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Written by Jackie Finlan
Friday, 26 August 2011 14:32 |
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First Round of Women's NASCs Concludes |
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Sevens -
All-Stars
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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. 
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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
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Written by Press Release
Friday, 26 August 2011 11:16 |
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Canada Competitive in Loss to Aussie Barbarians |
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Canada -
Men
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Gold Coast, Aus. - Canada improved from their two test wins against the USA for a performance with much more possession and phase play in a 38-14 loss to the Australian Barbarians in front of 4,122 spectators at Skilled Park in Queensland.
Canada started well, with solid defense keeping the Barbarians honest in their own end for a length period. They were then gifted a perfect start to the match, when the Barbarians were penalized for a collapsed scrum and captain Pat Riordan opted for a shot at goal. The shot was wide of the uprights, but Canada had proved early they were ready for the challenge.
 The Barbarians then piled on the phases for sustained pressure, but Canada's defense was up to the task despite being camped close to their goal line for five minutes.
The deadlock broke when the Barbarians sent the ball wide and centre Rob Horne came back on the angle to break over for a try.
Canada fired right back when a scrum in the Barbarians half turned into seven points on the scoreboard. Canada won the scrum and went blind for one phase. Before Ander Monro hit DTH van der Merwe on a three-man cutout pass and into a whole for a 20-metre dash to the try line. James Pritchard added the extras and the game was tied.
The Barbarians scored again through Rod Davies, Barnes and Drew Mitchell. Barnes hit three from four conversions in the first half.
Canada closed the half positively with van der Merwe turning the ball over in a ruck and send Phil Mackenzie on a run for his third try in as many games, as he soccered the ball all 30 metres to score.
Canada had closed the gap to 26-14 by half time.
Canada made some changes at and shortly after the half-time break, with Tyler Hoston coming on for Jamie Cudmore and Nanyak Dala on for Aaron Carpenter. Ryan Hamilton came on for captain Pat Riordan 10 minutes into the second half as a blood sub.
The Barbarians spent 18 minutes of relentless attack inside the Canadians' 22, but Canada's defence held solid for the opening stanza of the second half with very little possession to speak of.
After nearly half the second half with possession possession to begin the second half, Matt Hodgson scored for the Barbarians off a five-metre scrum and a successful conversion by Barnes took the score the Barbarians 33-14.
Canada controlled possession and territory for much of the remainder of the second half and strung together controlled phase play despite fierce defence from the Barbarians.
Ben Tapuai sealed the Barbarians win with an unconverted try for a 38-14 finish.
By the end of the game, all of Canada's substitutes had taken the field.
"30 minutes into the first half I think we took our foot off the gas for a bit and they scored a couple of quick tries, so that was a good lesson for us," said Canada captain Pat Riordan. "I think the scrum was a huge part of our game tonight. Aside from a few at the start, I thought our scrum went well."
"Although we were on the losing end there were a lot of positives,” added Canada Head Coach Kieran Crowley. “The difference to me was their ability to make the breaks. The pace of the game and the intensity was that much higher."
Canada 14
Tries: van der Merwe, Mackenzie.
Convs: Pritchard 2
Australian Barbarians 38
Tries: Rob Horne, Davies, Mitchell, Barnes, Tapuai, Hodgson
Convs: Barnes 4
Canadian side versus Australian Barbarians
NAME (HOMETOWN, PROVINCE, CRC, HOME CLUB, SCHOOL)
1. Hubert Buydens (Saskatoon, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Saskatoon Wild Oats, Walter Murray/University of Saskatchewan)
2. Pat Riordan (captain) (Surrey, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Burnaby Lake, Tamanawis Secondary/University of Victoria)
3. Jason Marshall (North Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Capilano, Carson Graham Secondary/Simon Fraser University)
4. Jebb Sinclair (Fredericton, NB, London Irish/PRO, Fredericton Loyalists, Fredericton High School)
5. Jamie Cudmore (Squamish, BC, ASM Clermont Auvergne/PRO, Howe Sound Secondary)
6. Adam Kleeberger (White Rock, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes, Semiahmoo Secondary School/University of Victoria)
7. Chauncey O'Toole (Belleisle, NB, Ospreys/PRO, Belleisle Rovers, Belleisle Regional High School)
8. Aaron Carpenter (Brantford, ON, Plymouth Albion/PRO, Brantford Harlequins, Brantford Collegiate Institute/McMaster University)
9. Ed Fairhurst (Vancouver, BC, UBC Old Boys Ravens, St. Michael's University School/University of Victoria)
10. Ander Monro (VC) (Victoria, BC, Ontario Blues/CRC, Castaway Wanderers, Glenalmond College/Edinburgh University)
11. Phil Mackenzie (Oakville, ON, Esher/PRO, Oakville Crusaders, Appleby College/University of Victoria)
12. Ryan Smith (Calgary, AB, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Calgary Irish, Mayfield Secondary/University of Guelph)
13. DTH van der Merwe (Victoria, BC, Glasgow Warriors/PRO, James Bay, Dr. Martin LeBoldus)
14. Ciaran Hearn (Conception Bay South, NL, The Rock/CRC, Baymen RFC, Holy Spirit High School)
15. James Pritchard (Parkes, Australia, Bedford Blues/PRO, Randwick, Red Bend Catholic College)
Reserves:
16. Ryan Hamilton (West Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, Capilano, Rockridge Secondary/University of Victoria)
17. Scott Franklin (Regina, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Castaway Wanderers, Athol Murray College of Notre Dame/Camosun College)
18. Tyler Hotson (Vancouver, BC, Plymouth/PRO, UBC Old Boys Ravens, St. George's School/University of British Columbia)
19. Nanyak Dala (Saskatoon, SK, Prairie Wolf Pack/CRC, Castaway Wanderers, Glenwood High School/University of Saskatchewan)
20. Sean White (Victoria, BC, BC Bears/CRC, James Bay, Oak Bay High School)
21. Conor Trainor (Vancouver, BC, BC Bears/CRC, UBC Old Boys, St. George's School/University of Western Ontario)
22. Nathan Hirayama (Richmond, BC, BC Bears/CRC, University of Victoria Vikes, Hugh McRoberts Secondary/University of Victoria)
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Written by Alex Goff
Friday, 26 August 2011 14:05 |
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Round 1 in Men's 7s NASC |
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Sevens -
All-Stars
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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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Northeast 12
Tries: Moore, Cullen
Convs: Wareing
South 22
Tries: Cabbell, Allen 2, Ceasar
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Mid-Atlantic 5
Tries: 1
All-Americans 27
Tries: Eloff, Lambert, Mauer, Jones, Abdul-Shakoor
Convs: Kelm
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West 36
Tries: O'Sullivan, Tofte (2), Spaur, Hayes, Leland
Convs: De Achaval (3)
Midwest 5
Tries: 1
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Written by Alex Goff
Thursday, 25 August 2011 23:29 |
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Men's NASC Pool B Wide Open |
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Sevens -
All-Stars
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It’s a wide open Pool B at the Men’s 7s NASC.
No team is completely overpowering, but one has to wonder if the All Americans will emerge leaders given their full week of training together.
 The AAs are without one of their biggest names in the injured Peter Tiberio, but they have plenty of talent to spare. Their backs are not big and imposing, but they are very quick and skilled. Led by Rocco Mauer and JP Eloff, with Garrett Lambert up front, and with Don Pati, Tim Stanfill, Nate Brakely, Dustin Muhn … you get the picture; the kids could emerge on top.
And speaking of kids, there are a few on the other teams, as well. The Midwest is certainly a young squad, with current or recent college players including some burgeoning talents as Max Narewski and Jordan Highberger.
The West passed up on a few newer players to go with experience, with Max de Achaval, Ben Haapapuro, Hunter Leland, Dewon Reed, and Spencer Scott all known, talented, quantities. Experience could easily see them through.
More youth in the Mid-Atlantic, as Chris Harvey’s squad includes the impressive Greg Ambrogi and the fit and hard-working Nick Koon. Mid-Atlantic’s best clubs have done well when they play team rugby. They do that again, they could start winning games.
But it’s hard to bet against the All Americans. The talent is there, and they’ve been together since Sunday morning. Under intense training, this squad has emerged tested and ready.
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