HAIL PELICUS!

Loss Of A Legend

The morning sun has risen oer the hill
And dawn is golden, pale as sifted wheat
Now every flower holds up its cup to fill
With dewy sun, the morning’s rays, replete
With rainbow’s hues. But I awaken, chill
From sorrow that our minds no longer meet.

“Death Of A Mentor”
Sheena Blackhall

The Game That Is Played In Heaven just got another teammate last week when Edwin Todd, Pelicus Editorem Minimus, Ex Dux, passed after a long battle with cancer.   Very few know of his condition because Ed wanted no outcry or a string of maudlin testimonials or extended, sad goodbyes.   That, of course, is one of the main reasons that so many people would have wanted to produce such writings and phone calls – for all of his expertise, knowledge and gifts, Ed Todd was both humble and self-effacing and I believe would have been rather embarrassed by all the attention.  Make no mistake – he knew who he was and the value he brought to any situation, be it a conversation, a rugby match, a law discussion, a writing discussion (yes, he was a published author), or any scenario that he found himself in.   He was a man of confidence, humility, reason and kindness.   I can not do his legacy justice to I will pass the quill to Dr Bruce Carter, Pelicus Scriptoris, Dux Deux.

Ed Todd

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Hamlet, 5.2.358-359
William Shakespeare

We’ve all been brought a little lower this week, having lost one of the giants upon whom we built this city, that of the Northern California Rugby Referee Society and of USA Rugby refereeing.

Ed Todd passed at his home July 6, surrounded by family, being sung to by his wife Berry, with an attending chorus of sympathizers all across the oval planet.

As one who spent many hours with Ed singing, for we played together on a team renowned for singing, I’d like to add my measures’ worth.

People hope to make a difference in this world. Some do. Let us count some of the ways we find this a changed place as a result of Ed having spent time with us.

At birth, Ed took up a characteristic which was to remain with him throughout life: he was at the leading edge, in this instance of the baby boom. A child of Southern California, he had quite a different perspective on the world than did his cohorts. Some of this was a result of attending school at Fettes, a boarding school in Scotland, and having played rugby there through his childhood. The standards of such a venerable institution, having since produced a Prime Minister, found a student capable of bearing them forward.

When he returned to the USA to attend college in the sixties, he chose USC, which had one of only a few score teams in the country at the time. As scrumhalf, team captain and kicker he led to them to a Monterey Tournament victory, which in those pre-USA Rugby days was considered the national championship.

In the early seventies he attended Hastings College of the Law, as it was then known, in San Francisco. To his consternation there was no rugby team there and to his credit, there soon was. He and another experienced player formed this professional-school side, a novel idea in those days.

The initial group of players in the years that Ed attended almost all had no previous exposure to the game. As in: never having encountered the word ‘rugby’ previously in their mostly well-read lives. Yet dozens of these fellows have based their social lives and professional networks in large part on rugby ever since and join us in our chorus of discontent at Ed’s passing.

A story recently shared among this crew was of the one time that Hastings beat Cal. Recall there were no national competitions, and teams played whom they wished. Cal played a variety of clubs. Hastings was rarely among the elite but on that day, Ed converted from the touchline for a victory his teammates might have thought beyond themselves.

Perhaps his greater, more deeply-bred understanding of the game and his exposure to higher levels of referees in his youth led him to take up the whistle. He obviously advanced quickly: three years after founding the Hastings RFC he was one of four signatories of the NCRRS Articles of Incorporation in 1976, as ever ahead of the crowd, a crowd with those happy and willing to follow such a natural leader.

It should be noted here that, from a team which existed 15 years, fourteen Hastings players became referees. This is a level that has probably only recently been surpassed by the San Jose Seahawks, coming up on fifty years as a club. Three of those from Hastings refereed at the USA level. To my educated guess probably four of the fourteen had any rugby experience prior to playing on Hastings, which means ten of them might never have found our game in those pre-Internet days but for Ed.

His obvious strengths, among them an innovative mind, led to his election as Chair of the NCRRS.

A history lesson: Northern California was one of the first areas in the USA to organize rugby and refereeing locally, there being no greater organization. While Ed was still in college in SoCal in the sixties, the NCRRS was formed. (The Incorporation referenced earlier came ten years later as a result of organizational maturity and changes in the tax laws.)

Denis Shanagher (Sr.) was our first chairman until his demise in the early 80s, followed by Bryan Porter.

Let’s review the bidding. One: USA Rugby’s highest honor for referees is the Denis Shanagher Award.  Denis was a Test referee, and the first so named by merit (there were some who were grandfathered in ab initio).

Two: Bryan Porter had numerous responsibilities with USA Rugby and our society’s profile benefited as a result. These grew to the point where Bryan stepped down from the NCRRS and Ed was elected to leadership. Bryan is a Shanagher Award winner.

Three: Our hero has now taken USC to a national title, co-founded a team which changed many lives and grew our game, helped found our referee society, and then been named to lead it. He was to also be named a Shanagher laureate.

He came to office wearing his usual head, the one spilling out a cornucopia of ideas. One of these was based on the time-honored response of rugby players to being recruited as a ref: “But I would miss my teammates.”

The society would henceforth be a team, with kit and nicknames and meetings and training, with traditions, tours and exchanges. We would do everything including occasionally singing together. We took the NCRFU Pelican as our mascot and became the Pelican Refs.  The Hastings spirit lit another wick. The genie-genius of Ed Todd continued to illuminate lives.

It was in this time that I stopped playing in order to take up the whistle. Ed was very generous, giving me his ‘compendium’: a scrapbook of things he’d learned the hard way, refereeing articles clipped out of print publications, lecture notes, and other exotica in those fax-was-tech days.

He also explained to me one of his dreams: to organize and systematize the training and supervision of referees as a professional manager might, modeling it after what was done abroad, and stating that he hoped he would be writing his own job description.

Just as he played for a national champion, he refereed at the Test level in the mid-nineties, into his own fifties. There were no misfires in his magazines.

Ed stepped down as chair of the society in 1999 and I was elected. The standard was passed to Paul Bretz in 2013. Thus, from a body formed in the mid-sixties, Paul is the fifth to lead it. This stability owes to the character of our leaders, most crucially to a lack of the self-serving that characterizes so many non- and for-profits. This is why Ed referred to me in email as Four, and Paul as Five.

This restless rugby spirit was not sated after playing and refereeing at the top. He took up coaching players and decided, in this case, to start at the top: he worked with Lamorinda and then St. Mary’s.

Ed found that the Laws of the Game appealed to him more than the regular laws, and only practiced law briefly after obtaining his degree, becoming a manager of construction projects. The reader will not be surprised to learn that he did well enough that, when another of his dreams came to fruition and USA Rugby was looking for a referee manager almost twenty years after he’d begun planning for the possibility, he was able to take advantage of an offer to move to Boulder and help set up the national office at a salary that might not have been otherwise convincing. He had a wife and two children to think about, but again the results spoke to his perspicacity and they have all become enamored of Colorado.

There doesn’t seem to have been a lot of looking back in Mr. Todd, except to past traditions of excellence.

Prior to our current suite of IRB-sponsored referee training courses, Ed developed such things independently here in NorCal and for USA Rugby. He was instrumental in setting up the Referee Development Program which developed a rugby-generation of referees for the greater game. Many of the ideas and innovations of this program have been co-opted by the current referee management, leading to a youth wave in our ranks that will likely see no more quinquagenarians appointed to Tests.

In time-honored rugby fashion, Ed recruited his own replacements.

If Nigel Owens could maintain his standard a few more years he would likely be the last to join this final club of Ed’s.

We will miss one of the sowers of the fertile rugby fields of Northern California and beyond, yet rest easier knowing that the crop is strong and the future bright, in no small part owing to his efforts, to a life well-lived and a job well-done.

Let us raise our voices to honor this leader, this creator and innovator, this organizer of games.

Let us sing of the days of our glory, the days of our youth, made brighter by the pursuit of rugby excellence on, off, and around the pitch.

Let the harmony of love, of friendship, of camaraderie and commitment rise to the skies to honor our mate and to echo his name, inspiring those who pursue our craft for years to come.

Fare thee well, Three, knowing that your many mantles have been passed and will be faithfully borne hence.

-Bruce Carter

A Final Word

There are many bits of verse that pay homage to those who have affected our lives, but this one speaks more to me than most.  I like to see it as an encapsulation of the NCRRS mission and the philosophies established by Ed Todd and carried on by Bruce Carter and Paul Bretz.  May the future leaders of Pelicanland take heed of these words.

as Mentor
let the mentor gives an advice
full of concern with values likewise
shows counsel as a noblest teacher
who design youth’s future
full of love valor and vigor

as Molder
let the teacher molds children’s wit
making him an instrument in harnessing intellect
developing the innocent with word of respect
motivating and molding future’s best
on gaining knowledge kit

as Educator
an educator, the teacher is
who heals ignorance which people faced
in his hands lie great opportunities
of ambitious youth heading
towards dreamway

no brilliant lawyer without a patient teacher
nor comes a great doctor
without an intelligent educator

let us honor and exalt such effort then
let us pray God shall bless all of them

“Mentor, Molder, Educator”
Rommel Mark Dominguez Marchan

2019 USA Rugby Game Management Guidelines

Looking for guidance on how to manage a game?   Well, USA Rugby has your back.  You can find the 2019 USA Rugby GMGs here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XXcRfsVtLLqUawEHUI47ei0dt_65fDM.

If you do not have access to the google drive linked above you can also view them as well as other pertinent documents here:   http://www.usarugby.org/referee-resources/

Disciplinary Action Reporting – Process For Reporting Incidents

The various competitions all have their own disciplinary chairs and this will make it difficult to centralize the communication and data.  To help we have developed a form that will centralize the process, regardless of the competition.  The link to the discipline form is https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc42vbdqnFVH0u1BGTLhjOivDO2hNsmV4NXvvnC4FyAka7sKQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

1. Copy the link and have it available on your smartphone.  If you have an iPhone add the link to your home screen.
2. When needed fill it out and click submit.  The discipline chair of the competition you refereed will receive a notification about the incident.
3. He/she may contact you latter for more details.
4. If you have any questions as to how to use the app please refer to the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uz0_gTaOnY

On To The Game Reports!

I got nothing.

This Week’s Photo

Requiescat in pace, Pelicus Editorem Minimus, Ex Dux

Hail, Pelicus!

For the Senate

Pelicus Pedem Referre

HAIL PELICUS!

Pelican House

The eye of the camera settles on a solemn scene.   The Board of Directors of the Finest Rugby Referee Society in the land were staring morosely into their beer, looks of dejection on their faces the order of the day.   Heavy sighing and sad looks were all the rage.   Things were bad, indeed.  

But the entire board hadn’t assembled yet.   Preston Gordon (as played by Jon Belushi) sauntered in to the boardroom fresh off a plane from England sporting strange and outlandish kit and a nat – the opposite of a tan.   (What do you expect from someone who just spent 6 months in England?)

Preston:  What’s going on?   

Lee Bryant (as played by Bruce McGill):  Season’s over, man.  They played the big one.

Preston:  Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Cal won the National Championship? Hell no!

Paul Bretz (as played by Tim Matheson):  Cal?

Pete Smith (as played by Peter Riegert):  Forget it, he’s rolling.

Preston:  And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough… the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!

Preston charged from the room yelling the Pelican War Cry.   The rest of the Board looked at each other but never moved, except to take another sad swig of beer.   Eventually, Preston stalked back into the room.

Preston:  What the family newsletter happened to the Pelicans I used to know? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? “Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you Preston, we might get in trouble.” Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this.  The Amazons?   Still playing!  Olympic Club?   Still playing!   The crew for Marin 7s…

Paul Bretz:  Refereeing! Preston’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta support these bastards. Now we could do it with a conventional banquet that could take days and cost thousands of dollars. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.

Preston:  We’re just the people to do it.

Lee Bryant:  Let’s do it.

Preston:  LET’S DO IT!

Paul Bretz:  You guys up for a toga party?

Preston:  Toga!  Toga!

Paul Bretz:  Ah, I think they like the idea, Neil.

Neil MacDonald (playing himself):  It’s not gonna be an orgy! It’s a toga party.

Thus, with a plan to save Pelicanland and honor the efforts of the finest flock ever to blow a whistle, the Board of Directors returned to their (now) well-earned beer, drinking the night away and slowly leaving one by one, reminiscent of the final scene in Ocean’s 11, until only two of these mighty heroes were left.

Lee Bryant: Why am I wearing a mustache?

Neil MacDonald:  What are you complaining about?  I only got one line, and not even as a character.

Banquet Details

The Annual NCRFURS Banquet will be held Saturday, June 8  at the Up and Under Pub, 2 West Richmond Ave. Point Richmond, CA 94801. As always, NCRRS will cover the tab for officials. You are responsible for covering the cost of your guests, $50.00, and drinks. The society is also looking to find discounts for those wishing to stay the evening in Point Richmond. More information on that will be forthcoming from our noble leader, Pelicus Iudex Pennipes.

Please fill out the below google doc to let us know if you are coming and your choice of dinner.  There will be a no host bar and appetizers starting at 6:30 with dinner to commence at 7:15 and our awards presentation starting around 8:00 PM.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KhY063gTN66l1wFoEmDWGIHEAub_HQ4mSsA0OITJjFo/viewform?edit_requested=true

As detailed (accurately, I am sure) in the previous section, the board agreed to change up the format and the dress code this year is formal Roman. That’s right. It’s a toga party!  Guests are highly encouraged, but not required, to don their finest togas.

A Chance At History

For as long as rugby has been played the USA has been a second class citizen in the rugby community.   Women’s World Cup?   It’s only women and the rest of the world wasn’t taking it seriously yet.   The Olympic golds in the 1920s?   Didn’t count.  We weren’t playing rugby the way gentlemen do, we were just a bunch of backwards colonists mindlessly bashing about, not playing with style and elegance as a man from Eton would.  Since those long ago lofty heights we have rarely made any splash on the international rugby stage, only securing a win over a “top tier” nation for the first time ever last year.    The rugby elites looked down their noses at us and tolerated us in the hope of getting into the vast American

But no longer.

Our 7s team has spent the majority of the World Sevens Series at the top of the table, as gleefully reported here, and only a semifinal loss to Fiji allowed the Pacific Islanders to pip us at the top of the table by 2 points.   Nobody else is in the hunt so now, with one final tournament this weekend in Paris, it comes down to who does better, USA or Fiji?   Everyone is hoping for a USA-Fiji  final that will not only determine the Paris champion, but the Series champion, but I would settle for a semifinal place if Fiji gets knocked out in the quarters.   It wasn’t too long ago when we were struggling to stay in the series and then “Magic” Mike Friday took over and molded a championship program.  It just goes to show what people have always said, we have the athletes here in America, we just need to learn the game.

I advise everyone to tune in on ESPN+ to watch the games.   If you don’t have it set up a free 7 day trial then cancel it on Monday.   Find a friend who has an account.   Find a bar that will show it and is open at 5:00am. (Good luck with that, but I can tell you from past experience with soccer World Cups it is possible.  Just not legal.)    Fortunately, you don’t have to watch live – ESPN+ offers replays.   Just stay off social media until you have seen the matches.

As a 7s bonus you can also watch the Collegiate Rugby Championship, whose motto is  We Are Not The USA Rugby National Championship But An Invitational Tournament Designed To Maximize TV Revenue.   (It sounds better in Latin.)    This event will also be going on all weekend and you can check out the 7s stars of the future.   Do you doubt me?  Ask Madison Hughes where he first shot to prominence.

And if you want live 7s, there is always the first tournament of the season going on up in Marin.

A full weekend of 7s… heaven.

2019 USA Rugby Game Management Guidelines

Looking for guidance on how to manage a game?   Well, USA Rugby has your back.  You can find the 2019 USA Rugby GMGs here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XXcRfsVtLLqUawEHUI47ei0dt_65fDM.

If you do not have access to the google drive linked above you can also view them as well as other pertinent documents here:   http://www.usarugby.org/referee-resources/

Disciplinary Action Reporting – Process For Reporting Incidents

The various competitions all have their own disciplinary chairs and this will make it difficult to centralize the communication and data.  To help we have developed a form that will centralize the process, regardless of the competition.  The link to the discipline form is https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc42vbdqnFVH0u1BGTLhjOivDO2hNsmV4NXvvnC4FyAka7sKQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

1. Copy the link and have it available on your smartphone.  If you have an iPhone add the link to your home screen.
2. When needed fill it out and click submit.  The discipline chair of the competition you refereed will receive a notification about the incident.
3. He/she may contact you latter for more details.
4. If you have any questions as to how to use the app please refer to the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uz0_gTaOnY

On To The Game Reports!

I got nothing.

This Week’s Photo

Live schedule of this weekend’s 7s rugby on ESPN+.   Personally, I am watching the replays.

Hail, Pelicus!

For the Senate

Pelicus Pedem Referre

HAIL PELICUS!

A Story Of Kit

Summer is here so you know what that means: Sun’s Out Guns Out!   Time to pick up all your summer Pelican Gear.    Yes, this also includes tracksuits and everything else for summer or winter and it will delivered in time for the 7s season. 

But time is running out!

The store will close Friday May 10 so get your order in now because that is the end of the Story of Kit.   Purchases will be delivered by May 31.   Go to https://norcalreferee2019.itemorder.com/ to check it out or click on the banner below.

Playoffs!

This past weekend saw a number of Nor Cal teams in the playoffs and the teams done did us proud.  

In the D3 Men’s Western Regional Napa absolutely crushed Budd Bay 183-0 (all scores are approximate because USA Rugby doesn’t have results on their website and, in fact, still lists the 2018 brackets.    At least they have the 2018 results posted.   Well done, USA Rugby!).

In the D2 Women’s Western Regional the Sacramento Amazons, for the second year running, stomped the Emerald City Mudhens 55-10 (still approximated).

In the PRP final Life West outlasted Belmont Shore 1-0 (a difficult score to pull off in rugby, but there are no scores on the USA Rugby website).

In the D2 Men’s Western Regional Olympic Club did something, but nobody knows what it is or who they played because the game isn’t even mentioned by USA Rugby.

Great stuff, everyone!

Unfortunately it isn’t all sugar and spice and everything nice as in D1AA action the Chico St Men, after scrambling to raise funds to travel to North Carolina to use an inappropriate bathroom, dropped a heartbreaker to Dartmouth 46-5.  (I have a score AND there is a map of the facility linked.  Hooray!)

So finally we get to the game that was played in our backyard.   Cal v Life in the D1A final at Santa Clara University.   Unfortunately for Pelicanland, Cal dropped a nailbiter 29-26 with Cal taking the lead for the first time late in the match and Life responding with 2 minutes left to retake the top position.   A cracker of a game.   I watched this game from the stands and I must say I was impressed with Life’s size and athleticism.   My biggest takeaway, however, was total and complete astonishment at the tactics that Cal employed.    Cal was dominant in the scrums yet constantly chose to kick for touch from penalties despite the fact that they only secured about 50% of their own lineout ball.   Why?   Call for a scrum, destroy it, get the penalty, call for a scrum, rinse and repeat until Life starts to lose players to the bin.   That seemed obvious from the stands.  

Another rather puzzling decision was the robotic insistence on playing a forwards pick and go game when close to the goal line.   While they did score doing that, by my count Cal butchered at least 2 golden try scoring opportunities by failing to give the ball to the backline.  Life was committing everything to stop the pick and go and with their size it was  meat and drink to them.   Cal would end up with a 4 or 5 on 2 in the backs but never passed it out.   The wing or center would have walked in untouched, yet the pick and go was done ad infinitum until a try was scored (twice, I think) or a turnover (3 times, at least).  Even when Life had a man in the sin bin (twice) Cal refused to exploit the man advantage.   To put the cherry on top, these tactics would grind out the time of the sin bin, something that Life was more than happy to help with.   An astonishing lack of rugby nous was displayed in these situations.

The last puzzler was a bit more subtle.   Life quite obviously had a defensive game plan of flying off the line and rushing up to deny Cal ball carriers space, yet Cal never adjusted.   Several  possible overlaps and attacking chances were squandered because a Cal back got the ball flat footed with a defender in his face.   Nobody thought to stand a few paces deeper, or to punch a little kick right in behind to slow down the defense and it cost Cal.

Credit to Life who developed and executed a masterful game plan and won the National Championship.  Shame to Cal for not playing with a rugby brain and squandering opportunities.

A Life Worth Remembering, Celebrating And Emulating

Norman Lawrence Oates Oakenfull passed away last week. 

 I am sure that that name doesn’t mean much to most of the readers of this newsletter, but some few more may know him as Larry Bang Bang. 

Larry Bang Bang was a rugby supporter.   In fact, he was the rugby supporter that every club should have, and many do.   His chosen club was also my chosen club as a player, the San Jose Seahawks, but don’t let that fool you – he was a rugby supporter.   San Jose St, College Park, men or women, it didn’t matter, he was going to be on the sideline banging his drum for the local side.   The sight and, naturally, the sound, of Larry Bang Bang pacing the sidelines banging his drum and shouting “LET’S GET ANOTHER FIVE POINTER!!!” always lifted me and my teammates.

Of course, I am sure the opposition hated it, but that was the point, wasn’t it?

No matter the outcome you would find Larry at the post match social holding court with a beer, a wink, a few dirty stories and a grin that was so wide the top of his head threatened to fall off.   He loved rugby and he loved his Seahawks.   That statement didn’t just apply to the rugby pitch, either.   If you played for the club, dated or was married to someone in the club, was related to one of the above or was just a supporter you were a Seahawk and he would support anything you did.  He would go to children’s recitals, birthday parties, fundraisers and off season events.   He famously played in my 40^th birthday slosh ball game because, hey, I was a Seahawk. He had almost no idea what baseball was, much less slosh ball, but he was there and had the time of his life.

He never asked for anything in return.  He just wanted to be part of the club.  To belong to this wonderful fraternity and sorority of people who love rugby.   We were his family.  Yes, he had family of his own back in New Zealand but none locally so he gave all his love to the rugby community.

Rugby was not his entire life, though.  He was heavily involved in the local Scottish society and would never miss a Robert Burns Dinner and was on the board of his local homeowners association.   He just loved people and giving back.   But rugby was king, as it were.   The fortunes of the All Blacks, San Jose St and Seahawks (men and women both), were never far from his mind and he would tell you all about it every chance he would get.  

The funny thing is he never played.  As he declined I was privileged to spend a fair amount of time with him and he told me of his youth with his brother where he wasn’t allowed to play the rough game of rugby but excelled at athletics.   He was a sprinter, a shock to many who only knew him as a bent old man.  He always loved the game, though, as he told me, and jumped at the chance to get involved in rugby once he found out that we had it here in America.   That was back in 1973, just two years after the founding of the San Jose Seahawks and he was the greatest supporter the club has had in its entire history.   He saw the club grow into a national power and then fall into a social side with memories of glory and dreams of regaining it.   One of the greatest things to happen in the last few years was the resurgence of the San Jose Seahawks and when they won the trophy as Norther California D2 Champions last year the first thing they did was go to the rest home he was living in and give him the cup.   That wide smile got even wider and his eyes shone as brightly as I have ever seen them.

Most eulogies like this I like to put a bit of poetry at the top to sort of set the tone knowing that the past masters are finer practitioners of the English language than I can hope to be and poetry in particular has the ability to write its message in lines of white hot fire across the soul.   I chose not to this time for several reasons, but mainly because Larry Bang Bang just wasn’t a poetry kind of guy.  Instead, I’m going to go raise a beer to my friend and maybe tell myself a dirty joke or two.

I miss you already, my friend.  

Time To Strap On The Ol’ Nosebag

Yup, the season has come and (mostly) gone so it is time to start thinking about putting on your #1s and gathering with the flock so that we can tell everyone how good we are.   After some goading by last week’s Hail Pelicus the Board put out the following statement:

Good evening everyone,

Please save the date of June 8 as the societies’ annual banquet.  We are changing things up this year and will be hosting the event at the Up and Under Pub.  The board agreed that we’ve spent too much money at Scott’s and wanted to try something new.  in that spirt we are also changing the dress code to formal Roman Attire.  That right!! we want you dressed to impress in your best roman garb.  We are in the process of securing a reduced hotel rate.  More information will be forthcoming.

I’m personally looking forwarding to seeing everyone as we celebrate our accomplishments this past year.  

I’ll be sending out more information related to dress, food choices, and hotel accommodations in the next few days.

So it looks like we are having a toga party.    Woo hoo!

As If Anyone Needed Reminding

The USA is ranked #1 in 7s and can clinch an Olympic spot in London May 26^th.

2019 USA Rugby Game Management Guidelines

Looking for guidance on how to manage a game?   Well, USA Rugby has your back.  You can find the 2019 USA Rugby GMGs here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XXcRfsVtLLqUawEHUI47ei0dt_65fDM.

If you do not have access to the google drive linked above you can also view them as well as other pertinent documents here:   http://www.usarugby.org/referee-resources/

Disciplinary Action Reporting – Process For Reporting Incidents

The various competitions all have their own disciplinary chairs and this will make it difficult to centralize the communication and data.  To help we have developed a form that will centralize the process, regardless of the competition.  The link to the discipline form is https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc42vbdqnFVH0u1BGTLhjOivDO2hNsmV4NXvvnC4FyAka7sKQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

1. Copy the link and have it available on your smartphone.  If you have an iPhone add the link to your home screen.
2. When needed fill it out and click submit.  The discipline chair of the competition you refereed will receive a notification about the incident.
3. He/she may contact you latter for more details.
4. If you have any questions as to how to use the app please refer to the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uz0_gTaOnY

On To The Game Reports!

(We have run out of games here in Pelicanland, but our good friend Pelicus is still chugging away in England.)

Date: 04/28/2019

Westcliff 13-24 Eton Manor U18

Location: The Gables, Aviation Way, Southend-on-Sea

Referee: Preston Gordon

This was the capstone of a fairly busy weekend of rugby here in England. After work on Friday, I took a short train ride up the Lea Valley to Cheshunt RFC and had the opportunity to stretch my legs at an old boys memorial tournament  to honor one of their recently-departed members. That involved reffing one surprisingly fast 15-minute game (Cheshunt-Hertford; won by Hertford 5 tries to 0) and ARing two more, before checking out their nice new clubhouse. On Saturday, I was AR2 for a ladies match at Fullerians RFC in Watford:

Hertfordshire 20-7 Eastern Counties in the Gill Burns County Championship.

After those two outings, and a Saturday evening black tie cèilidh to benefit a Herts breast cancer organization, plus the hour’s drive to Southend, I was ready to referee a full game of rugby. That’s exactly what I got – with these two teams on top of the Essex U18 table jointly with Brentwood RFC, this match effectively had the league title on the line. Both teams were clearly well motivated during their warmup routines, and the 150+ crowd added a good atmosphere.

With prematch briefings out of the way in good time, Eton Manor kicked off at 1230. They got the first try just four minutes later, converting it and looking comfortable. Westcliff got on the scoreboard at 10′ with an unconverted try of their own that kept things close.

Eton Manor scored again at 17′ but were unable to add the extras. The 7-point lead was cut to 4 in the 20th minute, when Westcliff opted to take a shot at goal from in front of the posts (8-12). Manor had the last word in the half when they scored a third try at 27′ to go into halftime ahead by 9 points at 8-17.

After a short break, we got back to business. Westcliff obviously had had a sterner talking-to, and immediately put Eton Manor under pressure. In the 4th minute, Westcliff’s multi-phased attack took them within a few meters of the goal line. The retiring Manor #9, who was never close to being onside, cynically killed the opportunity for a quick recycled ball and subsequently departed for the touchline and a 10-minute rest. While he was away, Westcliff scored their second try in the 7th minute, and although they couldn’t convert it, they were now within 4 points at 13-17. Emotions and intensity remained high on both sides for the remainder of the match, and aside from two minor incidents away from play that necessitated a word from me to both captains, everything was going smoothly. As the clock wound down to the end of the match at 70′, Westcliff increased pressure, and I was thinking we were about to see a potential 18-17 photo finish. Both sides were very conscious of the time remaining and the score, asking me to confirm it several times. Ultimately, one minute after time had expired, Eton Manor intercepted a pass and scored under the posts to seal their win and league title. Their captain rushed to take the meaningless drop-kicked conversion so he could join his teammates’

raucous celebration, while Westcliff looked on, knowing it could have been theirs had things turned out just a little bit differently. An 11-point win definitely flattered Eton Manor on the day.

Despite there being a storm warning for the weekend, there were only a few sprinkles in the second half, and we had a firm pitch to use.

Westcliff’s hospitality and clubhouse were great, and I felt a bit lucky to learn that I may have had one of the last matches at this site, which is on the opposite side of Southend airport from Southend RFC, where I AR’d Westcliff’s Essex U18 Cup final in early March.  Apparently the airport is expanding, and Westcliff RFC is relocating to a larger site somewhere else in the area.

This was probably my last 15s match of the season. After 30+ matches in less than half of an English season (having 7 evaluations, with 3 at level 8), I’m pretty happy with how things have gone here. I’ve gotten some really great reactions from people in the rugby clubhouses here. Having attired myself properly, I don’t get a second glance until I open my mouth. Then I typically get asked if I’m Canadian (although I’ve gotten Australian and Kiwi as well, and occasionally even an accurate guess at American). One of these days, I won’t be able to explain that yes, we do have rugby in the United States, and by the way, USA is ranked #1 at sevens!

This Week’s Photo

Larry Bang Bang leading the San Jose Seahawks out circa 1985.

Hail, Pelicus!

For the Senate

Pelicus Pedem Referre

HAIL PELICUS!

A Few Good Satires

It has been some time since the last Hail Pelicus was released to my adoring public and I know some of you are jonesing hard right now, so let’s apply the tourniquet of rugby news to our arms and pop up the veins of pseudo-classical satirical comedy, to insert the needle of insight and depress the plunger of truthiness and let that sweet, sweet Hail Pelicus flow into our consciousness.   That’s it, just relax and let the metaphors take you away to your happy place, for it is Playoff Rugby time.

Yes the reasons for the gap in publishing are many and varied, but stem from two main sources.  The first is that for work these days I am traveling to Iowa every week and that limits the time I have to wax poetic on rugby themes and other musings.   To be honest, I really don’t have time to wax anything at all these days – things are a nasty mess in certain places; just plain dirty.   I hardly even like looking at it and it is mine.

One of these days soon I am just going to bite the bullet and wax my car to get it back to its original luster.   My snow skis could use a coat of wax as well for the Spring skiing season.

The other reason is the lawsuit I filed against the NCRFURS over several grievances, including missing back pay and the obvious obstruction from the society president (which he calls a Witch Hunt).  It was an emotional and dramatic scene when Pelicus Iudex Pennipes was on the witness stand and I hammered him with questions that he either refused to answer or answered with a conciliatory sneer.   The tension was palpable when the final exchange took place:

Paul Bretz (as played by Jack Nicholson): You want answers?   

Hail Pelicus (as played by Tom Cruise): I think I’m entitled to them.   

Paul Bretz: You want answers?   

Hail Pelicus: I want the truth! 

Paul Bretz: YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH! Son, we referee a game that has laws. And those laws have to be guarded by men with whistles. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Pelicus Pedem Referre? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse Northern California Rugby Referees. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s red card, while tragic, probably saved penalties. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves penalties.  I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who plays rugby under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said ‘thank you’ and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a whistle and do a match. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to! 

Hail Pelicus: Did you give the Red Card? 
Paul Bretz:  I did the job that —    
Hail Pelicus: Did you give the Red Card? 
Paul Bretz: You’re goddamn right I did!

And then the judge (played by Matt Eason) threw the case out reasoning this is a volunteer position so I don’t get paid, plus I retired from playing rugby to referee 10 years ago so the scene made no sense.

Personally, I think Chris Hemsworth would have been a much better choice to play the role of Hail Pelicus, but nobody asked me.

The Evolution of USA 7s and Carlin Isles

Hong Kong and Singapore exposed the USA 7s team for what we are: a very talented team that is badly missing their superstars.  We finished 3^rd and 4^th continuing the unprecedented run of making the semifinals in every tournament and thus gaining valuable points, but we lack that killer finish to get by the top teams at the end.   One can not overstate the loss of Perry Baker and Danny Barrett but the squad has proved its depth.   Pinkleman has been a rock star and should be in the World Player of the Year conversation.  Tomasin has been a revelation and Leuta, while backsliding in a couple of games with concentration issues, has stepped up to be the player he can be.   Niua we all know runs the team and is playing nearly every minute so I worry about his health, but some of the pressure should be taken off if, as expected, PB and DB are back in the squad for London and Paris.

So what about Carlin Isles?   I have criticized him and praised him as he has filled the gap left behind by the loss of Baker, but the last few tournaments have not only shown his improvement but highlighted his weaknesses.    There is nobody in world rugby that is better at running fast in a straight line than Isles and he has added, not a sidestep, but a very effective swerve.   He is creating tries in places when in the past he would be bottled up or shepherded into touch and he is doing it against world class opponents.  That is hugely impressive and his tour leading try total is a just reward.

And yet… he is a rag doll on defense.   He is targeted by the opposition and is a liability.   So what do you do?   You can not take the greatest offensive threat we have off the field, so you have to overcompensate on defense with other players covering for him and that has led to tries being given up and is in many ways the difference between winning a semi or a final and losing. 

He has earned his place and deserves all the accolades he is being given, but forgive me if I can not wait until Perry Baker returns.

What Of The Ladies?

So what of the ladies?  Well unfortunately the women of rugby don’t get the same amount of coverage as the men.  I only knew that we beat the New Zealand Black Ferns in 7s from Facebook – and it was a prop who told me!    There was a Women’s 7s tournament going on in Japan!   I had to go back and search for myself to learn that we destroyed England in the first match 43-7.   That is a fun one to watch, I highly recommend it.   We then took it to Fiji 31-5 and then squeaked by Ireland 15-12.   That set up a quarterfinal with the reigning World Cup champions, New Zealand.   We proved ourselves in San Francisco that even without Alev Kelter we could push the Kiwis to the edge and it turns out that with her we can push them off the edge.  It was a thrilling match that I also, highly recommend watching.   After dispatching the world champions with nary an effort 26 – 19 (just kidding – it was a great back and forth game) we finally faltered at the feet of our neighbors to the north, Canada, eh?   Canada went on to win the whole shebang so we had to console ourselves with a fine 3^rd place and showing the French how it is done.   Good times.

What the real tragedy of USA Women’s rugby is really the 15s program.   We are really, really good but there is literally no support.   Last weekend we had a famous match against the Barbarians – always a great matchup because of the whole Barbarian culture of picking all star teams that just go out and have fun.  Anything can happen at these affairs.    But… but… in order to get to the selection and training camps the LADIES HAD TO PAY THEIR OWN WAY!   I saw numerous gofundme and other fundraising campaigns just to get our best players together to train.   

This is intolerable and if it isn’t at the forefront of the agenda of USA Rugby BoD and Congress, then they should all be sacked immediately.   It is almost better to have no governing body than to have one that doesn’t support the rugby populace.   You can argue about where money should be spent but this is the National Team’s basic expenses of getting to training camp!   I don’t see this happening to the mens’ team.

Pelican Rugby Kit Store Is Back

Summer is here so you know what that means: Sun’s Out Guns Out!   Time to pick up all your summer Pelican Gear.    Yes, this also includes tracksuits and everything else for winter but it will delivered in time for the 7s season.  The store opens April 26 and runs through May 10 so get your order in now.   Purchases will be delivered by May 31.   Go to https://norcalreferee2019.itemorder.com/ to check it out.

Time To Strap On The Ol’ Nosebag

Yup, the season has come and (mostly) gone so it is time to start thinking about putting on your #1s and gathering with the flock so that we can tell everyone how good we are.   I am sure the Board of Directors will soon make an announcement as to the details, but to get ahead of the game I am starting my pre-banquet fasting routine now.

2019 USA Rugby Game Management Guidelines

Looking for guidance on how to manage a game?   Well, USA Rugby has your back.  You can find the 2019 USA Rugby GMGs here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XXcRfsVtLLqUawEHUI47ei0dt_65fDM.

If you do not have access to the google drive linked above you can also view them as well as other pertinent documents here:   http://www.usarugby.org/referee-resources/

Disciplinary Action Reporting – Process For Reporting Incidents

The various competitions all have their own disciplinary chairs and this will make it difficult to centralize the communication and data.  To help we have developed a form that will centralize the process, regardless of the competition.  The link to the discipline form is https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc42vbdqnFVH0u1BGTLhjOivDO2hNsmV4NXvvnC4FyAka7sKQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

1. Copy the link and have it available on your smartphone.  If you have an iPhone add the link to your home screen.
2. When needed fill it out and click submit.  The discipline chair of the competition you refereed will receive a notification about the incident.
3. He/she may contact you latter for more details.
4. If you have any questions as to how to use the app please refer to the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uz0_gTaOnY

On To The Game Reports!

Date: 03/23/2019

Olympic Club 27 – SFGG D2 0 

Referee: John Lane

With the two clubs “Old Boys” game played beforehand there was a good atmosphere developed before the game on what was an excellent day on Treasure Island – the sun was out and with the noon kickoff time the wind was not significant throughout the game.

Olympic were definitely more organized in their warm-up routines with SFGG getting progressively more structured as kickoff approached.  SFGG started well and put some pressure on in the opening 5 minutes assisted by some errors from Olympic.  On 8 minutes, Olympic forced a turnover and some quick phased play brought them into the SFGG 22.  From there a few more phases of pressure lead to a try on the left which went unconverted – 5-0.  Olympic continued to be the more dominant team but SFGG’s defense held them up and the SFGG 12 made a number of strong runs to alleviate the pressure.  On 25 mins the pressure did tell with another unconverted try wide on the left.  10-0.

SFGG dominated the last 10 mins of the half aided by a number of kick outs on the full by the Olympic 10 and a scrum that was getting the upper hand but failed to make a score.  The second half started well for Gate but Olympic’s overall better fitness levels started to influence the scoreline – when opportunities came they were able to keep the pressure on.  This lead to a try on 54 mins – again unconverted from the left. 15-0.

Around this stage I had a quick chat with the captains on both sides starting to slow down ball at the breakdown – this brought the right reaction from both sides for the remainder of the game.

On 60 mins Olympic opted for a kick at goal from a penalty in front of the posts but the kick was pulled badly wide.  On 65 mins the pressure brought the bonus point try, again wide on the left and unconverted – 20-0.

From the restart, Olympic broke through and despite some good defense from SFGG the ball was recycled and they crossed for a 5th try by the posts which was converted – 27-0.

Olympic then started to empty their bench progressively and SFGG had the better of the last 10 minutes.   With a few minutes to go they crossed the line but the 9 was held up and the subsequent scrum was poor and Olympic turned over and exited.   The game finished in midfield with both sides warmly clapping each other off the field after a competitive game physically which was not fully reflected on the scoreline.

Date: 03/23/2019

Vacaville 41 – BA Baracus 21 

Referee: Jeff Richmond

Both teams were wrapping up difficult seasons, so only pride was on the line. Vacaville came through, more organized at the breakdown and able to put together some nice backfield attacks. Still, Baracus stayed with it and scored as time expired to end on a high note.

Date: 03/23/2019

Marin 48 – BA Baracus B 0 

Referee: Cary Bertolone

A rare, nice, sunny Saturday, kickoff was at 12:20. Marin took a 7 minute lead at the 7 minute mark. 10 minutes later, some good passing lead to another try. 6 minutes later, Marin added 3 more and took a 24-0 lead into half time. More of the same in the second half, Marin won going away with a final score of 48-0.

Date: 03/23/2019

Olympic Club Old Boys 84 – SFGG Senors 12 

Referee: Chris Tucker

First old boys game in a while, and long overdue. Two fine teams of guys remembering how the game works, and having laughs while thumping each other as hard as the ageing bodies would allow. One rather young player stood out in this crowd, out on the wing for OC, sneaking in under the father-son exemption. He did try to score at one point, before finding out that 18 years old is insufficiently aged to have a try allowed in an old-boys game.  22 drop out to restart…  Fortunately he was smart enough to find a team mate to pass to next time he found himself in goal.  The team mate in question?  His father.  Nice moment.  As for the game, OC thumped Gate, but was anybody really keeping score?  Well, aside from me…

Thanks to both teams for playing in fine spirit and for the beers after.  I got to watch Pelicus Guinness Consumptus run around after players half his age, which I found vaguely fitting given the game I had just done.  Slainte!

Date: 03/23/2019

Pacific 52 – Santa Rosa JC 24 

Referee: Roberto Santiago

Rugby just keeps getting better. Top to bottom the game is being played with more skill and grace than it when I started playing, or even when I stopped playing. It’s fun to see. On campus at the University of the Pacific the state of the game was on display between UoP and the visitors from Santa Rosa Junior College. Overall the game was quick, hard hitting and at times beautiful to watch. The teams traded scores in a first half that saw the home team up 24-17 at the break. In the second half, UoP got going and never looked back. A penalty try 10:00 into the second period had the Tigers fired up. Though they ended up playing a man down for much of the half, they found some gaps in the Santa Rosa back line and pulled away with a couple of break away tries. UoP nearly pitched a shut out in the second half. SRJC added a cosmetic score off a brilliant and frenetic few minutes of play, ending the game with a brilliant run from their captain that went for a try. Good game by both sides on a perfect Stockton afternoon.

Date: 03/23/2019

Danville Oaks RFC 22 – Jesuit High School Rugby Club 24 

Referee: Pete Smith

No offence to any other team, player, coach or ref, but I easily had the match of the day in California. Jesuit traveled to Danville under perfect skies and 65* temps. Danville controlled the game early going up 5-0 then 10-0 only to have Jesuit come back to tie it at halftime with two tries of their own. Only 5 penalties in the first half. The kids were there to play, not talk or whine, but PLAY! Second half 17-10, then 17-17 then Jesuit pulls ahead 24-17 with 8 minutes remaining. With no time left, Danville chips ahead to the Jesuit #8 who smartly marks the ball inside his 22. I tell the #8 time has expired and a free kick is just like a kick in open play (can’t coach). He taps the ball and then kicks for distance and touch directly to the Danville winger in play (If he had turned around and kicked the ball out the back of the try zone game would have been over) several phases later try to Danville in ‘extra’ time. Conversion wide right game over 24-22. 5 penalties in the second half! Easily 10 HS All-Americans on the field, probably 5-6 future collegiate AA’s and likely 2-3 future Eagles (there are 5 Eagles between the two coaching staff’s!!) EPIC Game!!!!!! 

This is why refs ref. That game was a slice of heaven to a ref. It’s like a hole one one to weekend golfer…it is the Holy Grail. Players that want to play, shut up and trust the ref, open it up and go, fans were great (several hundred of them), weather perfect, pitch fast, ref amped, Game ON!!! Thank you players, coaches and fans for letting me be a part of your game. Wow…just WOW!

Date: 03/23/2019

De La Salle 43 – Pleasanton Cavaliers HS Varsity 7 

Referee: Steven Fenaroli

A hard fought game by both sides

Date: 03/30/2019

Cal 29 – St Marys College 19 

Referee: Steven Fenaroli

Strawberry Canyon on a sun filled day drew a large crowd for a great day of rugby.

(EDITOR’S NOTE:  Seriously?   That is all you have to say about Cal v St Marys?)

Date: 03/30/2019

San Jose Seahawks B 24 – Marin 22 

Referee: Giles Wilson

A very competitive “play in” game on a beautiful Saturday in San Jose between Marin Reds and San Jose Seahawks.  Both teams had the ability to make line breaks, although both also had defensive structure. At the end of the first half, there was nothing between the teams at 12-all both teams having two tries and one conversion.

More of the same in the second half, both teams scored unconverted tries to move to 17-all. Marin then scored again but could not convert for a 22-17 lead. San Jose worked their way back for a final score and the winning conversion for a 24 – 22 final.

Date: 04/06/2019

Sacramento Amazons 51 – SFGG Women 0 

Referee: Jeff Richmond

Amazons established dominance early. They found easy overlaps in the backfield, and wings were able to take an outside line around the defenders. The inside running by the Amazons was punishing with big forwards testing the Golden Gate tackling. It was no different in the scrums with the Amazons in control, forcing Golden Gate to move backwards even when they won the scrum.

Date: 04/06/2019

Reno Zephyrs 31 – Mendocino Steam Donkeys 58 

Referee: Sam Reagle

This was looking to be an exciting game between 2 teams that were playing for nothing but pride.  This being a factor, both teams were short on subs.  The Mendocino Steam Donkeys got on the board first with an unconverted try just 2 minutes into the game.  It took about 10 minutes for the Zephyrs to respond with a converted try to take the lead 7-5.  Then the Zephyrs got their groove with 2 more tries (one converted) to storm out to a 19-5 lead when disaster struck.  Two Zephyrs banged heads making a tackle drawing blood from both.  Both subbed out, one later returned.  During their absence, the Steam Donkeys ran off 4 tries to retake the lead 29-19.  After one bleeder returned, Mendocino managed another unconverted try before halftime to lead 34-19.

The Steam Donkeys continued to press in the second half with tries at 2, 7, 12 and 30 minutes.  The Zephyrs closed out the scoring with a penalty try at 33 minutes due to a collapsed scrum at the goal line and a well-earned try in the corner at full time.  Final 58-31.

The social was well-attended by both teams at the Red Rock Bar in downtown Reno.  It’s run by a very friendly Kiwi whose name I knocked on.

Date: 04/06/2019

Granite Bay Grizzlies 22 – Jesuit High School Rugby Club 31 

Referee: Steven Fenaroli

A big local match saw Jesuit over Granite Bay rugby

Date: 04/06/2019

Marin Highlanders Rugby Club 50 – Mother Lode Rugby Football Club 12 

Referee: Roberto Santiago

Motherlode was a bit behind the eight ball due to numbers and had to pull some players up from JV for depth. Despite the adversity Motherlode played with enthusiasm and resolve. The scoreboard doesn’t reflect the possession they had inside Marin’s 22. On the other side, Marin played very well. They were able to move the ball through multiple players on most possessions and played a distinctly unselfish brand of rugby. Kudos to both teams and their coaches, who have clearly been instilling a positive culture within their clubs.

Date: 04/06/2019

De La Salle 70 – C K McClatchy High School 12 

Referee: Chris Tucker

Bit one-sided, but much fun had by all anyway.  Thanks to Ed and Bryant on the sideline for their invaluable assistance.

Date: 04/06/2019

Navy 74 VCU 0

Location: Annapolis, MD

Referee: Stephen Valerio

VCU showed up with 17 players to take on a primarily plebe side of Midshipmen. Navy had a full complement of subs and being Navy, fitness wasn’t an issue.

VCU was incredibly well-coached, it took Navy a yellow card before they were able to keep the tackle zone clear, while VCU was able to keep to their pattern without repeated infringments. While the first half yellow slowed the Navy attack, Navy were still able to get 4 first half tries to go up 22-0. The half was closer than that as VCU was able to penetrate deep into the Navy half a couple of times, but was never able to punch it across.

The second half was another story as fitness and numbers took a toll on VCU, who continued to play hard, but couldn’t get any reward for their efforts.

Date: 04/14/2019

Gonzaga 43 Raleigh 14

Location: Derwood, MD

Referee: Stephen Valerio

The North Bay and MD Exiles Girls High School teams are the class of Maryland Girls rugby and closed out the regular season to claim top seeding going into the playoffs. The Exiles hosted and feature a powerful, forward driven attack, with a strong counter ruck. North Bay has a dangerous backline and does a lot of damage through the wide channels. North Bay were able to strike first and grabbed the early 7-0 lead. However, the game played to the Exiles strengths with lots of in tight pick and goes, and heated rucks. A key edge for North Bay was their captain and fly-half Alex Pipkin who slotted a penalty late in the first half (off of 3 posts) to go in 10-0.

The Exiles hit back hard in the second half and put North Bay under extreme pressure. After North Bay lost a player to a  yellow for repeated team offsides the Exiles were able to punch a try across after a multiple phases at the the North Bay try line to cut the lead to  10-5. Late in the half North Bay pushed the ball down into the Exiles half with a lineout on the Exiles 5-meter line. The Exiles won the line out and tried to run it out from the shadow of their posts, but the ball carrier got isolated and North Bay slotted another penalty to go up 13-5.

The Exiles got a penalty at the North Bay 22 in the waning minutes and stuck to their pattern of play, eschewing the kick and of crashing the balls with their forwards. They were able to get to a camp out in the North Bay end, but never were able to crack the line.

Date: 04/14/2019

Mavericks 7-12 Old Albanians U18

Location: Warley Playing Fields, Brentwood

Referee: Preston Gordon

This youth friendly featured two very well-matched teams that nearly fought out a draw on the same pitch where I reffed the Mavericks senior men’s side on January 26th. The lines on the pitch appeared to have last been painted that same day too – it seems the local council (government) has been putting its taxpayers’ hard-earned pounds to work elsewhere. I insisted on having cones along the two goal lines, but was happy to judge the rest of it using the sideline and in-goal flags.

The halftime score was 7-7, and other than a Mavericks player clearly running out the back of the in-goal in the second half, it appeared that I was going to have a second drawn result on this pitch within three months. The Old Albanian pack, however, had another plan, and in the 39th minute (running time) of the second half had a lineout about 15m from the Mavericks goal line. They recovered their own throw, formed a driving maul, and the player at the back broke off about 5m short and beat the cover defense to the corner flag to score the winning try.

Earlier in the game, there were a couple of players giving me unsolicited feedback on what I should be calling, but this was more due to teenage over-enthusiasm than anything else, and a couple of words with the captains sorted this out quickly and quietly. There was basically no foul play, which reflects the great quality of coaching that these two sides have. Getting a solid workout on this sloped pitch on a Sunday afternoon – right as the sun burned off the drizzle – was a great way to end a weekend full of rugby.

I spent the preceding day at Allianz Park, yet again, as #4 and reserve AR for the Saracens-Wasps FC Tyrrells Premier 15s women’s semi-final. Saracens won 31-13 (see

https://www.saracens.com/news-article/match-report-saracens-women-31-wasps-fc-ladies-13)

and the ref for that one was Sara Cox, the world’s first professional lady rugby referee. I definitely picked up a few things at her pre-match briefing!

The gentleman who was there to evaluate/coach one of the ARs was named Clive Nicholas (I’m fairly sure that was his last name, but not certain) and he was from the East Midlands. While doing the usual who-do-we-know-in-common routine, we figured out that two of those people were none other than Bruce Carter and Murray Felstead! Clive says hello – I really hope I got his last name right – and rugby really is a small world.

Date: 04/20/2019

NorCal TBA 21 – NorCal TBA 7 

Referee: Chris Tucker

Not often when 2 good sides compete do you look down at your watch when the first points of the game are scored and realize that we were scoreless for 28 minutes.  The intensity of this game was fantastic.  Not to say that it was the best rugby spectacle, or that it was the most skillfully played, but you could feel the passion from both sides for this game.  Scores were level again early in the second half, then finally Chico’s home-field advantage began to show.  Both the squad size and the freshness that comes from sleeping in their own beds and having their own match-day rhythm began to show, and they pulled out a lead midway through the second half, and was never relinquished.

Date: 04/21/2019

Chico St 24 – Cal State Long Beach 22 

Referee: Chris Tucker

This was a game where 2 wonderful rolling mauls propelled Chico into the finals.  The first happened 2 minutes into the game, and was pulled down by Long Beach at the 5m, resulting in a yellow card.  The second, also resulting in a yellow card, happened early in the second half.  After 50 minutes, it was Chico all the way, and their 19 point lead looked sure to take them on.  Long Beach had other ideas, and finally shook off their slumber and started to apply pressure.  As they ratcheted up the intensity, so Chico began to look vulnerable, and ultimately began to break down.  They lost 2 players of their own to the bin as a result of the increased pressure Long Beach put them under.  Their goal line was repeatedly crossed with intent.  And, but for a missed conversion, this game would have gone to overtime.  This referee’s wallet is glad this did not happen, but the soul did wonder what would have happened given another 10 minutes that a kicker’s boot could have provided.  As it was, Chico move on to Charlotte.

Thanks to James, Paul and Patrick for their invaluable help all weekend.

Date: 04/27/2019

Marin Highlanders Rugby Club 36 – Lamorinda Rugby Football Club 17 

Referee: Giles Wilson

Marin Highlanders hosted Lamorinda in a playoff game, on a real grass field in Corta Madera. The field had a noticeable slope and there was a fairly strong breeze from one end.  Marin had a strong first half while Lamorinda played in fits and starts without much continuity. The first half ended 31-0 in favour of the hosts.

In the second half Marin introduced some younger players while Lamo played with more intent and continuity, resulting in a 17 – 5 second half. Final score 36 – 17, Marin.

Date: 04/27/2019

Danville Oaks RFC 24 – Lamorinda Rugby Football Club 14 

Referee: Roberto Santiago

It was a beautiful day at California High School. Danville played host to Lamorinda in this Junior Varsity playoff match featuring the present and future of this ongoing series between two of the Bay Area’s best U19 clubs. Lamorinda took the opening kick off and played several successful and disciplined phases down well inside the Danville 22. But a turnover soon turned into momentum for the boys in black, who ran their own series of phases back into Lamo territory. Danville scored their first try at 7:30 but just barely missed on the conversion. Danville put in another try at 23:30 and looked to be firmly in control, until Lamo, playing with just 13 managed to take possession inside Danville’s 22 and finally put one over. Still playing down a man, Lamo nearly took the lead on the last play of the first half, but the near score was lost forward in goal with no time left. The second half saw both teams play well, with possession rarely entering the 22 for either side. Danville was able to put on a burst in the middle of the period, scoring tries at 48:00 and 52:00. Lamo never quit and was able to get one back on a brilliant attack that ended in try with six-minutes left in the game. The visiting team seemed determined to continue scoring and there was the energy in the air that comes with a building sense of momentum. It was not to be, as Danville was able to gain possession and hold it for most of the remaining time. As always, it was a great day because it was a rugby. Many thanks to the players on both sides as well as to the coaches and volunteers. 

This Week’s Photo

Team of Three on a picture perfect day at Stanford for the Collegiate Women’s playoffs.

Hail, Pelicus!

For the Senate

Pelicus Pedem Referre