DON'T FORGET THE AGM
This Saturday is the Pelican Refs annual training meeting , with our Society AGM and biennial election of officers. This will be at the Golden Gate clubhouse on Treasure Island and will run from 9 AM until 3:30 PM.
Attendance is important - your vote counts!
HONORS LIST
USA Rugby has released the current referee lists.
Paul Bretz is one of only two International Referees.
The National Focus Group features two new names: Aruna Ranaweera and Pete Smith.
Congratulations to these high-flying Pelicans!
WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO ON EXCHANGE?
One seat open:
Vancouver Island Exchange: Fly up on Wednesday, November 21. Referee the island high school championships Thursday and Friday. Do a club match on Saturday. Enjoy the beauty, the billeting and the best foreign exchange only three hours from home.
Two seats open:
New York Sevens Exchange: the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The earlier you travel, the more time you have to spend in the Big Apple. Lots of top clubs attend this one regularly, including Samurai, and it is a highlight on the US rugby calendar.
As always, going on exchange is cheap: our society pays for your travel and the receiving society either hosts you or pays for your ground expenses on their end.
PACIFIC COAST PLAYOFFS
Championship:
ALL BLUES 29 - Oregon Rugby Sports Union 3 Referee: Paul Bretz
The All Blues will have the #2 seed in the sweet sixteen. ORSU will have #14, and the Mudhens #16. This event will be played in Austin, Texas, at the end of the month.
EMERALD CITY MUDHENS 21 - Seattle 12 Referee: Lois Bukowski
Touch Judges: Sandy Robertson, Eric Rauscher
Mudhens make a 2nd half comeback to defeat cross town rivals Breakers in first of 3 round robin games to determine final playoff spot. Not the prettiest game on Sat., but it worked for the birds as their backline capitalized on Seattle mistakes.
I was fortunate enough to have the closest match of the day! AND, I got to go home, shower, eat and pick up my son to only arrive back with perfect timing to watch the Blue Angels fly overhead as the All Blues exhibited their continuing dominance.
Kat and Ray were also in attendance. Fun day!
SF Fog 13 - MUDHENS 33 Referee: Preston Gordon
The Fog had 2 tries (both great ones from one of their wings) while the Mudhens had 4 (mixed between forwards/backs if I recall correctly), plus 1 penalty try (due to a late charge on their kicker who chipped ahead while attacking inside the Fog 22).
There was some persistent high tackling by both sides, which resulted in a yellow card to Mudhens #14 in the 18th minute of the 1st half, but other than that this was a great game, with lots of open play and free-flowing movements.
Let me double check the scorecard before you put any of that on the website though - I'll confirm for you by tomorrow.
Both Dave Williamson and Bryan Porter watched me (mic & video was a bonus) and gave me some great feedback afterwards.
I also helped out the U-19 women's Grizzlies. They needed a ref for a 7-on-7 scrimmage at the Job Corps pitch. It was interesting refereeing while being repeatedly buzzed by blue and gold F/A-18's going near full speed 200 feet off the deck, right over our heads!
SF Fog - SEATTLE Referee: Pete Smith
No report received:
ALUMNI WEEKEND IN CHICO
Chico State Wildcats 31 - CHICO STATE ALUMNI 36
Referee: Scott "Tumbler" Wood
TJs: Jackie "Superstar" Finck, Jim "Glass Factory" Crenshaw
The students played well, occasionally rotating newbies in with seasoned players, and scored some nice tries. The grads steadily built steam and grew more cohesive as the match progressed. In the final quarter, the lead switched a couple times before the Alumni put the game away with a go-ahead try. Kudos to Mitch Jagoe and Paul Dooley for organizing the day's events (if someone else should be credited, my apologies).
Chico State - Chico State Alumna Referee: Jim Crenshaw
No report received.
Chico Old Boys - Silverhawks Referee: Dan Lacko
No report received.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 20, two tournaments:
Harlotfest in Modesto: a day of fun with those who would play with anyone.
Slugfest at UC Santa Cruz: colleges teams on two pitches, including the hosts, UC Davis, Cal Poly, Santa Clara, and others TBA.
October 27: The Stanford Tens, the Baracus Tens on Treasure Island, and at least three more games of which we are aware. This will be a very busy weekend รข€“ please try to make yourself available.
ALL BEGINNING REFEREES AND NEW MEMBERS TO THE SOCIETY SHOULD PLAN ON REFEREEING AT THE STANFORD TENS.
Let us know if you would like to referee on any of these dates.
IRB SEVENS IN SAN DIEGO
Now is a good time to start making plans for the best rugby tournament played in North America, the IRB Sevens at Petco Park, February 9-10, 2008.
Todd Clever, as a crowd favorite and one of the best Eagles, is the poster boy for the tournament. His parents, Robyn and Harry, are the travel agents for the NCRRS.
The Clevers have negotiated rates with several hotels that are within walking distance. We can vouch for the facilities and the fun at the Solamar, where Mr. and Mrs. Scriptoris will be roosting once again.
The Clevers can also, of course, arrange for your flights and event tickets. Seating this year will be a little different: general (open) seating within any particular price zone. There will be no assigned seats, just assigned sections.
A credit card number will hold your reservation. Contact them at:
hclever@theclevertraveler.com
408-920-9600
800-675-3202
WORLD CUP HEADQUARTERS
By universal acclaim, the best try scored at the World Cup so far (with 44 of 48 games played) was by the USA against South Africa.
Take a moment. Careful if you're at work--if you haven't seen this before, you will be leaping about and yelling excitedly for several minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKm-K0UkMLM
WHO WANTS TO BE A REAL PELICAN?
Alas, it is true that the "real" Pelicans are those rugby players who are good enough to represent the NCRFU on the pitch. Because of this, our referee society has long featured a pelican on the crest.
Somewhere along the line, because the refs were wearing pelicans and the players weren't, the Society adopted the mascot as well.
But now is the time of the year when the real Pelicans are chosen:
Please announce the following NCRFU Men's Pelican tryouts/practices to all in your domain:
Oct 20 at 10:00am: Pelican tryouts & practice at Treasure Island
Nov 3 at 1:00pm: Pelican tryouts & practice at Treasure Island
Nov 6: Possible practice at Hayward
Nov 17-18: Grizzly Shield at Portland, Oregon
Thank you,
John Tyler, Pelican Manager
Greg Stoehr, Pelican Head Coach
THIS WEEK'S PHOTO
Kindred spirits meet in St. Remy during the World Cup.
HAIL, PELICUS!
For the Senate
Pelicus Scriptoris
