Photos On the Marc Photography

U-19 and U-17 All Star sides from Northern California collected championship hardware over Father’s Day weekend in the 11^th Annual Rocky Mountain Challenge held at Aurora Sports Complex. USARugby selectors and college recruiters were conspicuous at the games, engaging youth and coaches alike in conversations regarding their bright rugby futures.

U-19 Road to Final

Wisconsin earned their berth in the championship with pool victories over Minnesota 22-10 and Florida 31-29, and a semifinal victory over Texas 27-12, while Northern California defeated Heart of America 52-16 and Nebraska 85-0, then brokered their place in the finals with a 52-12 win over Southern California.

U-19 Final

Wisconsin drew first blood in the 8^th minute when scrumhalf Jeff Cebe scrambled around the base of a loose piece five meters from NorCal’s tryline and dotted down. NorCal roared right back, and from an attacking lineout 30 meters out, a driving maul brought them inside Wisconsin’s 22. They spun the ball wide, which cut out a pair of defenders, and wing Johnny Niupalau pinned his ears back and sprinted into goal for the leveler at 11 minutes.

NorCal grabbed the lead as first center George Naufahu-Talakai dipped and banged his way 20 meters into goal for a 10-5 Pelicans advantage 18 minutes in. Wisconsin crossed into NorCal territory twice before halftime, but their attacks were blunted by handling errors and the ensuing turnover ball was well capitalized as Niupalau picked up his brace in a 40 meter sideline scoot that brought the tally to 15-5 at break.

Wisconsin pressured early after the re-start, but to no avail as NorCal extended their lead with a George Folau try at 35 minutes converted by flyhalf Tyler Nawrocki for a scoreline of 22-5. The omnipresent loosehead finished the scoring as he got his brace in support of a fine forward rush with a snatch and plunge over goal. Conversion by Nawrocki and a final of 29-5 went into the books.

Wisconsin 5
Tries: Cebe

Northern California 29
Tries: Niupalau (2), Naufahu-Talakai, Folau (2)
Convs: Nawrocki (2)

Officials: B. Arciero, T. Luscombe, C. Ratay

U-17 Road to Final

Colorado got past Texas and Wisconsin in the pool rounds before booking their seat at the final’s table with a heart-stopping 3-0 semifinal win over Minnesota, and Northern California bested Southern California and Minnesota then topped Wisconsin 37-17 in the other semifinal to obtain their championship shot.

U-17 Final

Northern California’s continuity and opportunism were the story as they crossed into goal four times in the first half.

A spate of tight NorCal slippage maul-work brought the action into Colorado territory, and wing Sateki Polaulu finished well in the corner after a 20-meter power run to paydirt. The conversion by Kyle Garlick made it 7-0l at the fifth minute. Colorado had trouble finding the handle on the ball and subsequent possession exchange was capitalized on adeptly by Jamie Howells at the end of a scrum. Garlick converted and NorCal were up by 14 in the ninth minute.

Ball swung long and wide from the breakdown five meters from goal saw wing None Vailea free and clear to try midway through the half for a 19-0 NorCal lead. Then with the travellers on the front foot once more, halfback Aidan Flynn broke out of congestion at Colorado’s 22 and fended off a tackler en route to a try converted by Garlick for a 26-0 halftime score.

Colorado pressured early after the re-start and patiently worked the ball into Nor Cal territory before a pair of backline surges took action to NorCal’s doorstep. No. 8 Ben Pinkelman snatched ball from a five-meter loose piece and twisted into goal to make it 26-5 at 30 minutes.

But Northern California replied with a pair of scores from Oisin Collins and Pate Takeveikata, and with one converted by Garlick the score stood at 38-5 with time slipping away. Colorado were back once again knocking on the door and Pinkelman got his brace with a canny pick, dodge, and dot from breakdown five meters out for a final of Northern California 38, Colorado 10.

Northern California 38
Tries:  Polaulu, Howells, Vailea, Flynn, Collins, Takeveikata;
Convs: Garlick (4)

Colorado 5
Tries: Pinkelman

Officials: C. Schuyler, J. Zevin, M. Nelson

Of note: In addition to the weekend’s All-Star action, on Saturday over 30 youth sides competed at Aurora Sports Complex in the Colorado Youth Jamboree which featured U-13, U-11, U-9, and U-7 action. Jamboree director Davids White-Farmer had this to say about the festival atmosphere: “We’ve over 300 kids under 13 out here today playing both tackle and touch rugby, and though there will be no champions crowned, each and everyone of these boys and girls are victors.”

At Niagara University, the Fairport Red Raiders entered the New York State Class A High School championship as the bottom seed in the tournament. On Sunday May 29th the Red Raiders faced the Saratoga Mustangs, the top seed in the Capitol District. The Mustangs were undefeated, having tallied an impressive six wins and no losses while amassing a total of 205 points for and only 10 against for the season.

2011 was a transition season for the Fairport team, having returned only two starters from the 2010 team which placed second in the state last year. The team began to jell late in the season and defeated their last 3 opponents (Pittsford, Syracuse and Orchard Park) by a combined score of 120-0, while barely qualifying for the playoffs.

From the opening kick the Saratoga Mustangs were no match for the determination and rugby knowhow that the Red Raiders displayed. Fairport saddled and broke the Saratoga Mustangs 51-0.

Meanwhile, Kenmore West defeated Kingston 31-11, setting up a rematch of a 34-20 Kenmore win in the final.

Fairport opened the game by kicking off to Kenmore Wes,t but gained possession quickly by out-rucking Kenmore and methodically driving the ball deep into its territory. Fairport scored first after Trevor Benson converted a penalty kick from 30 meters to take the 3-0 lead. After strong defense by both teams, Kenmore’s winger was able to recover his own kick for an outstanding try and a 5-3 lead. Shortly after, Fairport stole a Kenmore ball and was able to pass out wide to set up Jake Wolf for an explosive run that ended in a try, regaining the lead for Fairport.

The half ended with Fairport knocking on the door once more, but failing to score a try from five meters out. The game was very much a seesaw battle and the determining factor was field position. Kenmore scored another try before Fairport answered with a fantastic team effort, started and later finished by Matt Greco. Trevor Benson made the conversion for a Fairport 15-12 lead. Fairport was then able to break the back-and-forth scoring when Greg Johnson won several Kenmore lineouts that neutralized their kicking game.

Eventually Benson was able to break free and make a difficult pass to Dan Gueli who rumbled in for the try. Benson then made the conversion kick for a 22-12 Fairport lead.

As the second half began to wind down, Kenmore caught the Red Raiders forwards out of defensive position and scored from the back of a driving maul. The conversion attempt failed.

From that point on, the battles took place primarily at midfield with both teams displaying exceptional rucking, tackling and positional play. With 10 minutes left and Kenmore committing a penalty, Fairport chose to take the long penalty kick from 40 meters out. An outstanding kick by Benson was good, making it 25-17 and a two score lead. Kenmore came back down the field for another unconverted try to make it 25-22 with no time left on the clock.

In Girls competition on Sunday, the NY Rugby Club U19 girls defeated Fairport 27-7 in the semifinals. The NY Rugby Club went on to win the State Title by defeating the Kingston club in the championship game. In the Girl's Consolation match Fairport defeated Adirondack 19-7 in a close game that was tied at 7 at the half. The Fairport Girls team finished 3rd place in the state.