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Written by RUGBYMag Staff
Saturday, 16 July 2011 00:19 |
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Middlesex Pulls Off Tourney Double |
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Sevens -
Club Sevens
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The Middlesex Savages pulled a double this past weekend, winning the Springfield 7s and Acton 10s on consecutive days.
Middlesex’s 7s team looked strong throughout the Springfield competition, and defeated New Haven 40-0 in the final.
 Good perfomances came in from sweeper and Captain Jared Collinson and newcomer Atoa Ripley, who led the team in try-scoring.
"This is our 3rd year running the Savages 7s Summer Program and this is the 1st Cup Championship we have won so it's good to see all the work these guys have been putting in pay off," said Middlesex Coach Josh Smith.
The very next day Middlesex traveled to the New England 10s competition hosted by Old Gold Rugby Club. The Savages got past Amoskeag and Seacoast U23s in pool play before drawing Mystic Rivers 2nd side in the Cup quarterfinals.
The Savages beat them by a score of 42-0. With the Semifinals set (South Shore vs Mystic River and Savages vs Boston Irish Wolfhounds) the Savages would have their toughest test of the day. Down 7-5 at halftime Middlesex came back with a converted try and a penalty from flanker Jon Kokinda to win 15-12. In the other Semifinal Mystic River overcame to South Shore to draw Savages in the final.
In the championship match, the Savages opened up a quick 17-0 lead in the first half. The second half was marred by tempers boiling over; the resulting fight led to both teams taking two red cards. The final nine minutes were played 8-on-8.
Mystic River put in some subs and scored two quick tries. However Middlesex countered with a penalty to seal the win 20-12.
UMass Lowell product Kevin West was awarded the MVP trophy of the tournament. He scored several tries on the day from the wing and put in several big tackles after starting each game in the Springfield 7s tournament the previous day.
Springfield 7s - July 9th
Savages 40 Worcester 0 - Pool Play
Savages 33 Albany 14 - Pool Play
Savages 35 Connecticut Collective 5 - Pool Play
Savages 40 New Haven 0 - Cup Championship
Players of Tourney
Jared Collinson - (Springfield)
Atoa Ripley - (AIC)
The Savages 2nd side went 3-1-1 as well winning the Bowl Competition.
Actons 10s - July 10th
Savages 38 Amoskeag 7 - Pool Play
Savages 43 Seacoast U/23 0 - Pool Play
Savages 42 Mystic River B 0 - Quarterfinals
Savages 15 Boston Irish Wolfhounds 12 - Semi-Finals
Savages 20 Mystic River 12 - Cup Championship
MVP of Tourney - Kevin West (UMass Lowell)
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Written by Jackie Finlan
Friday, 15 July 2011 16:39 |
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U20 Women Defeat South Africa |
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National Teams -
Age-Grade Women
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Santa Barbara, CA - As USA Women's U20 coach Bryn Chivers prepared players for their match against South Africa, he used lessons learned from the teams' last double-header in forming a game plan.
The junior Eagles bought in and were rewarded with a 27-3 victory to kickstart its Nations Cup campaign yesterday.
"What we remember from 2008 was that they were scavengers for the ball at the breakdown," Chivers said. "They were very ball-centric in hunting for the ball and had come off some rules that were being tested in South Africa that let them use hands in the ruck. So we worked very hard at the breakdown and had players setting up slightly differently than normal."
The USA centered play around the forwards, who sent more bodies into the breakdown in order to retain possession against the scrappy South African forwards. The backs didn't play the expansive game they would have preferred and ran their plays back toward the forwards to prevent any isolation and opportunity for turnover. It was a necessary tactic considering South Africa's superior team speed.
The game plan prevailed, and South Africa's inability to adjust at the breakdown resulted in a number of yellow cards and red card early in the second half. But that red card wasn't necessarily a turning point for the Eagles, who were leading 13-3 at the half. After fullback Amelia Bizer eradicated the Springboks' early 3-0 lead with a penalty kick, scrumhalf Hayley Anderson scored the game's first try, and lock Alycia Washington went over on a lovely rolling maul from a lineout.
"Things were working well at that point," Chivers said at the time of the red card. "We felt good in the game and knew we could run out the eventual winners. We hadn't allowed any major breaks defensively - there were a few that were contained - but we were able to limit the potential for fast breaks from them. There were a few times when they were in our 22 meter and had some penalty opportunities, but nothing that was sustained pressure."
Even though a man-down, South Africa played great defense and held up a number of tries from the USA. Near the 72nd minute, the forwards kept up the pressure before an overload in the backs was realized. The ball shipped out inside center Akalaini Baravilala, who drew in a player and set up outside center Amy Naber for a try that Bizer converted, 20-3. About eight minutes later, sub Brittany Larson finished off a nice forwards series and took the ball the final eight meters for the try. Bizer converted for the 27-3 win.
It was a nice opening performance for the junior Eagles, especially considering that 13 of the 22 players earned their first cap with yesterday's game, but Chivers identified some areas of improvement as he looked ahead to England on Sunday.
"The forwards did not have a perfect game but they managed to settle late and control the game," Chivers said. "They are the most athletic group we've ever had, but we're still talking about locks who are 5'11" and 185 lbs, so they're big women. They very mobile and athletic, and their size is deceiving."
one of those games where exp game might result in more ops for them than us.
"The backs did well but they were playing to a game plan trying hard to stick to it," Chivers continued. "Late in the game we could've moved the ball wide when we had overloads because South Africa was down a player, and we could've exploited the kicking game a little more. We still had situations where we didn't run good lines, and players got themselves in bad body position, but we were lucky enough that it didn't cost us too much at the breakdown. But England will exploit [those mistakes] and we'll be working on that the next couple of days."
In the end, however, the team stuck to a game plan that they knew would work, and the desired end result was achieved. Chivers credited the entire team with the win and praised players who came off the bench for keeping the level of play consistent. Chivers singled out captain and No. 8 Katie Johnson, and locks Washington and Grace Hovde, who had some big runs and played excellent defense. In the backs, Anderson distributed the ball well and the big, strong Baravilala was terribly difficult to take down.
No one's performance surprised Chivers per se, but prop Monica Jackson impressed the coach with her continual improvement. "This team is inexperienced but talented, but Monica Jackson continues to get better and do good work. She was unlucky late in the first half when she went over for what was apparently a held-up try," Chivers said.
The USA did not take the South Africa match lightly, and no player was saved for the England match. Some injuries were incurred earlier during camp, but now everyone's available for selection against England on Sunday. The junior Roses defeated Canada 39-0 in their opening game yesterday.
"There were times in the second half when we exerted a lot of pressure and had opportunities to score," Chivers said, "and we squandered some of those opportunities. We need to tighten it up because we'll have fewer chances against England and we have to take those chances when they arrive."
A win against England or Canada on July 20 would send the USA to the championship on July 23.
USA Scorers
Tries: Anderson, Washington, Naber, Larson
Conversions: Bizer 2
Penalties: Bizer
USA Women's U20 Roster
1. Dorothy Mittow (Princeton), 2. Jennifer Sandifer (Navy), 3. Monica Jackson (Cougar Women’s Rugby), 4. Alycia Washington (Connecticut), 5. Grace Hovde (Wisconsin – Oshkosh), 6. Mackenzie Lewis (Mesa State College), 7. Amee Svatos (Canby, OR), 8. Kathryn Johnson (Wisconsin - Milwaukee), 9. Haley Anderson (Summit, CO), 10. Miranda Wakimoto (Boston University), 11. Alexandra Brown (Radcliffe), 12. Akalaini Baravilala (Aliamanu Blues), 13. Amy Naber (Arizona), 14. Ashley Okonta (Notre Dame), 15. Amelia Bizer (Woodlands, TX).
Substitutes: 16. Colleen Carey (Colorado), 17. Brittany Larson (Kent, WA), 18. Kathryn Humphreys (Central Washington), 19. Kimberly La Mons (Fallbrook, CA), 20. Kyandrea Mcknight (Central Florida), 21. Joanne Fa'avesi (Sacramento Amazons, CA), 22. Jacie Vonada (South Dakota State). |
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Friday, 15 July 2011 22:42 |
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All Americans Named for Final Match |
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Colleges -
All Americans
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All Americans head coach Alex Magleby has named his starting lineup to face New Zealand Universities Saturday at 1pm at Stanford University. Ryan Roundy captains the side from the No.8 position, while starters from last week who performed well as subs on Wednesday, such as Mikey Su'a and Zach Fenoglio return to the starting lineup. Shocked by some in-your-face attitude by the tourists on Wednesday, the All Americans have named a physically imposing front eight. Peter Tiberio, who has scored a total of four tries in the previous two matches, serves as vice captain and right wing. Magleby has picked his third different fullback, going this time with Duncan Kelm of San Diego State. (Note, Kyle Grossheider was a late addition to the starting lineup, replacing Dustin Muhn.) 1 Su'a, Mike (BYU)
2 Fenoglio, Zach (Loyola Marymount)
3 Besser, James (California)
4 Parker, Chris (Texas A&M)
5 Brakeley, Nate Dartmouth)
6 Lambert, Garrett (Life)
7 Asbun, Derek (California)
8 Roundy, Ryan (captain) (BYU)
9 Saint, Chris (Penn State)
10 Eloff, JP (Davenport)
11 Grossheider, Kyle (Life University)
12 Jones, Gareth (Temple)
13 Kelly, Seamus (California)
14 Tiberio, Peter (vice captain) (Arizona)
15 Kelm, Duncan (San Diego State)
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Written by Pat Clifton
Friday, 15 July 2011 16:33 |
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Boston Granted Waiver, Can Qualify 2nd Side |
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Sevens -
Club Sevens
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Disclaimer: Sean Horan, NRU 7s director mentioned in this article, disputes Brackenridge's take chronicled in the words below.
The Club Strategic Committee’s eligibility committee unveiled new eligibility rules for the club 7s competition in May. They announced the changes via a press release, which did not include all of the amendments to the old eligibility standards.
Consequently, several clubs were unaware of a new rule (9.1 d) prohibiting them from advancing more than one team to the National Championships, despite the new rules being posted comprehensively and immediately on USA Rugby’s website.
Multiple clubs have voiced their displeasure with the rule, but only one club, Boston, has applied for a waiver and been approved, thus making their second side eligible for advancement to the National Championships.
“There was a situation where a TU 7s director did not seek clarification or read the rules and sent to his member clubs incorrect information about how they could enter a side,” said Eligibility Committee chair Tam Brackenridge, referring to Northeast 7s director Sean Horan.
“The NRU director basically admitted he had passed on the information incorrectly and asked what can he do for his clubs, and we took an individual waiver that was presented from that territory and did approve it as a one-time exception, based on there’s a reasonable expectation that information you receive from your administrative rugby officers will be correct and accurate, and the club had planned to operate by the new rules, got the information and operated according to the information they got from the TU 7s director.”
Though Boston’s waiver was approved, due to the mistake of a territorial executive, it was done so under a unique circumstance, says Brackenridge.
“I can’t say across the board that no waivers will be entertained, but this was a very rare and exceptional case.
“We did not feel that the club itself, if they’d known the rule, they would have split their players off. They would have operated within the rule, they’re that kind of club, so we approved it.”
Brackenridge says Boston’s rosters will be sealed after the NRU Championship, July 23rd hosted by the Village Lions, meaning they cannot transfer players between teams.
“With a sealed roster, based on exactly what they present and compete at the NRUs, they will be the one exception, yes,” she said of Boston, “and it’s not something we wanted or planned or hope to see repeated anywhere else.
“It happens in the NCAA, everybody has the best intention, sometimes there’s a mistake, and if it’s an administrative (mistake), the team in the college ranks isn’t sanctioned, there’s educational components added and requirements of the staff afterwards, but there’s no punishment to the team, and we felt that fell in those guidelines.”
Brackenridge says the press release was not meant to be an all-encompassing announcement of the rule changes, but rather an announcement that rules had been changed to prompt interested parties to visit USA Rugby’s site to find the full list of regulations.
“The whole point of that was to get people fired up to go look at the rules, to understand the rationale for the rules, and that’s all it was. It was just a brief, getting it out there quickly and trying to get everything done before people really organized and set up for 7s,” she said.
“We did learn. We’re going to always include a written disclaimer at the very top so there’s absolutely no question that (teams and administrators should) go to the website and look at that website. And there is responsibility at all levels, but there’s special responsibility on territorial directors, to know the full body of the rules and to make sure their members do comply with that.”
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