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Written by Jackie Finlan
Monday, 23 May 2011 16:02 |
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Fleet-footed Palmer Into DI Semis |
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Clubs -
Men's DI Clubs
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Manassas, VA - Palmer College may be young, but they handled Mystic River with poise during the DI club championship quarterfinals, producing a 41-21 victory and bid to the Final Four.
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| Palmer College's team speed aided in DI quarterfinal win. (Shaun Collins) |
Mystic’s defense could not contain the pace and athleticism of the Palmer backs, especially with halfbacks Luke Stringer and Chad London directing traffic and player/coach Jarod Selby loading from fullback. The scoring began minutes after kickoff when inside center Mike Junk ran on to a pop pass from the ruck and barreled his way over the try line, a score that the flyhalf, London, converted, 7-0.
Mystic seemed to have the edge in the forwards, using its size in the scrum and around the pitch to dominate the breakdowns. Palmer has struggled with its size up front, but picked up its game for the quarterfinals, and get some nice backup from its stellar fitness and technique. Mystic River’s loose forwards produced some nice go-forward ball, and near the five-minute mark, flanker Joe Shurmaitis made the defense pay and ran in a try, which flyhalf Derrick Roma notched for the 7-all tie.
Mystic’s scrum would prevail throughout, and produced a try in the second half when a stolen put-in on Palmer’s five meter allowed No. 8 Trevor McKenzie dot down, but at that point, the game was out of reach.
The game belonged to the beautiful work between Stringer, London and Selby, who orchestrated a dizzying offense in the open field. After a London penalty kick, Selby ran in back-to-back tries when he first finished off a nice run down the touchline (17-7). The next five-pointer began with London, who hit the line at pace, fending two defenders, before offloading to Stringer in support. With only the fullback to beat, Stringer pinned his defender and passed to Selby to finish off the series. The London conversion made it 24-7.
Eight minutes later, Stringer needed no one but himself for the try, looping around London and motoring 50 meters for the score and 29-7 into the break.
Palmer picked up where it left off and opened the second half with a try from flanker Fitzgerald, who stole Mystic’s ball from the scrum and outran pursuers for the try and London conversion, 36-7.
At this point, Mystic mounted a respectable comeback, getting McKenzie’s well earned try before receiving a penalty try for London’s high tackle (36-21). With only 15 points separating the two sides, the game suddenly didn’t look as bleak. Unfortunately for the Massachusetts team, it couldn’t convert the extra man on the pitch into points, and Palmer’s defense killed what should have been a scoring opportunity for Mystic.
To add insult to injury, Palmer added a final try before the final whistle for the 41-21 win.
“It was a huge win, even better than yesterday,” Selby said. “We started to blow it open in the second half, and we were a little nervous that maybe we’d get complacent, but we didn’t.”
“This has been a great step forward, as far as progress goes,” Selby continued. “Like I said, we had a spotty spring schedule, and we’ve been performing well.”
With the win, Palmer College books its ticket to Glendale, Colo., where the team will play the Olympic Club, who beat Sacramento 25-15 in the quarterfinals, before getting a shot at the title.
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Written by RUGBYMag.com News Release
Monday, 23 May 2011 14:44 |
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Canada Women Win in Amsterdame |
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Canada -
Women
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Canada's women's sevens team has won the Amsterdam Sevens tournament, going undefeated over seven games in the Dutch Capital on Saturday and Sunday. In the process Canada scored 276 points for while only allowing 36 points - far outpacing all comers at the popular tournament that featured teams from five continents.
Canada beat touring side Samurai International 29-10 in the tournament final.
Canada has won all three international tournaments it has entered in 2011 - taking the Las Vegas, Hong Kong and now Amsterdam events.
In the Cup semi-final against the host Netherlands Canada ended up in a 19-19 draw at the end of regulation, but it was Arielle Dubisette-Borrice who provided off the bench heroics - receiving a pass from Brittany Orr before sprinting some forty metres for the winning score. Ashley Patzer converted the try and Canada had successfully moved on to the tournament final vs select side Samurai International.
Patzer scored a try in that game along with two conversions. Mandy Marchak and Kelly Russell also scored one each in the semi-final.
In the final against the Samurai team Ashley Patzer scored a pair of tries and added two conversions on the way to the tournament win. Kelly Russell, Mandy Marchak and Brittany Waters scored solo efforts to round out the win.
After breezing through the first day opposition with wins over the Puma Ravens 37-0 , Germany 38-7 and the OA Saints 77-0, the talented young team took down its play-off pool of two opponents on Sunday in similar fashion.
Esprit 7 - the squad representing France's national team, fell to Canada 28-5 and in the second match against Brazil Canada prevailed 29-7.
Team Captain Mandy Marchak says her team is really developing a new dynamic.
"I was really happy with our performances all weekend long," she said. "We are really developing a winning culture on this team."
Coach John Tait was impressed by all his players, but points to one that didn't figure onto the score sheet but had a huge weekend none the less.
"Jen Kish had so much involvement, carrying the ball, making big tackles and being a crucial link to help the other players score," he said of the Edmonton based player. "Also seeing Arielle Dubisette-Borrice come off the bench and provide such a big score a minute into overtime is impressive."
Sevens rugby is an Olympic sport in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games. Canada is currently ranked sixth in the world based on the 2009 Sevens World Cup.
Cup Semi-final
Netherlands 19 Canada 26
Tries: Ashley Patzer, Mandy Marchak, Kelly Russell, Arielle Dubisette-Borrice
Conversions: Ashley Patzer (2)
Cup Final
Samurai International 10 Canada 26
Tries: Ashely Patzer (2), Kelly Russell, Brittany Watters, Mandy Marchak
Conversions: Ashley Patzer
Saturday results
Canada 37 Raven Pumas 0
Germany 7 Canada 38
Canada 77 OA Saints 0
Sunday Results
Play-off Pool
Canada 29 Esprit 7
Canada 28 Brazil 5
Cup Semi-Final
Netherlands 19 Canada 26 OT
Cup Final
Samurai International 10 Canada 29
PLAYERS:
Arielle Dubisette-Borrice - Western University (Toronto, ON)
Magali Harvey - St. Francis-Xavier University (Montreal, PQ)
Jen Kish - Edmonton Rockers - (Edmonton, AB)
Ghislaine Landry - Toronto Scottish RFC, ON & Bath Rugby, UK (Toronto, ON)
Mandy Marchak - Capilano (North Vancouver, BC)
Megan Gibbs Markham Irish (Barrie, ON)
Brittany Orr - University of Lethbridge (Lethbridge, AB)
Ashley Patzer - Lethbridge RFC (Lethbridge, AB)
Kelly Russell - Toronto Nomads (Caledon, ON)
Brittany Waters - Meraloma (Vancouver, BC)
Kelsey Willoughby - Lethbridge RFC (Lethbridge, AB)
Julianne Zussman - Town of Mount Royal (Montreal, PQ)
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Written by Jackie Finlan
Monday, 23 May 2011 14:42 |
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Metropolis, Syracuse Into DIII Semis |
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Clubs -
Men's DII Clubs
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Manassas, Va., was treated to two fabulous quarterfinal matches during the men’s DIII club championship yesterday. Both victors – Syracuse and Metropolis – had rough first halves but adjusted well after the break to outlast their opponents.
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| Metropolis fights for DIII semifinal berth. (Shaun Collins photo) |
Syracuse and Virginia took the pitch first, and the local side had the momentum – and scoreboard – on its side heading into the break.
“Virginia came out hard and fast, and were getting the better half of the ball,” Syracuse flyhalf Jeff Devennie said. “They were controlling the flow of the game and playing at a higher level than us in the first 40 minutes.”
Syracuse had difficulty getting good ball out of the scrum, which translated into anxious ball from the base and stagnant movement in the backline. Outside center Johnny Morse was able to put his team on the board in the first half, keeping the score at 11-5 before the break, but the team needed more than one-off tries to get back into the game.
“At the break, we talked about getting back to doing the simple things right,” Devennie said. “We knew we’d get better results once we took care of the basics and eliminated little things like knock-ons.”
It also started to rain in the second half, so that slowed down Virginia and helped even the field a bit. As the second stanza progressed, Syracuse’s fitness began to push the team through, and its set pieces were the happy recipient. Able to secure good primary possession, Syracuse was able to mount some go-forward series in Virginia’s end.
From inside the 22 meter, lock Andrew Pelkey scooped up a ball that squirted out the back of the ruck, broke through a few tackles and scored the team’s second try of the day. Devennie hit the conversion to pull within one point, 11-10.
Even as the clock wound down, Syracuse remained calm, didn’t veer from its patterns, and made some good decisions when it did have possession. With about seven minutes to go, Virginia made the fatal mistake of erring in its own zone. Devennie hit a penalty for the 13-11 edge that stood to the final whistle.
It was a familiar scene for Virginia, whose closing-minutes penalty kick against Bragg Saturday broke the 22-all tie and earned the team a trip to the Elite 8. Only this time, Virginia was on the losing end.
“Virginia was fast, quick, and had a strong, fit pack,” Devennie commended. “They were the best matchup we’ve seen all season in terms of size and speed.”
“We have a couple of things to work on, maintain primary possession, more discipline around the tackle, and support running for the backs,” Devennie said, “but anytime you can go out there and get a win against a solid team is great.”
Metropolis’ Nathan Osborne echoed Devennie’s comments, as he reflected on his team’s 20-10 win over Old Gaelic yesterday. The team went into Sunday after having beat Rockaway 66-8 on Saturday, and the big point margin produced a mental challenge for Minnesota-based team.
“We were coming off a game where everything went right, and everything you worked toward happened,” Metropolis player/coach Nathan Osborne said. “Old Gaelic had the benefit of watching yesterday’s game, so they were ready for us. They disrupted us, and suddenly we were getting penalties for silly infractions, which put us on the back foot. It’s something that we mentally had to get around.”
Metropolis tried to capitalize on its mobile forwards, but Old Gaelic forced the team to commit more players than usual into the breakdown, thereby handicapping its outside attack. Disable set pieces affected quality possession, and players became frenzied as they tried to force the offense, often resulting in some ill-advised decisions and 50/50 passes.
“We didn’t adjust well in the first half,” flyhalf Osborne said. “At the half, we took a deep breath and realized that we had to settle into our established game plan in order to gain control. We didn’t need to do anything different – throwing the ball around and running around like chickens with our heads cut off. We just needed to come together and slow the game down.”
It was a turning point for Metropolis, who entered the half with an 8-3 lead. At the onset of the second stanza, a newly focused Metropolis side sent Mark Dalton and AJ Jimmerson in the try zone during the third quarter for the 20-3 lead. Old Gaelic managed another try before the final whistle, but the scoring would end there, 20-10.
“We played well, but Old Gaelic was ready for us,” Osborne said. “It was a good match for us, especially since the last four teams standing will all be really tough.”
Fortunately for Metropolis’ DIII side, they’ll have its DI counterparts available for practice sessions going forward, as well as hefty support in Glendale, Colo. It’s especially important to Osborne, who commissioned some sideline help this weekend, so he could concentrate on being a player instead of all the auxiliary duties required of a player/coach.
The final four is the farthest that the club – DI or DIII – has advanced in its history, and has the South Bay Rhinos awaiting the team at the national semifinals in two weeks time.
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Written by Alex Goff
Monday, 23 May 2011 13:13 |
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RUGBYMag Names DI Men's All Americans |
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Colleges -
Men's DI College
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RUGBYMag.com has named its 2010-2011 Men's DI All Americans.
This team of 15 players was selected based on scouting reports, game reports, coach recommendations, and video and in-person analysis from RUGBYMag.com staff.
National DI champions Davenport have three players on the team, in lock Damecus Beach, flanker Ryan Hargraves, and center/flyhalf JP Eloff, who takes outside center in this squad because Bowling Green’s Nick Viviani is chosen at flyhalf. "This is an important list," said RUGBYMag.com Editor-in-Chief Alex Goff. "The programs included in this list have provided players to the USA National Team, and several on this list project to the USA Rugby All American touring side, or have had USA age-grade experience. I think it's highly likely we will see Rocco Mauer and Will Farrell on the USA 7s team in the near future."
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RUGBYMag.com 2010-2011 Men's DI All Americans
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1 Darryl Meckley (Florida)
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2 Zack Heath (Oregon State)
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3 Zack Fenoglio (Loyola Marymount)
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4 Demecus Beach (Davenport)
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5 Tim O’Hara (Santa Clara)
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6 Alex Lee (North Carolina)
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7 Ryan Hargraves (Davenport)
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8 Rob Polk (Stanford)
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9 James Burroughs (UCSB)
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10 Nick Viviani (Bowling Green)
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11 Rocco Mauer (Bowling Green)
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12 Will Farrell (Georgia)
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13 JP Eloff (Davenport)
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14 John Gallo (UCSB)
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15 Marcus Henderson (Stanford)
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