HAIL, PELICUS!
PRECIPITATION'S PRELUDE
Friday afternoon and night, yet another heavy rainstorm passed through the area just ahead of rugby time. Storm fronts have
been marching off the Pacific and into Northern California at regularly intervals for too long now. Most of the regions
reservoirs are full and a heaping snowpack has yet to begin melting. We don't ‘need' any more water. Trees are budding, roses
are blooming, California poppies are popping out all along the roadsides and songbird serenade accompanies the morning's walk
down the driveway to pick up the newspaper.
It's getting to be time for playoff rugby!
HIGH SCHOOL TOUR TO NZ-OZ
San Francisco Golden Gate will be taking a large group of players on an Under-19 tour of Australia and New Zealand for three
weekends in June.
They would be happy to have some referees accompany the group.
If you might be able to travel with them for all or part of the tour, please let us know and we will help you make
arrangements. It should also be no problem arranging matches for you to referee in the various cities.
NEW EXCHANGE OFFICER
Joe Leisek has passed the Exchange Officer's baton to Kat Todd-Schwartz.
Assignments and exchanges are the life's blood of referee development.
We would like to acknowledge the effort that Joe has put in over the past three years and voice our appreciation for the
results thereof: more outgoing exchangees, many happy visitors, better referees throughout rugbydom and friendships on and
off the pitch made and nurtured.
To keep pace with the growth and improvement in NCRFU rugby, our Pelican Society needs to improve and expand our
already-strong exchange program. This is the task that Kat has accepted. We thank her for her willingness to contribute to
our betterment and promise total support for her initiatives.
SEASON RESET
Boys' high schools:
The overall NorCal playoffs begin in Tiers One and Two with quarterfinals on April 22. There are two weeks left in the
regular season for all of the conferences save the Skyhawk.
The Skyhawk conference has now finished its season and will have internal playoffs the next two weekends.
Girls' high schools:
The season begins this Saturday. It will extend for seven or eight Saturdays, with a bye week for Easter. We are not aware of
any plans for playoffs.
Colleges:
There are a handful of college games April 1. Pacific Coast playoffs begin April 8 for men and women, divisions one and two.
Clubs:
Division 2 and 3: The last regular-season games are played April 1. Pacific Coast playoffs begin April 22.
Division 1: The season ends April 1. Pacific Coast playoffs start April 8.
Super League:
The seven-match season is two weeks old. Playoffs begin with quarterfinals on May 22.
MATCH REPORTS
Monday:
USF 22 – Seattle University 21 Referee: Joe Androvich
Saturday:
Super League:
SF/GOLDEN GATE 22– Old Mission Beach AC 15 Referee: Al Klemp
Touch Judges: John Pohlman, Paul Bretz/Bruce Carter
Evaluator: Dixon Smith
This was a very big early-season matchup. These two teams, along with Belmont Shore , are favored in the western conference.
( Golden Gate will play at Belmont April 29.)
A good crowd extended about 80% of the way around the pitch. If bleachers can be installed with controlled access, it would
appear that Gate could begin to make money by charging for big games such as this.
OMBAC has always been known for a speed game. Scouting reports suggested that this year would be no different. Their home
turf, the Little Q, lends itself to such rugby.
But on this day, après le deluge , Golden Gate 's pitch did not.
The San Diegans came out throwing the ball around – until Brian Barnard intercepted a pass and went two-thirds the length of
the pitch to score. They seemed to change their style after that. Whether it was a deliberate choice, the result of the muddy
conditions, or something dictated to them by their opponents is difficult to say.
On this day, in these conditions, the teams were very evenly matched. In the first half, each scored two tries and converted
one, OMBAC adding a penalty kick for 15 – 12 lead at the break.
In the second half it became clear that there weren't going to be any more easy tries. Grant Wells began to offer for goal
anywhere across the midway line, and connected with about fifteen minutes left to tie the game.
At this point it became an absolute classic, intense and uncompromising. The crowd was in a fever pitch. And so it was until
Brian McClenahan charged down a clearing kick and fell on it just short of the dead ball line for the deciding points.
This occurred directly in front of the VIP tent, filled with Golden Gate sponsors, a very nice touch. And then the game ended
with the home team forcing a five-meter attacking scrum at the same corner of the pitch. Al Klemp's watch was beeping as
OMBAC had to ground a ball they'd taken back themselves.
The existence of a clubhouse on Treasure Island has produced instant karma of the rugby club variety. A quick survey of the
post-match camaraderie turned up players from every era of NorCal rugby and probably half the teams that have existed here in
the last thirty years. For those whose playing days are over, if they don't want to be a club administrator being a casual
fan of most clubs doesn't have a lot of rewards. But here – you have a clubhouse to socialize in afterwards with a
like-minded lot.
While we remember the day when such facilities were non-existent in the USA , we can now dream of the day when they are
commonplace.
A wonderful moment occurred during the post-match remarks by each team.
The speakers on these occasions are generally chosen because of their ability to lead men in battle on the playing fields of
honor, so the occasion usually lends itself to the most formulaic and uninspiring oratory. But this day was memorable and
different.
OMBAC's Captain Dan Payne was in the midst of his thank-yous when his cell phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and
looked at the screen in that automatic and absent-minded way folks do even when they have no intention of answering the
thing.
But he answered it.
There was a moment's intake of breath in the room at the faux pas – surely a man standing on a chair, graciously speaking to
a room full of friends and respected opponents; surely he would not take a phone call at such a moment.
But he was way ahead of his audience. He answered and leaving no time for his interrogator to speak said, “We lost. I'm in
the middle of something. I'll call you back,” and hung up.
It was a spectacular play of a miserable lie, a moment of grace and kind humility by a hard-nosed rugby man, and it made him
instant friends with all who heard his words.
Bald Eagles – SILVERHAWKS Referee: Bruce Bernstein
The Silverhawks outscored the Bald Eagles 5 tries to 3 on the practice field at Treasure Island .
It was mostly a forwards match because of the wet pitch. The Bald Eagles new, relatively young flyhalf ran the opening kick
back for a quick try. The Silverhawks responded with a forwards try converted by Dave Richards. Most of the first half was
spent in the Bald Eagle half & the Silverhawks scored twice more. Each team scored once in the second half. Unfortunately
the ball never made it out past both teams' inside centers due to the sloppy field, tight defense/good tackling, & Fred
Forester's Kamikaze get-up, so the Bald Eagles couldn't take advantage of their faster centers & backs.
San Mateo – SF/GG Not played.
We are not sure whether this was a weather-related cancellation or a forfeiture.
Hayward 21 – DIABLO GAELS 40 Referee: Pete Smith
It was a heavy weight prize fight for the first 40 minutes. I thought for sure someone was going to get seriously injured as
both teams were tackling as hard as any two teams I have ever seen. Vaea Anitoni and Jay Wilkerson make a huge difference to
Diablo.
Seconds: HAYWARD 3 tries – Diablo Gaels 2 tries Referee: Joe Saccomanno
Due to time constraints, Hayward 's lights go off at 10pm , only a half was played. Hayward started out strong scoring three
tries. Diablo came roaring back with two quick game ending tries.
Seahawks 10 – OLYMPIC CLUB 42 Referee: Judah Boulet ( New England )
Videographer: Bruce Carter
The first half was pretty even but the O's stretched it out, showing playoff form as the game went on.
Seconds: SEAHAWKS 53 – Olympic Club 15 Referee: Bryant Byrnes
At the too wide Watson Bowl. True club side seconds matches are a rarity for the simple reason that few D1s have full second
sides. Crisp seconds games are even more rare.
This was very nice, crisp game the first half, with the score 10-10 at mid point. However, the Hawks began (continued) to
feed first side fellas in in the second half, with predictable results.
SANTA ROSA 9 – Sacramento Referee: Joe Leisek
Touch Judges: Bo Rodman, Rachel Lawton (and Alan Petty)
This was to be Rachel's Team of Three. However, weather conditions prevented her from arriving until well into the first
half, which itself had been pushed well back hoping she would arrive. Finally, the two teams could wait no longer and made
their intentions clear by lining up for the kickoff. Thanking the teams for their patience, I jogged to midfield and tried to
quickly put myself into Referee Frame of Mind.
The game was a very intense contest, sort of a grinder, with a muddy pitch and rain off and on during play. The most
difficult challenge may have been wind, which blew from the west. The teams could not run the ball successfully (something
they both like to do), so they kicked for territorial gain, lobbed the ball out about as wide as the inside center, and
picked it up and jammed up the middle from rucks and mauls.
One thing we did not see: tries. All points came from penalty kicks with the wind.
Sacramento scored first, from a Santa Rosa penalty for not releasing. The score stood at 3-0 at halftime. All of Santa Rosa
's scoring came in the second half.
Thanks to Bo and Rachel for their help and for reminding me at halftime to look in their direction. Thanks also to spectator
and Pelican Alan Petty, who ran touch until Rachel arrived. I look forward to running touch for Rachel another time.
Seconds: Santa Rosa – Sacramento Referee: Rachel Lawton
No report received.
ARROYO GRANDE 36 – Fresno 15 Referee: Giles Wilson
Looking forward to my first game in nearly a month due to injury and surgery I set out for the 4 hour drive to Arroyo Grande;
about 90 minutes in I met up with the Lone Pelican, himself migrating northward for his games, for my morning coffee. Then
onwards through the rain to my destination, hoping that the rain would break but thinking that I'd need to purchase some sort
of undershirt to stay warm. Through SLO the rain fell heavily but as I descended to Pismo the curtain lifted, just in time.
I'd planned enough time to stop and stretch my legs at Pismo, and to purchase frozen chowder from Splash café; the
interesting response to my order for a frozen quart was “is that to go????” Ah well.
Then on down to River bottom in AG; the farm track was thick with mud (some of which came home with me) but dropping down to
the field it was in perfect shape. There followed a brief spell of drizzle before the rugby gods overcame for a beautiful
sunny rugby day.
Fresno had beaten AG handily early in the season bit these teams are moving in opposite directions; AG have their exchange
players in and Fresno have lost a number who performed well early in the year.
The kiwi pair in the center worked the inexperienced Fresno back 3 to a charm; 4 first half tries (a hat trick to the outside
center) came from cross kicks; either well followed and caught on the fly or muffed by the receiver. In the second half the
wiser JoJo McKenzie moved from center back to fullback and the tactic was solved. By the end of the first half a dispirited
Fresno was looking up at a 22 – 3 deficit.
Fresno came a little alive in the second half but this was not the Fresno of previous years and while they applied pressure,
AG played as though they were the team in arrears and still won the second half by 2 points 14 – 12. Overall a well earned 36
– 15 victory for AG.
The drive back home was uneventful, now all that's left is a car wash.
CHICO STATE 38 – St. Mary's 23 Referee: Sam Reagle
Conditions: Cloudy, damp
At the last minute, CSUC nixed the use of their on-campus pitch due to too much rain so we played at Bidwell Jr. HS, home
pitch of the Chico men's club. This pitch had pretty good traction, but was a bit "lumpy" in spots. The rain waited until
after the game, but the strong winds did not appear to be a factor as there was only 1 missed conversion and no missed
penalty goals.
Chico won the toss and quickly went to work attacking the middle of the defense. Several phases later, the SMC backs were
overanxious and with only 2 minutes gone, Chico led 3-0. Chico looked to extend their lead a few minutes later when their
inside center split the defense and headed for the goal line only to slip, land on his back and knock-on about 1 meter out.
SMC added their own penalty kick at the 13 minute mark to tie the game. Both teams added a converted try and then SMC added
another penalty kick to go into halftime with the lead 13-10, despite having a man in the bin for repeated offenses.
In the second half, Chico kicked off to SMC, picked up the loose ball and scored a converted try with less than a minute
played. Chico added another penalty kick before SMC answered with their own converted try at the 50 minute mark and another
penalty kick 6 minutes later to tie it at 23.
Chico scored a converted try 61 minutes in to break the tie and scored their last try at the 75 minute mark while SMC had
another man in the bin for repeated infringements. The teams ended the game at full strength with Chico on the attack only
to lose the ball in touch. All in all, a very entertaining game from 2 very respectful teams.
Seconds: CHICO STATE 48 – St. Mary's 14 Ref: Reagle
Appointed referee Rich Anderson went to St. Mary's and wondered where everyone was.
UC DAVIS 27 – Sacramento State 19 Referee: John Coppinger
Referee Coach: David Williamson
Seconds: UC DAVIS 14 – Sacramento State 10 Referee: Tony Latu
Sac State struck first in a 75 m run by their outside center, conversion good. Sac was leading 10-7 with two minutes to go.
But Davis came back and hard, and at the end....Sac-10, Davis-14.
UOP forfeits to Santa Rosa JC
Humboldt State women – Chico State
Canceled by HSU for ‘disciplinary reasons' according to Jim Crenshaw
HUMBOLDT STATE 36 – U. of San Francisco 10 Referee: Jim Crenshaw
Drove up to Humboldt County Friday night and spent the night with some friends in Garberville. Got up and headed to Arcata
for the Humboldt State - USF game under cloudy skies and cool temperatures. Half way there, the rain started, then the hail
started, but by the time I arrived in Arcata, it was back to just hard rain.
Amazingly, at kickoff, the rain stopped and by the beginning of the second half the sun was shining.
We started the scoring with USF scoring a penalty kick. It was the last lead they would have. Humboldt scored five tries, two
of them converted in the first half. Score at halftime Humboldt 29 USF 3.
Humboldt and USF both made a couple of substitutions at halftime. USF scored a converted try about 15 minutes into the second
half and Humboldt answered about 10 minutes later. The field was very wet and muddy in the second half, with knock-ons and
the resulting scrums taking up a significant portion of the game.
Final score: Humboldt 36 USF 10
Fog B side 0 – SEATTLE UNIVERSITY 52 Referee: Kat Todd-Schwartz
At Herz Park in SF
Seattle University is on tour this week and had already played two games prior to the Fog B side match. The Fog wanted their
B side players to get more game time; the whole club is preparing for the Bingham Cup in New York in May.
Seattle scored three converted tries in the first half of the game, with another five in the second half. After issuing cards
to both teams for repeat infringements, the second half cleaned up and both teams had moments of fairly inspired rugby.
Seattle is a brand new team at a small university of 2700 students; Coach Alvin has strong connections to NorCal rugby and
the Fog. Kudos to the Fog who again put on a fun post game social at the Metro (in the Castro). The Seattle boys were selling
a "beefcake" calendar for fundraising, and appeared to do a good business at the Metro!
THE GAME YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT
Here is my match report for today's (Monday) game for the pelicanrefs.com newsletter.
Univ. of Washington 3 (8th minute) – Cal 5 (5th minute) Referee: Craig Parish
Match Abandoned 10th minute.
Touch Judges: Ron Myers, Tom Mershon
Coach/Evaluator: None
UW kicked off going downhill. After a series of rucks, scrums and lineouts Cal scored an unconverted try. Upon the restart
another series of rucks and mishandled balls occurred which eventually saw Cal conceding a penalty about 25m out from goal.
Subsequent to that penalty being awarded to UW, an exchange took place between the Referee and Cal 's Head Coach which
culminated in a red card being issued. The penalty was goaled, Cal left the pitch, and the match was over.
Report provided by:
Ron Myers, TJ
Pacific Northwest Rugby Referee Society
Oregon Youth Rugby Referee Society
Northern California Rugby Referee Society
HIGH SCHOOL GAMES
Thursday 3/23 under the lights at Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge Frosh/Soph7 – JESUIT "C" side 17 Referee: Sam Reagle
Conditions: Recent rain
Not much to report. Some knew the laws, many didn't. Good play by both scrumhalves with mostly good decisions and sharp
passes.
Oak Ridge 36 – JESUIT "B" side 0 Referee: Sam Reagle
Probably a good decision by Oak Ridge to keep the ball in the forwards most of the game given the muddy pitch. OR repeatedly
picked and drove in 5 meter chunks with good coordination and timing. Jesuit had moments of good teamwork, but rarely could
gain an overlap or make the key pass to cross the goal line. Jesuit had opportunities; it wasn't the blowout that the score
implies.
Friday Games
Del Campo 20 – Rio Americano 29 Referee: Sam Reagle
This was a seesaw contest between two pretty evenly matched teams. Rio seemed better disciplined in sticking to their game
plan and the Cougars wide open style resulted in multiple scores by their backs, mostly near the lake at one end of the pitch
that left the wingers isolated.
Del Campo scored an unconverted try just 2 minutes into the game with Rio Americano answering with their own unconverted try
4 minutes later. Then, Del Campo scored (unconverted) again 3 minutes after that and Rio closed out the half with a
converted try to lead 12-10.
The second half was just like the first. Del Campo scored 4 minutes in (15-12), then Rio (19-15), then Rio again (24-15),
then Del Campo (20-24) with 15 minutes to play. This game was clearly up for grabs until Rio scored again to settle into the
final score of 29-20.
ELSIE ALLEN 46 – Rancho Cotate 0 Referee: Joe Leisek
A tough, physical contest played in aromatic, adobe pudding. (Players and coaches are all looking for a little sun and
slightly dryer playing fields.) Elsie played well in spite of the muck, taking advantage of mistakes and creating
opportunities quickly. They also managed to retain the ball through several possessions, as is their trademark. Among the
Elsie players, prop Craig Manno had a very good game, as did Josh Berto, who has been moved out to center. Captain Manny
Ambriz did as well...this is a front row that can match up with any high school side. Rancho is still coming together as a
team; I enjoy them very much and see progress from just a few weeks ago.
APTOS 14 – Los Altos 12 Referee: Bruce Carter
Answer: Leave the office in Salinas at six to drive up Highway One along the shores of the Monterey Bay at sunset to referee
a high school rugby game in Aptos.
Question: What is the perfect antidote to another sixty-hour work week?
The pitch at Aptos High School was given over to lacrosse as the ruggers assembled. Five minutes on the clock translated to
almost half an hour. One of the frustrated footballers was heard to say that the “Quidditch faeries” probably had “two more
chukkers to screw around”.
(But finish they did, the homestanding Mariners winning 8 – 2 in their first season over an unidentified opponent.)
Coaches of the two teams, Greg Stohr of Los Altos and Vaughn Stumpf of Aptos, have more in common than names ending in
uncommon consonant clusters. The ref is lucky enough to consider them both old friends, another wonderful feature of our
code.
This game started fast and furious, if not somewhat chaotic. Even though Skyhawk conference playoffs begin next Saturday,
there were a number of players in their first or second games, and some lineup shuffles due to unavailability.
Each team scored two tries in the first half. Aptos converted two to Los Altos' one, perhaps due to the expert holding of the
ball for the place kicks on the muddy grass by Aptos coach Marcel Herle.
In the second half, defense got the better of offense on the narrow pitch and no more points were forthcoming. One conversion
proved to be the difference.
3/21/06
Sonoma 10 – ELSIE ALLEN 20 Referee: Bo Rodman
Venue: Hanna Boys Center ( Sonoma )
On a beautiful Tuesday evening, Elsie Allen came over to Sonoma to play the host Dragons on what can best be described as a
'questionable' pitch - pun intended. The field lists noticeably from east to west...
The Lobos, coming off a very successful tour of Southern California played mostly 2nd and 3rd side players. The hosts got
out to an early 5-0 lead; but, Elsie played aggressively through the back line and was able to hold on to a 20-10 final
score.
No goal posts present so no conversions and no penalty kicks.
3/24/06
SONOMA 20 – Santa Rosa 5 Referee: Bo Rodman
Venue: Hanna Boys Center ( Sonoma )
I take back everything bad I said about this venue on Tuesday night (except for the rocks poking up out of the ground). On a
wet and cold Friday afternoon we were able to get a game of rugby played.
The hosts were clearly more determined and the play and results are indicative.
Getting out to a 17-0 lead at halftime, the Dragons held on to win 20-5.
Note - an industrious parent had added goalposts since Tuesday!!!
Saturday:
3/25/06
Piedmont @ Golden Gate U-19
Venue: Treasure Island
Would Be Referee: Bo Rodman
I have no idea what happened to this match... I woke up at 5:45 on a Saturday morning for an 8:30 kickoff at Treasure Island
.
Arriving at the pitch I couldn't help but notice great conditions and clear skies. No standing water, no existing mud to
suggest that the field was beat up. Suffice to say that I was surprised to find the visiting coach who informed me that the
match was cancelled. A phone call would have been nice...
Oh well, off to Santa Rosa to see if I can run touch for someone.
Silicon Valley 10 – EAST PALO ALTO 46 Referee: Bruce Carter
After a close first fifty minutes, EPA ran the tries in freely.
HAYWARD 36 – Lamorinda 19 Referee: Joe Androvich
Evaluator: Bryan Porter
LIVE OAK 32 – Peninsula Green 0 Referee: Sandy Robertson
Live Oak came out strong in the first half, controlling the ball and making the most of their penalty opportunities, scoring
3 converted tries and kicking 2 penalties before the intermission. Peninsula Green's defense stiffened in the 2nd stanza and
made some good use of their possession but they were unable to cross Live Oak's line.
DE LA SALLE 43 – Marin 10 Referee: Chris Parkhouse
DLS came flying out of the blocks scoring the first try inside 2 mins and adding a second with barely 5 mins on the clock. A
third would have been added in quick succession barring a forward pass 5m out with the try line begging. After this initial
onslaught Marin battled their way back into the game with a bulldozing try from the forwards followed by a conversion and
penalty which brought them to within 7 points. That was as close as it got, DLS slowly exerting their dominance in forward
play and probing runs from the backs to run out winners.
GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL PRESEASON MATCH
ALAMEDA 32 – Berkeley U19, 10 Referee: Steve Jarmek
Match was close with the sides tied 5-5 at the half, Berkeley playing short with 3 "converted" Alameda players. Second half,
Alameda took control powered by strong breakaway runs of their #6 Flanker.
GARY MALPAS LIVES ON-LINE
Our recent visitor was the one who checked with potential billets to see what speed Internet connections they had.
He found something on E-Bay that you might be interested in:
“Looks like we should have gone into badge commodities guys!”
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NORTERN-CALIFORNIA-REFEREE-SOCIETY-RUGBY-BADGE_W0QQitemZ8786624105QQcategoryZ2881QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
THE SAGA OF THE LAW BOOKS
Readers with prodigious and far-reaching memories will recall way back in November of 2005, when the IRB asked us how many
lawbooks we wanted.
Having withdrawn permission from national unions to publish the book without paying royalties, the IRB decided to take over
vending worldwide. However, they wanted to deal with a minimum number of folks in each country, hardly the model for a
successful retail endeavor.
So your Pelican Society dutifully ordered a hundred books for its members. We were promised delivery either in time for the
December 1 beginning of our season or soon thereafter.
The order was placed through Peter Watson, who no doubt rues the day his name was spelled for the first time, such must be
the number of queries he has received after the appearance of these long-rumored books.
Bear in mind that the IRB is known as an organization with global interests and investments. It funds a number of
multi-national competitions and coordinates the affairs of thousands of professionals. It is the custodian of our sacred
game.
Now let us inhabit the mind of Peter Watson for a moment. He has been letting the phone ring, shunning e-mail, ignoring the
blinking beacon of the answering machine, knowing that another lawless and ignorant waif out there is helpless without a
printed law book, pleading for satisfaction; and no doubt there are many fifteens of players suffering under such ignorant
fools. After all, anyone can find the Laws on the Internet for free…
But Peter Watson is a rugby man – an optimist. He knows that, as certain as the first red robin will replace the snow drifts
of the New England winter, a package will arrive at his address from the IRB, a bounty of lawbooks to satisfy the blowers
from sea to shining sea.
And as many inquiries as he fields and avoids, yet still he must at least ask up the chain at least every so often. So he
e-mailed Sadie Thomas:
“Should I assume from this that the 2006 books STILL HAVE NOT ARRIVED?”
(emphasis in the original)
Now imagine the normally implacable Peter when he read this reply:
“No, the law books have not arrived at the National Office. I just received a
phone call from Oregon customs wondering what to do with this order large
mysterious order that arrived. They do not know where it came from or where
it is supposed to go. Somehow they saw your name and found the NO phone
number but they will not release the boxes until they have been paid for.
Apparently they are on consignment or something?”
Good thing Dubai Ports World isn't running our portals of entry. They might let a ‘large mysterious order' of unknown
provenance and cryptic destination proceed merely upon payment of postage due.
Ah, but the mystery is at least solved. A nice, neat shipment of lawbooks from Dublin to Peter Watson of Oregon , USA .
But as with any good mystery, when you turn the page there is another surprise. In this case it is a fax received by the
National Orifice last week, presumably announcing the shipment.
See if you can get your intellect around this one:
ATT TO: PETER WATSON
FROM: TATIANA LARRACHE / GIMEX S.A.
DEAR MR. WATSON:
WE ARE THE FORWARDING AGENTS TO GRAFICEMS IN SPAIN . WE HAVE AN AIR SHIPMENT GOING YOUR WAY OF 600 KGS AND THE COMMODITY ARE
( sic ) BOOKS.
WE DECIDED TO SEND IT TROUGH ( sic ) UPS – SIC (THE CARGO BRANCE OF UPS) AND THE MASTER AIRWAY BILL IS MAWB: 406 9200 0462 (I
IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERMS BUT I HAD TO TELL YOU ANYWAY THIS NUMBER IS LIKE A TRACKING NUMBER).
THE FLIGHTS ARE AS THEY FOLLOW:
MADRID-COLOGNE…5X 0249 / MARCH 14 th
COLOGNE-LOUISVILLE…5X 0214 / MARCH 15 th
LOUISVILLE-DENVER…5X 0896 / MARCH 16 th
IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM WHATSOEVER OR YOU MAY NEED ANY INFORMATION, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME, THE DIRECT
PHONE NUMBER IS ___________, ETC.
HAVE A NICE DAY, KIND REGARDS,
TATIANA LARRACHE / AIR DEPARTMENT AT GIMEX S. A.
P. S.:
NOW THAT WE HAVE TRANSACTED BUSINESS ON THIS BASIS, I HAVE A CONFIDENTIAL OFFER FOR YOU AND YOU ALONE.
FIRST, I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION. THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY
CONFIDENTIAL AND 'TOP SECRET'. I AM SURE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR ABILITY AND RELIABILITY TO PROSECUTE A TRANSACTION OF
THIS GREAT MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A PENDING TRANSACTION REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.
HERE AT GIMEX S. A. WE DO A LOT OF BUSINESS WITH DISCRETE MEN OF MEANS SUCH AS YOURSELF. SOME ARE, BY NECESSITY, MORE
DISCRETE THAN OTHERS. THIS IS WHERE YOUR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND REMUNERATION COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL.
A LARGE CONSIGNMENT OF RUGBY LAWBOOKS, WORLD CUP MEMORABILIA, AUTOGRAPHED TOUR JERSEYS , KIDNAPPED MASCOTS, SIGNED SCORECARDS
AND IRB BEER MATS HAS BEEN MISDIRECTED TO NIGERIA . AS YOU KNOW, GIMEX S. A. NORMALLY USES ONLY THE MOST LOGICAL AND DIRECT
SHIPPING METHODS AND ROUTES, WITH ABSOLUTE IDENTIFICATION OF ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED. SO WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS HAPPENED.
FORMER NIGERIAN MILITARY REGIMENS MALCONTENTS EXHILED TO THE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN WORKING A SCHEME WITH THE CENTRAL
BANK OF NIGERIA WHEREBY THEY: CERTIFY THE VALUE OF IMPORTED OR IN-TRANSIT GOODS AT INFLATED LEVELS; OBTAIN SHORT-TERM
DELIVERY INSURANCE AGAINST SUCH VALUATIONS; REPORT THE GOODS AS STOLEN; ‘RECOVER' THEM AT GREAT EFFORT ONLY AFTER THE
SPECIFIED TIME FOR DELIVERY HAS PASSED; COLLECT ON THE INSURANCE; GIVE A KICKBACK TO OTHER FORMER REGIMEN OFFICIALS AT THE
BANK; RE-INSURE AT A HIGHER RATE GIVEN THE OBVIOUS DESIRABILITY OF THE GOODS TO THE CRIMINAL CLASSES; AND REPEAT AD
INFINITUM.
THIS OBVIOUSLY DEFRAUDS SHARE HOLDERS IN THE BANK AND THE SURITY COMPANY AND DENIES THE LEGITIMATE OWNERS OF THE
TRANS-SHIPPED MERCHANDISE THE USE OF THEIR COMMODITIES.
HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESS THAT GIMEX S. A. DOES WITH THE NIGERIAN REGIMEN AND ITS DISCONTENTS, WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO ‘BLOW THE WHISTLE' ON THIS SCHEME.
THE LARGE CONSIGNMENT MARKED ONLY “TO PETER WATSON, OREGON , USA ” HAS BEEN INSURED, STOLEN, RECOVERED AND RE-APPRAISED
FIFTEEN TIMES. IT WOULD CURRENTLY REQUIRE A PAYMENT OF US $21,320,000.00 (TWENTY ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY
THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) TO ACQUIRE THIS CONSIGNMENT FREE AND CLEAR.
I HAVE THEREFORE, BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES OF THE BOARD TO LOOK FOR AN OVERSEAS PARTNER INTO
WHOSE ACCOUNT WE WOULD TRANSFER THE SUM OF HENCE WE ARE WRITING YOU THIS LETTER. YOU WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO CLAIM THE
MERCHANDISE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT SEND YOU A DRAFT OR CHEQUE FOR SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT. WE WILL NEED TO DEPOSIT IT DIRECTLY TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
PLEASE SEND US YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER. WE WILL ALSO NEED YOUR PASSWORDS TO SATISFY THE BANK THAT SUCH A LARGE TRANSACTION IS
LEGITIMATE. ALSO, ANY CREDIT CARD NUMBERS ALONG WITH THE NAMES AS WRITTEN ON THE CARD, BILLING ADDRESSES INCLUDING ZIP CODES,
AND THREE-DIGIT SECURITY CODES WOULD HELP US ESTABLISH OUR BONA FIDES WITH YOUR BANK, THAT WE HAVE YOUR TRUST.
PLEASE, NOTE THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% SAFE AND WE HOPE TO COMMENCE THE TRANSFER LATEST SEVEN (7) BANKING DAYS FROM THE
DATE OF THE RECEIPT OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BY TEL/FAX; 234-1-7740449.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSATION. PLEASE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER USING THE ABOVE TEL/FAX NUMBERS. I WILL SEND YOU DETAILED INFORMATION OF THIS PENDING
PROJECT WHEN I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU.
AND WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU LEARN A LOT FROM YOUR LAW BOOKS.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
DR TATIANA LARRACHE OKON
NOTE; PLEASE QUOTE THIS REFERENCE NUMBER (VE/S/09/6B6) IN ALL YOUR RESPONSES.
THIS WEEK'S PHOTO
The beer garden at Witter Field doubles as the referee hangout. We have no idea how such a tradition began.
This picture was taken after the final of the Cal Invitational, March 19 th .
Left to Right:
David Buckey, Rich Anderson, Elaine Baggott, Ron Gore, Ron Myers, David Williamson, Bob Tustin, Paul ‘Boomer' Andrews, Bryan
Porter, Ian Baggott.
Paul Andrews, for the non-initiates, founded the first fifteen-a-side rugby tournament in history. In world history. In the
history of this sport. The very first one, the granddaddy of them all.
That was the Monterey Tournament, which began in mid-fifties. And it was Boomer's idea, to bridge the distances involved in
American rugby by offering teams the chance to play more than one game on a weekend.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
