision was made: the first grade awarded will again be C3, with the first two promotions being to C2 and then C1.
- Note: criteria for promotion are unaffected by this change. These changes are strictly limited to nomenclature.
That left us with C1 referees who earned promotion joining the T panel. The problem with that is that some Territories have already dissolved and others soon will. The T could be left as a vestigial designation, standing for something that only used to be.
Here’s the problem: the rugby playing organizational universe is moving toward having two divisions of administration. Geographical Unions do not belong to Territories. They belong to USA Rugby. Two levels.
Referees continue to need three divisions, corresponding to the three divisions of grades. There are those awarded by the local society, now called C, and the various Panels awarded by USA Rugby, with those referees capable of doing matches above the GU but below the national in between. We still need a T-Panel equivalent.
Hence: C for Community, B to be alphabetical and in line with what used to be, and then the national Panels, Squads and Groups. Plus, C and B are not tied to particular words used to designate organizational levels such as GUs or Zones, which may change in the future.
APOLOGY
We of the R&L are aware that we may look foolish changing this back after changing it with such fanfare only four years ago. We feel foolish. We also feel compelled to make this change, and feel that it will serve us well in the future and will minimize confusion.
For the Referee and Laws Committee
Bruce Carter, Chairman
SEPTEMBER SEGUE
HAIL, PELICUS!
We'll be back and forth with sevens, fifteens and tens for the next two months at least. Check the calendar on Pelicanrefs and make your plans.
ANNUAL REGISTRATION WITH USA RUGBY DUE NOW
It is time to register with USA Rugby for 2013. Old registrations expire on August 31.
https://membership.usarugby.org/default.aspx
You need to register here. Your 'club' is the NCRRS. Print out the waiver, sign it, and mail it along with $10 dues to:
Jim Crenshaw
c/o Delta Supply
1248 East Oak Avenue, #D
Woodland, CA 95776
Then you'll be current with NCRRS and USA Rugby for the coming twelvemonth.
REFEREES ALWAYS NEEDED
Time to boil your whistle and step up to the plate; let us know if you’d like to sign up for any of these.
Sunday, September 9:
NorCal hosting Seattle, 1 PM, in Chico
Saturday, September 15:
Sacramento Lions Tens tournament, with women’s teams playing either tens or sevens. Two refs so far. Need another six or eight.
Saturday, September 29:
St. Mary’s Sevens – need four or five refs
SF Fog hosting Emerald City Mudhens
Sunday, Sept. 30:
NorCal hosting Mudhens in Santa Rosa
NCRRS AGM AND FIRST 2013 TRAINING MEETING
REO Preston Gordon has announced that our first meeting for the 2012/13 seasons will be on Saturday, November 17 at the SFGG clubhouse on Treasure Island.
Ed Todd will be a guest speaker, and the ever-popular Coaches’ Panel will also be featured.
Mark your calendars now, starting at either 9 or 10.
BEGINNING REFEREE COURSES ANNOUNCED
We will be hosting Level One match officiating courses at the following dates and places. Spread the word!
Sunday, October 7 in Dixon
Sunday, November 4, in Moraga
Sunday, December 2, in San Jose
Registration is available at www.USARugby.org, click on Officiate the Game.
REPORTS
August 18
THE LONE REFEREE: Chico Sevens Tournament
Report by Anthony Nguyen:
I had an excellent time at the tournament up in Chico. Here's how it went.
I was able to make it up to Chico for this relaxed tournament and was expecting no other referees except myself. I found that there were two other non-society referees who were able to relieve me when needed. The 94 degree weather made the relief much appreciated.
The games were scheduled to go from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. I unfortunately had to leave a bit early but was able to get many games in. A good number of teams were there, some from Bay area and some from Sacramento. The general tournament atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. All the teams wanted to enjoy themselves playing and have a nice day under the sun. I racked up some 6 games, some good, some ok. Apart from the fact that I was somewhat lacking in fitness, I felt I did a nice job.
When it was time for me to leave, every player from the hosting team was very gracious to me. Chico definitely gave great hospitality from the moment I got there to the time I had to leave. Will be hoping to return soon!
August 25
RENO RUGGERFEST
The Lazy 5 Regional Park was the site for the newly-moved-to-August Reno tournament, which has been a feature of the autumn calendar in the NCRFU in one guise or another for at least thirty years (with stops in Truckee and Gardnerville along the way).
Four men’s teams and five women’s competed on two pitches.
Referees were Rich Boyer, Bruce Carter, Rob Hammack from SoCal, Lee Salgado, Jen Tetler, Stephen Valerio and Giles Wilson.
September 1
SF Fog – NorCal Triple Threat Referee: Preston Gordon
No report received at press time.
Scottish Games in Pleasanton, with 3 one-hour games.
“I would like to send out a huge thank you to Jordan Bruno and Stephen Valerio for officiating three matches at our 4th Annual Scottish Scramble Rugbyfest at thePleasanton Scottish Highland games held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
“The teams included: SFGG Señors, Modesto Harlots, SF Fog, Diablo Gaels, the Ptown Ruggers, and many more players from various clubs. The matches were handled with good solid leadership, keeping control of the game at all times, and proving themselves experts in our sport! Great job gentlemen!
“Ken Burnthorn”
NCRFU POLICY
John Compaglia has announced a new set of procedures that clubs are to follow to demonstrate compliance with the various operational guidelines that keep our sport responsible, safe, and growing.
Note that the referee is involved in ascertaining that the clubs involved have the requisite materials.
In conjunction with the new NCRFU GU - Constitution and By Laws, the Union is establishing policies and procedures for member clubs. These will commence September 1, 2012 with the operation of all matches. Each club must display items a - d in a binder to the referee prior to the match.
If, a - c (USA Rugby mandated), d (NCRFU/NCRFRS mandated) is not provided to the referee or not complete, the club is to be reported by the referee to the NCRFU Disciplinary Committee, Harry Batten.
This is in compliance as mandated by USA Rugby requirements for referee and players safety. Match Safety Protocol is mandated by both NCRFURS and NCRFU.
Important, if a club is not current in dues, the Union will notify the Society not to assign a referee to the match.
Policy:
A Club, not in good standing, delinquent dues after specified dates in Interim Match Policy 1.1f, will be considered a match forfeiture, points deduction and points awarded will be determined by the DC.
1.0 Interim Match Policy
1.1 Men's & Women's Clubs - Competitions
1.1a. A Club must have ( 5 days of match, a current USA Rugby CIPP Roster with 15 CIPP registered players and paid USA dues
1.1b. A Club must have a Designated Coach shown on USA Rugby CIPP Roster
1.1c. A Club must show a Certificate of Insurance for the match venue from USA Rugby Insurance carrier
1.1d. A Club must show Signed Match Safety Protocol
1.1e. A Club must have a Signed Game Management
1.1f. A Club must pay NCRFU dues by September 14, if Women's Club and December 31, 2012, if Men's Club.
1.1g. A Club is ineligible to compete in an NCRFU competition or request referee services, if dues not paid in full.
1.1h. A Club is ineligible to compete, if it has not paid NCRFURS dues.
EYE ON EUROPE
Here’s something that may be of interest to our HP audience from Preston Gordon
I've been watching some of the early season games in the European professional competitions, partly to get a look at how the new 3-part scrum engagement commands are working. Here's an interesting note I found: in one of the Top 14's second round games last weekend, Castres-Grenoble, there were 46 penalties awarded. That's a record for the French season, and it sounds like the game was pretty ugly, with 2 penalty tries and 5 yellow cards (2 of those actually went to the same player, turning into a red). An article is here: http://bit.ly/PnqJiR
The penalty counts in that league's first two rounds seem to be higher than usual, but from the games I've seen, the referees aren't looking for penalty offenses at the scrums any more than they used to be. The 3-part engagement ("Flexion-Toucher-Jeu" in French) works just fine, and the front rows are not left waiting an excessively long time to come together. Crouch-Touch-Set ought to be no problem; we'll find out this weekend with the start of the English Premiership season.
However, the French broke another record by issuing 22 yellow cards in their competition's second round of 7 games - http://bit.ly/OpRO7D - let's hope that this trend is just a result of early-season adjustments.
READY, SET, GO: THAT NEW CADENCE
You will have seen that the French use the word for ‘play’ as the call to engage. They don’t say ‘s'établir’ or ‘attendez’ or anything as counterintuitive as ‘set’.
It’s not that long ago that we were all saying: crouch-touch-engage. It’s what the players want to hear.
At the Reno tournament, my first experience with the new cadence, I found it easy to say, and the players of course engaged at the first audible anything that came out of my mouth.
But watching other refs do games it seemed ridiculous: ‘Why are they saying set?’
If the players are going to engage at the next word after ‘touch’, why can’t that word be ‘engage’?
Oh, well. In tennis love means nothing. In rugby, ‘set’ means ‘don’t stay set’.
HAKA DELIGHTS
Ron Myers forwards this link of New Zealand soldiers honoring a fallen comrade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xI6TRTBZUMM
Your editor believes most rugby people think of the Haka as having specifically to do with rugby, only because that's the context they first saw it in, but of course it's a much bigger cultural ritual.
When I was peace-keeping in Egypt the out-going New Zealand contingent welcomed their replacements on the tarmac with a Haka. I asked one of the guys whether they had to practice it - he said no, not really, they learnt it as schoolboys.
I saw the second-funniest Haka I've ever seen last Saturday. (The first was a 'gay haka' done by the Hoodz, a SoCal touch team that was dressed as the characters from the Village People.)
The Highwaymen were at the Reno tournament. (The highway in question is I5.) They had about thirty guys, most wearing kilts (no underwear) and face paint.
Before their first game they had a haka - a Polynesian fellow took the lead, the rest arrayed behind in the usual fashion.
He would say something threatening in what sounded like Maori, and then the chorus would repeat it. It slowly became clear that it was gobbledy-gook: he began slobbering and stuttering and looking like Joe Cocker in full cry.
They would all slobber and stutter and spazz out behind him.
They then all put their hands on their hips and started gyrating as the leader sang out:
"Da le a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena..."
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
Lee Salgado, Rich Boyer, Stephen Valerio and Jen Tetler enjoy the day at the Lazy 5 in Sparks, Nevada.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
We'll be back and forth with sevens, fifteens and tens for the next two months at least. Check the calendar on Pelicanrefs and make your plans.
ANNUAL REGISTRATION WITH USA RUGBY DUE NOW
It is time to register with USA Rugby for 2013. Old registrations expire on August 31.
https://membership.usarugby.org/default.aspx
You need to register here. Your 'club' is the NCRRS. Print out the waiver, sign it, and mail it along with $10 dues to:
Jim Crenshaw
c/o Delta Supply
1248 East Oak Avenue, #D
Woodland, CA 95776
Then you'll be current with NCRRS and USA Rugby for the coming twelvemonth.
REFEREES ALWAYS NEEDED
Time to boil your whistle and step up to the plate; let us know if you’d like to sign up for any of these.
Sunday, September 9:
NorCal hosting Seattle, 1 PM, in Chico
Saturday, September 15:
Sacramento Lions Tens tournament, with women’s teams playing either tens or sevens. Two refs so far. Need another six or eight.
Saturday, September 29:
St. Mary’s Sevens – need four or five refs
SF Fog hosting Emerald City Mudhens
Sunday, Sept. 30:
NorCal hosting Mudhens in Santa Rosa
NCRRS AGM AND FIRST 2013 TRAINING MEETING
REO Preston Gordon has announced that our first meeting for the 2012/13 seasons will be on Saturday, November 17 at the SFGG clubhouse on Treasure Island.
Ed Todd will be a guest speaker, and the ever-popular Coaches’ Panel will also be featured.
Mark your calendars now, starting at either 9 or 10.
BEGINNING REFEREE COURSES ANNOUNCED
We will be hosting Level One match officiating courses at the following dates and places. Spread the word!
Sunday, October 7 in Dixon
Sunday, November 4, in Moraga
Sunday, December 2, in San Jose
Registration is available at www.USARugby.org, click on Officiate the Game.
REPORTS
August 18
THE LONE REFEREE: Chico Sevens Tournament
Report by Anthony Nguyen:
I had an excellent time at the tournament up in Chico. Here's how it went.
I was able to make it up to Chico for this relaxed tournament and was expecting no other referees except myself. I found that there were two other non-society referees who were able to relieve me when needed. The 94 degree weather made the relief much appreciated.
The games were scheduled to go from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. I unfortunately had to leave a bit early but was able to get many games in. A good number of teams were there, some from Bay area and some from Sacramento. The general tournament atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. All the teams wanted to enjoy themselves playing and have a nice day under the sun. I racked up some 6 games, some good, some ok. Apart from the fact that I was somewhat lacking in fitness, I felt I did a nice job.
When it was time for me to leave, every player from the hosting team was very gracious to me. Chico definitely gave great hospitality from the moment I got there to the time I had to leave. Will be hoping to return soon!
August 25
RENO RUGGERFEST
The Lazy 5 Regional Park was the site for the newly-moved-to-August Reno tournament, which has been a feature of the autumn calendar in the NCRFU in one guise or another for at least thirty years (with stops in Truckee and Gardnerville along the way).
Four men’s teams and five women’s competed on two pitches.
Referees were Rich Boyer, Bruce Carter, Rob Hammack from SoCal, Lee Salgado, Jen Tetler, Stephen Valerio and Giles Wilson.
September 1
SF Fog – NorCal Triple Threat Referee: Preston Gordon
No report received at press time.
Scottish Games in Pleasanton, with 3 one-hour games.
“I would like to send out a huge thank you to Jordan Bruno and Stephen Valerio for officiating three matches at our 4th Annual Scottish Scramble Rugbyfest at thePleasanton Scottish Highland games held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
“The teams included: SFGG Señors, Modesto Harlots, SF Fog, Diablo Gaels, the Ptown Ruggers, and many more players from various clubs. The matches were handled with good solid leadership, keeping control of the game at all times, and proving themselves experts in our sport! Great job gentlemen!
“Ken Burnthorn”
NCRFU POLICY
John Compaglia has announced a new set of procedures that clubs are to follow to demonstrate compliance with the various operational guidelines that keep our sport responsible, safe, and growing.
Note that the referee is involved in ascertaining that the clubs involved have the requisite materials.
In conjunction with the new NCRFU GU - Constitution and By Laws, the Union is establishing policies and procedures for member clubs. These will commence September 1, 2012 with the operation of all matches. Each club must display items a - d in a binder to the referee prior to the match.
If, a - c (USA Rugby mandated), d (NCRFU/NCRFRS mandated) is not provided to the referee or not complete, the club is to be reported by the referee to the NCRFU Disciplinary Committee, Harry Batten.
This is in compliance as mandated by USA Rugby requirements for referee and players safety. Match Safety Protocol is mandated by both NCRFURS and NCRFU.
Important, if a club is not current in dues, the Union will notify the Society not to assign a referee to the match.
Policy:
A Club, not in good standing, delinquent dues after specified dates in Interim Match Policy 1.1f, will be considered a match forfeiture, points deduction and points awarded will be determined by the DC.
1.0 Interim Match Policy
1.1 Men's & Women's Clubs - Competitions
1.1a. A Club must have ( 5 days of match, a current USA Rugby CIPP Roster with 15 CIPP registered players and paid USA dues
1.1b. A Club must have a Designated Coach shown on USA Rugby CIPP Roster
1.1c. A Club must show a Certificate of Insurance for the match venue from USA Rugby Insurance carrier
1.1d. A Club must show Signed Match Safety Protocol
1.1e. A Club must have a Signed Game Management
1.1f. A Club must pay NCRFU dues by September 14, if Women's Club and December 31, 2012, if Men's Club.
1.1g. A Club is ineligible to compete in an NCRFU competition or request referee services, if dues not paid in full.
1.1h. A Club is ineligible to compete, if it has not paid NCRFURS dues.
EYE ON EUROPE
Here’s something that may be of interest to our HP audience from Preston Gordon
I've been watching some of the early season games in the European professional competitions, partly to get a look at how the new 3-part scrum engagement commands are working. Here's an interesting note I found: in one of the Top 14's second round games last weekend, Castres-Grenoble, there were 46 penalties awarded. That's a record for the French season, and it sounds like the game was pretty ugly, with 2 penalty tries and 5 yellow cards (2 of those actually went to the same player, turning into a red). An article is here: http://bit.ly/PnqJiR
The penalty counts in that league's first two rounds seem to be higher than usual, but from the games I've seen, the referees aren't looking for penalty offenses at the scrums any more than they used to be. The 3-part engagement ("Flexion-Toucher-Jeu" in French) works just fine, and the front rows are not left waiting an excessively long time to come together. Crouch-Touch-Set ought to be no problem; we'll find out this weekend with the start of the English Premiership season.
However, the French broke another record by issuing 22 yellow cards in their competition's second round of 7 games - http://bit.ly/OpRO7D - let's hope that this trend is just a result of early-season adjustments.
READY, SET, GO: THAT NEW CADENCE
You will have seen that the French use the word for ‘play’ as the call to engage. They don’t say ‘s'établir’ or ‘attendez’ or anything as counterintuitive as ‘set’.
It’s not that long ago that we were all saying: crouch-touch-engage. It’s what the players want to hear.
At the Reno tournament, my first experience with the new cadence, I found it easy to say, and the players of course engaged at the first audible anything that came out of my mouth.
But watching other refs do games it seemed ridiculous: ‘Why are they saying set?’
If the players are going to engage at the next word after ‘touch’, why can’t that word be ‘engage’?
Oh, well. In tennis love means nothing. In rugby, ‘set’ means ‘don’t stay set’.
HAKA DELIGHTS
Ron Myers forwards this link of New Zealand soldiers honoring a fallen comrade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xI6TRTBZUMM
Your editor believes most rugby people think of the Haka as having specifically to do with rugby, only because that's the context they first saw it in, but of course it's a much bigger cultural ritual.
When I was peace-keeping in Egypt the out-going New Zealand contingent welcomed their replacements on the tarmac with a Haka. I asked one of the guys whether they had to practice it - he said no, not really, they learnt it as schoolboys.
I saw the second-funniest Haka I've ever seen last Saturday. (The first was a 'gay haka' done by the Hoodz, a SoCal touch team that was dressed as the characters from the Village People.)
The Highwaymen were at the Reno tournament. (The highway in question is I5.) They had about thirty guys, most wearing kilts (no underwear) and face paint.
Before their first game they had a haka - a Polynesian fellow took the lead, the rest arrayed behind in the usual fashion.
He would say something threatening in what sounded like Maori, and then the chorus would repeat it. It slowly became clear that it was gobbledy-gook: he began slobbering and stuttering and looking like Joe Cocker in full cry.
They would all slobber and stutter and spazz out behind him.
They then all put their hands on their hips and started gyrating as the leader sang out:
"Da le a tu cuerpo alegria Macarena..."
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
Lee Salgado, Rich Boyer, Stephen Valerio and Jen Tetler enjoy the day at the Lazy 5 in Sparks, Nevada.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
Friday, August 17, 2012
FIVE-RING RUGBY
HAIL, PELICUS!
TIME TO PLAN THE NEXT MONTH
Sevens, tens, fifteens and a luau to whet your appetite…
August 18:
Pre-season: Fog vs. All Blues. A ref and a couple of ARs would be great!
Sevens: Chico tournament. Three or four refs should do the trick.
August 25:
Reno Tournament – fifteens. We have six refs so far, including one from SoCal, and could use three or four more.
Rooms will be provided. It starts at 8 AM Saturday, so you’ll need a Friday night room for sure.
September 1:
Regular season: Fog vs. NorCal. Ref and ARs.
September 1 and 2, Saturday and Sunday:
Scottish Games in Pleasanton, with 3 one-hour games each day.
September 8:
Fog hosting Seattle. Ref and ARs.
Tri-Tip Sevens in SLO. Three or four pelicans is about right. Drive down to Salinas and carpool in the Pelicanmobile.
September 15:
Fog hosting Belmont Shore. Ref and ARs.
Sacramento Lions Tens tournament, with women’s teams playing either tens or sevens.
September 22:
Luau at Bruce and Linda Carter’s in Salinas. Pelicans are invited! It’s the California Airshow weekend. If you can’t find a room in town for Saturday night, we can put you up. Or you can drive home and miss half the fun.
Let us know if you’d like to sign up for any of these.
WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON
The Olympics have occupied the Senate’s time every evening the fortnight past. That, and the summer being the busiest time by far for our day job, which often extends into the night this time of year.
Friday, July 27:
NCYRA HIGH SCHOOL PELICANS 19 – British Columbia 17 Referee: Jordan Bruno
ARs: Preston Gordon, Mateo (SFGG)
A fast paced spirited match with two very evenly matched teams. BC came to Sheeran Field ready to win. The Pelicans were a steadfast opponent. BC went on the board early, up 10-7 at the break, controlling set pieces and allowing their fast backs to bring the ball over the try line for scores. The Pelicans had a steady defensive line that never wavered, making tackles when they counted and keeping BC from building continuity of play. Late in the game with minutes to go, the NorCal side put a try over to move up 19-17 with two minutes left. BC tried to move in for the win at the last kickoff for the match. In the ensuing rucks, BC won control and made a break for the goal. A mishandled pass was booted off the pitch for a close win by the Pelicans. Overall, a great match with plenty of excitement from the stands. Thanks to Preston Gordon and Mateo from Golden Gate for assisting as touch judges and to SFGG for hosting a great event.
Saturday, July 28:
Palo Alto Summer Sevens Series
Another wonderful set of Saturdays wound up with visits from the Mexican national men’s and women’s teams, providing opportunities for some Pelicans and visiting SoCal refs to work with top-flight teams.
Andrew Lin and Marquise Goodwin flew up to help out, and saved the day: everyone did six or seven games. Without these two, figure eight or nine. Maybe it’s a good thing the Palo Alto series doesn’t run to four weekends anymore – interest seems to wane among the refs, as much as it pains us to type those words.
Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5:
USA Rugby club sevens championships (men and women) at SFGG
We had thirty Pelicans on hand and it wasn’t nearly enough. Dave Williamson and Ron DeCausemaker worked about fifty games each as sixth officials, while those running as ARs, in-goals and fourth officials averaged 25-30 games each. See below for a partial group photo.
We had some very-much-welcome visitors: Andrew Lin and Marquise Goodwin traveled up from SoCal again and brought Joshua Pendergrass along, while three more dropped in from the Pacific Northwest: Jonathan ‘Chewie’ Pasque, Gavin Beaudry and Chad Douglas.
The entire flock appreciates the confidence that Pat McNally and his team places in us, entrusting the NCRRS to provide and assign the ancillary officials even to games as critical as national championship finals.
(For those who don’t get out as often as some rugby addicts we could name, this is not the norm.)
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
It’s a mob at Sheeran Field, and this leaves out about 25 people – there were 14 assigned refs, 30 Pelicans and friends, plus performance reviewers of various stripes.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
TIME TO PLAN THE NEXT MONTH
Sevens, tens, fifteens and a luau to whet your appetite…
August 18:
Pre-season: Fog vs. All Blues. A ref and a couple of ARs would be great!
Sevens: Chico tournament. Three or four refs should do the trick.
August 25:
Reno Tournament – fifteens. We have six refs so far, including one from SoCal, and could use three or four more.
Rooms will be provided. It starts at 8 AM Saturday, so you’ll need a Friday night room for sure.
September 1:
Regular season: Fog vs. NorCal. Ref and ARs.
September 1 and 2, Saturday and Sunday:
Scottish Games in Pleasanton, with 3 one-hour games each day.
September 8:
Fog hosting Seattle. Ref and ARs.
Tri-Tip Sevens in SLO. Three or four pelicans is about right. Drive down to Salinas and carpool in the Pelicanmobile.
September 15:
Fog hosting Belmont Shore. Ref and ARs.
Sacramento Lions Tens tournament, with women’s teams playing either tens or sevens.
September 22:
Luau at Bruce and Linda Carter’s in Salinas. Pelicans are invited! It’s the California Airshow weekend. If you can’t find a room in town for Saturday night, we can put you up. Or you can drive home and miss half the fun.
Let us know if you’d like to sign up for any of these.
WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON
The Olympics have occupied the Senate’s time every evening the fortnight past. That, and the summer being the busiest time by far for our day job, which often extends into the night this time of year.
Friday, July 27:
NCYRA HIGH SCHOOL PELICANS 19 – British Columbia 17 Referee: Jordan Bruno
ARs: Preston Gordon, Mateo (SFGG)
A fast paced spirited match with two very evenly matched teams. BC came to Sheeran Field ready to win. The Pelicans were a steadfast opponent. BC went on the board early, up 10-7 at the break, controlling set pieces and allowing their fast backs to bring the ball over the try line for scores. The Pelicans had a steady defensive line that never wavered, making tackles when they counted and keeping BC from building continuity of play. Late in the game with minutes to go, the NorCal side put a try over to move up 19-17 with two minutes left. BC tried to move in for the win at the last kickoff for the match. In the ensuing rucks, BC won control and made a break for the goal. A mishandled pass was booted off the pitch for a close win by the Pelicans. Overall, a great match with plenty of excitement from the stands. Thanks to Preston Gordon and Mateo from Golden Gate for assisting as touch judges and to SFGG for hosting a great event.
Saturday, July 28:
Palo Alto Summer Sevens Series
Another wonderful set of Saturdays wound up with visits from the Mexican national men’s and women’s teams, providing opportunities for some Pelicans and visiting SoCal refs to work with top-flight teams.
Andrew Lin and Marquise Goodwin flew up to help out, and saved the day: everyone did six or seven games. Without these two, figure eight or nine. Maybe it’s a good thing the Palo Alto series doesn’t run to four weekends anymore – interest seems to wane among the refs, as much as it pains us to type those words.
Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5:
USA Rugby club sevens championships (men and women) at SFGG
We had thirty Pelicans on hand and it wasn’t nearly enough. Dave Williamson and Ron DeCausemaker worked about fifty games each as sixth officials, while those running as ARs, in-goals and fourth officials averaged 25-30 games each. See below for a partial group photo.
We had some very-much-welcome visitors: Andrew Lin and Marquise Goodwin traveled up from SoCal again and brought Joshua Pendergrass along, while three more dropped in from the Pacific Northwest: Jonathan ‘Chewie’ Pasque, Gavin Beaudry and Chad Douglas.
The entire flock appreciates the confidence that Pat McNally and his team places in us, entrusting the NCRRS to provide and assign the ancillary officials even to games as critical as national championship finals.
(For those who don’t get out as often as some rugby addicts we could name, this is not the norm.)
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
It’s a mob at Sheeran Field, and this leaves out about 25 people – there were 14 assigned refs, 30 Pelicans and friends, plus performance reviewers of various stripes.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
Friday, July 27, 2012
RARELY SEEN
HAIL, PELICUS!
VANISHING GRIZZLIES
They bestrode the rugby landscape as colossi. They intimidated, they dominated, they ate the opposition. They were the stuff of legend as much as of fact, and the facts were legendary. They were the Grizzlies, the finest select-sides in USA rugby history.
They monopolized Eagle selections at every level, men and women, girls and boys. They won the Grizzly’s share of inter-territorial events over the decades.
The species lives on but its members are aging and will not reproduce. It is time to celebrate and commemorate these high-achievers, to appreciate a chapter in American rugby history that is not to be repeated.
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/off-the-field/usa-rugby-news/5350-come-say-farewell-to-pacific-coast-union.html
If you played for the Grizzlies, or refereed for the Pacific Coast as a Territorial referee, or just enjoyed the rugby that these teams played, plan to be at the San Francisco/Golden Gate clubhouse on Saturday evening, August 4.
If you will have been at Sheeran Field watching the men’s and women’s USA National Sevens Club Championships that day, all the better!
SEVENS HEAVEN
We can’t tell you how happy we are that Sevens has become the normal expression of rugby this time of year. Your writer played rugby for six years before he ever HEARD of sevens, and then fell in love with it at first exposure at the 1980 Palo Alto event.
For the next thirty years there were 4-6 tournaments per summer in Northern California. In 1999, I thought I’d set some sort of record, refereeing 14 tournaments in one year, most of them after flying off in all directions, and all of them at my own expense.
But now – we’ve had 4-5 tournaments on some weekends in here Pelicanland. And the college season hasn’t even started!
Born too soon – by about thirty years. I should have been my own son.
COMING UP
Friday, July 27, 6 PM, at Sheeran Field:
NCYRA High-school Pelicans – British Columbia U17 Referee: Jordan Bruno
This should be a barn-burner. It is a rubber match, of sorts.
The Pelicans lost to the Mainland BC team last month and then defeated the (Vancouver) Island team, both on the road. Now they host the combined forces of Canada’s strongest rugby province.
Jordan may need ARs. The game deserves fourth officials as well, should you have a Friday evening free.
Saturday, July 28:
PALO ALTO
Final iteration of the Palo Alto summer series, with women and high school tournaments beginning at 8:30, followed by men’s club and college teams playing in the afternoon. We need ten-twelve refs for this one.
If you’d like to work either AM or PM, let us know and we can accommodate you. However, be advised that we tend to get half a dozen refs who want to leave in the afternoon, leaving the stalwarts to do three games after three PM, that sort of thing. So, we could use refs who only want to work in the afternoon to balance things out.
Plus, that puts you in position for the picnic and adult beverages.
TIGHT-FIVE SEVENS AT SFGG
This is probably the brainchild of a tight-five player. A moment of silence for several such previous ideas…
Why not old boys sevens, out of season, at altitude?
Actually, this sounds like fun. With the shine that Rugby Sevens has attained since it was announced that the games of Mount Olympus would appropriately enough include the Game Played in Heaven, even the tight-five are envious of the fleet-footed lads who get to play all year round.
This looks to be a hoot. We’ve got one ref and could use one or two more – guessing here that high-end pace will only be needed to get to the front of the serving line afterwards.
Sunday, July 29:
NCYRA SUMMER FINALS
The NCYRA completes its summer series with a championship event in Dixon. This is well-organized and features many of the best young players in the USA – and Canada this time. The BC tourists from Friday’s feature match will be participating.
LAST WEEKEND
HIGH SCHOOL SEVENS IN CORTE MADERA
Report by Stephen Valerio:
Referees: Anthony Nguyen, Ray Schwartz, Stephen Valerio, Eric Rauscher, Matthew Le Merle, John Van Der Wahl, with Dave Williamson herding the cats.
For those of us who have been watching the High School 7’s this summer, the improvement in the skills has been appreciable. There was some good rugby on hand in Corte Madera where 11 sides descended and the shade tent was appreciated, along with the Highlander’s hospitality. There were 3 round-robin divisions played on 2 pitches. The Varsity Boys’ bracket was tightly contested with Bellarmine, Dixon and Marin all posting 3-1 records. Dixon took the championship (based on point differential) in the final match beating the previously undefeated Marin side 24-14. The matches were also notable for the mutual respect between the different teams, and the clubs should be proud of the way they conducted themselves.
Dixon’s success continued in the Junior Varsity bracket where they swept the pool. In the Varsity Girls’ Pool went to Danville which swept their 2 matches.
Varsity Boys
Champions: Dixon
Bellarmine 31/Sierra Foothill 10
Marin 28/ Sierra Foothill 5
Marin 28/Danville 19
Bellarmine 14/Danville 7
Dixon 31/Sierra Foothill 7
Dixon 29/Danville 14
Marin 12/Bellarmine 5
Bellarmine 22/Dixon 21
Dixon 24/Marin 14
Danville ?/Sierra Foothill ?
Varsity Girls
Champions: Danville
Danville 17/Pleasanton 7
Dixon 17/Pleasanton 17
Danville 32/Dixon 7
Junior Varsity
Champions: Dixon
Marin 28/Danville 12
Dixon 19/Danville 5
Dixon 32/Marin 5
LUAU SEVENS AT FOR PETE’S SAKE
Report by Cary Bertolone
Refs: Mike King, Sean Peters and Cary Bertolone
Approximately 30 rugby players converged at For Pete's Sake on Saturday. Despite the 96 degree weather, enough tents were erected to make the afternoon enjoyable.
Three games started the afternoon, with Rosa winning two and Redwood taking one game.
A game of Tens then took place and everyone got plenty of rugby.
The Luau was off the charts fabulous with Hawaiian dancers doing the entertaining for the last two hours. Food galore and a good time was had by all!!
FOG WOMEN’S SEVENS
Five teams participated in the second iteration of the Fog Sevens this summer, on a warm but windy day at the Job Corps pitch on Treasure Island.
The host Fog welcomed the Seahawks, the West Bay Angels, and two sides representing the All Blues, who had another side doing well in Glendale, Colo., at the same time.
Referees were Preston Gordon, Tony Levitan, Bruce Bernstein and Bruce Carter. A good time was had by all.
PACIFIC COAST QUALIFIER
Old Puget Sound Beach and the Olympic Club advanced to the nationals, which will be next weekend.
Golden Gate will host the finals, but lost to O Club in the semis to miss out on their own party. The third time was the charm for Matt Sherman’s team, who scored two tries pretty much off the bat and then that was that.
SFGG defeated the Sacramento Lions to claim third - but only SoCal has three seeds to the nationals this time around.
STILL TO COME: SIGN UP NOW
Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5:
USA Rugby club sevens championships (men and women) at SFGG
Saturday, August 18:
Chico Sevens
Saturday, August 25:
Fifteens tournament in Reno
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
The picture is a little grainy, and not as clear as it might be, befitting something as rare as a photo purporting to show Nessie or Sasquatch or the Four Bruces.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
VANISHING GRIZZLIES
They bestrode the rugby landscape as colossi. They intimidated, they dominated, they ate the opposition. They were the stuff of legend as much as of fact, and the facts were legendary. They were the Grizzlies, the finest select-sides in USA rugby history.
They monopolized Eagle selections at every level, men and women, girls and boys. They won the Grizzly’s share of inter-territorial events over the decades.
The species lives on but its members are aging and will not reproduce. It is time to celebrate and commemorate these high-achievers, to appreciate a chapter in American rugby history that is not to be repeated.
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/off-the-field/usa-rugby-news/5350-come-say-farewell-to-pacific-coast-union.html
If you played for the Grizzlies, or refereed for the Pacific Coast as a Territorial referee, or just enjoyed the rugby that these teams played, plan to be at the San Francisco/Golden Gate clubhouse on Saturday evening, August 4.
If you will have been at Sheeran Field watching the men’s and women’s USA National Sevens Club Championships that day, all the better!
SEVENS HEAVEN
We can’t tell you how happy we are that Sevens has become the normal expression of rugby this time of year. Your writer played rugby for six years before he ever HEARD of sevens, and then fell in love with it at first exposure at the 1980 Palo Alto event.
For the next thirty years there were 4-6 tournaments per summer in Northern California. In 1999, I thought I’d set some sort of record, refereeing 14 tournaments in one year, most of them after flying off in all directions, and all of them at my own expense.
But now – we’ve had 4-5 tournaments on some weekends in here Pelicanland. And the college season hasn’t even started!
Born too soon – by about thirty years. I should have been my own son.
COMING UP
Friday, July 27, 6 PM, at Sheeran Field:
NCYRA High-school Pelicans – British Columbia U17 Referee: Jordan Bruno
This should be a barn-burner. It is a rubber match, of sorts.
The Pelicans lost to the Mainland BC team last month and then defeated the (Vancouver) Island team, both on the road. Now they host the combined forces of Canada’s strongest rugby province.
Jordan may need ARs. The game deserves fourth officials as well, should you have a Friday evening free.
Saturday, July 28:
PALO ALTO
Final iteration of the Palo Alto summer series, with women and high school tournaments beginning at 8:30, followed by men’s club and college teams playing in the afternoon. We need ten-twelve refs for this one.
If you’d like to work either AM or PM, let us know and we can accommodate you. However, be advised that we tend to get half a dozen refs who want to leave in the afternoon, leaving the stalwarts to do three games after three PM, that sort of thing. So, we could use refs who only want to work in the afternoon to balance things out.
Plus, that puts you in position for the picnic and adult beverages.
TIGHT-FIVE SEVENS AT SFGG
This is probably the brainchild of a tight-five player. A moment of silence for several such previous ideas…
Why not old boys sevens, out of season, at altitude?
Actually, this sounds like fun. With the shine that Rugby Sevens has attained since it was announced that the games of Mount Olympus would appropriately enough include the Game Played in Heaven, even the tight-five are envious of the fleet-footed lads who get to play all year round.
This looks to be a hoot. We’ve got one ref and could use one or two more – guessing here that high-end pace will only be needed to get to the front of the serving line afterwards.
Sunday, July 29:
NCYRA SUMMER FINALS
The NCYRA completes its summer series with a championship event in Dixon. This is well-organized and features many of the best young players in the USA – and Canada this time. The BC tourists from Friday’s feature match will be participating.
LAST WEEKEND
HIGH SCHOOL SEVENS IN CORTE MADERA
Report by Stephen Valerio:
Referees: Anthony Nguyen, Ray Schwartz, Stephen Valerio, Eric Rauscher, Matthew Le Merle, John Van Der Wahl, with Dave Williamson herding the cats.
For those of us who have been watching the High School 7’s this summer, the improvement in the skills has been appreciable. There was some good rugby on hand in Corte Madera where 11 sides descended and the shade tent was appreciated, along with the Highlander’s hospitality. There were 3 round-robin divisions played on 2 pitches. The Varsity Boys’ bracket was tightly contested with Bellarmine, Dixon and Marin all posting 3-1 records. Dixon took the championship (based on point differential) in the final match beating the previously undefeated Marin side 24-14. The matches were also notable for the mutual respect between the different teams, and the clubs should be proud of the way they conducted themselves.
Dixon’s success continued in the Junior Varsity bracket where they swept the pool. In the Varsity Girls’ Pool went to Danville which swept their 2 matches.
Varsity Boys
Champions: Dixon
Bellarmine 31/Sierra Foothill 10
Marin 28/ Sierra Foothill 5
Marin 28/Danville 19
Bellarmine 14/Danville 7
Dixon 31/Sierra Foothill 7
Dixon 29/Danville 14
Marin 12/Bellarmine 5
Bellarmine 22/Dixon 21
Dixon 24/Marin 14
Danville ?/Sierra Foothill ?
Varsity Girls
Champions: Danville
Danville 17/Pleasanton 7
Dixon 17/Pleasanton 17
Danville 32/Dixon 7
Junior Varsity
Champions: Dixon
Marin 28/Danville 12
Dixon 19/Danville 5
Dixon 32/Marin 5
LUAU SEVENS AT FOR PETE’S SAKE
Report by Cary Bertolone
Refs: Mike King, Sean Peters and Cary Bertolone
Approximately 30 rugby players converged at For Pete's Sake on Saturday. Despite the 96 degree weather, enough tents were erected to make the afternoon enjoyable.
Three games started the afternoon, with Rosa winning two and Redwood taking one game.
A game of Tens then took place and everyone got plenty of rugby.
The Luau was off the charts fabulous with Hawaiian dancers doing the entertaining for the last two hours. Food galore and a good time was had by all!!
FOG WOMEN’S SEVENS
Five teams participated in the second iteration of the Fog Sevens this summer, on a warm but windy day at the Job Corps pitch on Treasure Island.
The host Fog welcomed the Seahawks, the West Bay Angels, and two sides representing the All Blues, who had another side doing well in Glendale, Colo., at the same time.
Referees were Preston Gordon, Tony Levitan, Bruce Bernstein and Bruce Carter. A good time was had by all.
PACIFIC COAST QUALIFIER
Old Puget Sound Beach and the Olympic Club advanced to the nationals, which will be next weekend.
Golden Gate will host the finals, but lost to O Club in the semis to miss out on their own party. The third time was the charm for Matt Sherman’s team, who scored two tries pretty much off the bat and then that was that.
SFGG defeated the Sacramento Lions to claim third - but only SoCal has three seeds to the nationals this time around.
STILL TO COME: SIGN UP NOW
Saturday-Sunday, August 4-5:
USA Rugby club sevens championships (men and women) at SFGG
Saturday, August 18:
Chico Sevens
Saturday, August 25:
Fifteens tournament in Reno
THIS WEEK’S PHOTO
The picture is a little grainy, and not as clear as it might be, befitting something as rare as a photo purporting to show Nessie or Sasquatch or the Four Bruces.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
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