Chula Vista, CA - All of the teams that won in the first round of the women's National All Star 7s Championship also won in their second game. The eight teams are either 2-0 or 0-2.
In pool A, the Midwest lost another tight match, losing 15-7 to MARFU. Considering the Thunderbirds are playing their first matches together as well as playing ironman rugby with only seven players in attendance, the team has stood up to two very good squads thus far.
Ida Berstein was once again integral to the Sharks' victory, running in two tries for winning point spread. The former 7s Eagle currently leads the points leaderboard with Nathalie Marchino, both of whom have scored four tries over two games. Megan Hanson also scored for MARFU, and Christy Ringgenberg converted Michele Wong's try for the Midwest.
In the other pool A match, Southern California is still looking for its first points of the day, following its 24-0 opener with a 35-0 shutout against the Pacific Coast. The Pacific Coast's ultra potent backs were too much for the Griffins to contain, and player/coach Laura Cabrera, Marchino (2), Kelly Griffin (2), Irene Gardner and San Juanita Moreno all scored tries. So Cal will have one more shot to score points against the Midwest, but will likely take the fourth seed out of pool A into tomorrow's playoffs.
In pool B, the West asserted that it's earlier win against the South was no fluke and beat the Northeast 12-5.
"The team's playing beyond expectations," coach Tracy Gola said. "We came in as individuals, all playing a different style of 7s, but they're all coming together nicely now. We're communicating, working together well - I really couldn't ask for a better group of girls."
The West has a tough match ahead against the USA, which defeated the South 36-0 in its second match of the day. The two teams played the Northeast to close games, but the junior Eagles really opened it up against the Panthers, and will be difficult to corale. Kaelene Lundstrum, who earned her first international caps at Nations Cup earlier this month, had a great game, running in three tries against the South. Deven Owsiany, Amy Naber and Frances Wehrwein also added five-pointers, while Kimber Rozier slotted three conversions.
"It has only been two games," Gola checked her enthusiasm. "We'll see what happens when fatigue starts to set in."
Round 2 MARFU 15-7 Midwest Pacific Coast 35-0 Southern Cal USA Dev 40-0 South West 12-5 Northeast
The Pacific Coast continue to look all sorts of awesome in the second round of matches at the men’s en’s 7s National All-Star Championships Friday at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.
Led by the impressive Folau Niua, the Grizzlies slammed the South 39-7. Niua, who had put up solid fitness numbers during the Pac Coast tryouts, also is outstanding on the restarts, in part because he’s left-footed.
The SFGG and former East Palo Alto star ran in three tries, with his fellow EPA/SFGG teammate Mile Pulu scoring twice as the Pac Coast made a statement.
With Niua playing scrumhalf and linking with late arrival Mike Palefau and Maka Unufe and Pulu out wide, the Pacific Coast backline is unmatched in pace. Forwards Pate Tuilevuka and Miles Craigwell also scored.
Southern California seems to be the #2 team in Pool A as Justin Boyd’s three tries led the Griffins to a rout of the Northeast.
In Pool B, West’s teamwork and experience is seeing them through as they shut out the Mid-Atlantic. The All Americans looked unstoppable in the first half of their match against the Midwest. Leading 19-0, though, they let the eagerness of youth take over, and started playing too much of an individual game. Out of their game plan and out of their rhythm, they were outscored in the second half, but did enough to beat the Thunderbirds 24-14.
Chula Vista, CA - The first round of the Women's National All Star 7s Championship has concluded. The Pool A results were more predictable than Pool B, which produced some surprises.
Defending champions Mid-Atlantic kicked off the women's competition and shut out Southern California 24-0. Ida Bernstein led the charge on tries scored with two, while recently capped 15s Eagle Sam Pankey also dotted down. Captain Beth Black added a five-pointer and two conversions.
Southern California brought a very mixed squad experience wise, ranging from senior Eagles to high schoolers. The Griffins began with arguably their most difficult competition all day, so expect their play to improve over the next two matches.
In the other pool A match, the Pacific Coast bettered the Midwest 19-10. A two-try performance from Eagle Nathalie Marchino, and another nine points from Club 7s MVP Kelly Griffin (try and two conversions) gave the Grizzlies just enough room to seal the win.
Pool B followed and the most heated match of the round followed. The Northeast went into the competition as the heavy favorite in its group, sporting a number of 7s veterans and some exciting new talent. But it shouldn't have been much a surprise that the USA Developmental team was going to give them a good game, with names like Owsiany, Lorenz, Rozier, Lundstrum and McGrady.
The teams went head to head, and each scored two tries apiece, with Phaidra Knight and Kath Ryan accounting for the Northeast's, and Kimber Rozier and Bex Siebach dotting down the USA's. But Rozier's conversion made all the difference, and the USA Developmental held onto a 12-10 win.
Equally as impressive, the West nearly doubled last year's finalist, South, to a 29-15 win. Rachel Muir led with two tries, while Sarah Wilson, Jen Nelson and Deanna McGillivray added five-pointers. Nelson and Sara Edwards each slotted a conversion.
The South displayed some nice open-field movements, seeing Danielle O'Mahoney, Jessica Peterson and Lindsay Stephenson into the try zone, but coach Mike May said the younger players learned an important lessons about urgency and playing ahead of the game. It's a lesson they'll have to put into practice if the Panthers want to challenge the USA Dev. in the next round.
Pool A Mid-Atlantic 24-0 Southern California Pacific Coast 19-10 Midwest
Pool B USA Developmental 12-10 Northeast West 29-15 South
The Pacific Coast, West, All Americans and South have all jumped out to victories in the opening round of the Men’s 7s National All-Star Championships Friday at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.
The Pacific Coast handled perhaps their most challenging Pool A foes, Southern California, in the first game of the day. Pate Tuilevuka, Folau Niua, and Nu’u Punimata and Ben Green all scored tries, but no conversions kept Southern California within shouting distance, and Justin Boyd and Taylor Howden’s tries were both converted by Howden, putting the Griffins withing six. But that was all as the Pac Coast won 20-14.
It was also a tight affair in the other Pool A match, as the South got two tries from speedy and shifty Bobby Allen, and tries from Rod Ceasar and Mu Cabbell to win 22-12.
The All Americans were tagged as Pool B favorites by RUGBYMag.com and showed that in the opening match, scoring five tries from five different players to dismiss the Mid-Atlantic 27-5.
JP Eloff, Garrett Lambert, Rocco Mauer, Bubba Jones and Muhammed Abdul-Shakoor all scored for the collegiates.
And the experienced West hammered a young Midwest side 36-5. Chris Tofte scored twice and Sean O’Sullivan, Bryce Spaur, Matt Hayes and Hunter Leland all contributed a try in the rout. Max de Achaval kicked three conversions.
Those four teams all lead their pools at 1-0.
SoCal 14 Tries: Boyd, Howden Convs: Howden 2
Pac Coast 20 Tries: Tuilevuka, Folan, Punimata, Green
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Led by the impressive Folau Niua, the Grizzlies slammed the South 39-7. Niua, who had put up solid fitness numbers during the Pac Coast tryouts, also is outstanding on the restarts, in part because he’s left-footed.
The Pacific Coast handled perhaps their most challenging Pool A foes, Southern California, in the first game of the day. Pate Tuilevuka, Folau Niua, and Nu’u Punimata and Ben Green all scored tries, but no conversions kept Southern California within shouting distance, and Justin Boyd and Taylor Howden’s tries were both converted by Howden, putting the Griffins withing six. But that was all as the Pac Coast won 20-14.
