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(Above, Lamorinda going in for the try over Marin in the Varsity International Final. David Barpal photo)
By Ray Schwartz
Sacramento, Calif. January 29-31, 2010 - The Northern California High School and Youth rugby season began in style with the 26th Annual Kick Off Tournament (KOT), held at Granite Regional Park in Sacramento.
Spread across six fields, 97 sides played a total of 142 matches. All sides were guaranteed 90 minutes of play, be it through three 30-minute matches, or two 45-minute games. Players ranged from 9-18 years of age, travelling from as far away as Alberta, Canada, to enjoy a superb weekend of rugby.
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| Above, a Friday-night curtain raiser v. Jesuit and Vacaville. Tony Hensley photo. Below, Hayward Griffins against Islanders in the Varsity Gold final. And bottom, Lamorinda against Land Park in the younger brackets. Both photos David Barpal. |
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The event was organized by the Sacramento Valley High School Rugby Conference (SVHSRC) led by General Manager Ray Thompson and KOT Director Jerry Ahlin.
Friday Curtain Raisers
Featuring a lighted stadium at Kennedy HS, the tournament began Friday afternoon with the Land Park Motley U14s facing the Celtic Barbarians from Alberta, Canada. Friday’s games at Kennedy were preceded by a visit from USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville, who lent a hand in running a "9-10 Halfback Clinic.” The clinic featured 34 players, from local U14 and U19 sides, and including All-American scrumhalf Tyler Harrison from UC Davis, and his flyhalf Serop Chalian.
Sierra Junior College director of rugby Michael Taylor (a former Wasps winger) then whisked Melville over to Granite Park where Jesuit HS faced Vacaville and the UC Davis A-side defeated cross-causeway rival Sacramento State 34-5.
Pat Wickman and Jack Rosenhammer, two young refs from Met-NY, handled these highly competitive matches brilliantly.
Varsity International - Lamorinda
Lamorinda won the Varsity International Division with a 48-13 win over the Marin Highlanders in the final. Lamorinda’s Vincent Buhagiar was named Varsity International MVP.
To reach the final Lamorinda defeated Cougars 22-5 and defending champion Christian Brothers 34-5. Marin’s path to the final included wins over Mother Lode (33-0) and Beaverton (36-5).
Lamorinda may well be the largest rugby club in America, featuring several hundred age-grade players. Lamorinda entered an astounding 14 sides in this year’s KOT.
In Sunday’s Championship round Christian Brothers beat local rival Mother Lode 24-7 for the Plate, while Cougars posted a 29-0 win over Beaverton for the Bowl.
The Varsity International Division offered the KOT’s only two-day competition, featuring two 45-minute matches Saturday, and a full 70-minute Championship match on Sunday.
Varsity Gold – Hayward Griffins
The Hayward Griffins won the Varsity Gold Cup Championship with a 12-7 win over PITS of Piedmont, Calif. in the final. Hayward’s dynamic Mayou Vayian took the Varsity Gold MVP.
To reach the final, Hayward, last year’s Varsity Gold runner up, beat the Islanders of Sacramento 22-5, and then squeaked by San Mateo 7-5. PITS advanced with a 19-0 victory over the Marin Lions in their first round and a tie with Diablo. PITS is the longest continuously operating U19 club in NorCal, coached by John “Trailer” Cullom since 1979.
Diablo of Walnut Creek, Calif., led by dynamic twins in the centers, Mate and Sione Hausia, beat San Mateo 24-7 for the Plate.
Defending National HS Champion Jesuit Marauders, losing 3-0 to Diablo in the first match of the day, rebounded to crush the Lions 31-0 and Islanders 27-0 to take the Bowl.
Montgomery (Santa Sosa, CA) slayed the Lions 10-7 in the consolation match.
Varsity Silver: Dixon
Dixon won the Varsity Silver Cup with a thrilling 13-10 win over Pleasanton (co-coached by National Panel ref Paul Bretz). Dixon’s Nick Salaber was named Silver MVP. Nick is the son of Dixon coach Rob Salaber, a former Cal and Collegiate All-American fullback.
Dixon’s path to the final included wins over Lamorinda’s B side (7-0) and Bellarmine Prep (10-5), a new club from San Jose. To reach the final, Pleasanton squeaked by Santa Rosa 10-8 and Silicon Valley 7-5.
Bellarmine beat Silicon Valley for the Plate, while Rosa smoked Lamorinda for the Bowl.
Worth noting, Bellarmine used to play rugby in the 1980s, and then became the multi-school club, College Park, where current Eagle Captain Todd Clever played his first rugby. College Park won the KOT Varsity Bronze last year, but the club has again moved back on campus.
Varsity Bronze: De La Salle
De La Salle (DLS) won the Varsity Bronze Division Cup with an 8-0 win over Woodcreek in the final. DLS’s David Hamadi was the Bronze MVP.
To reach the final DLS shut down Danville 21-0, then Eagles (Carmichael, Calif.) 3-0, while Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.) shut out Berkeley (10-0) and Live Oak (12-0).
Lancers (Rancho Cordova, Calif.) beat Berkeley for the Bowl, Eagles defeated Live Oak for the Plate. Sierra Foothills (Penryn, Calif.) won the Consolation match, giving Danville the wooden spoon.
Saturday’s Junior Varsity
Jesuit B and Granite Bay proved dominant in the JV Division, both going 3-0 in a field of 6 sides that played a round robin format. Jesuit’s Dave Costen was the MVP at this level.
Saturday’s Frosh/Soph
Fourteen Frosh/Soph sides signed on for Saturday’s play, with Jesuit Red, Lamorinda and De La Salle each going 3-0. In a sign of the ever expanding KOT, Rosa, PITS, Berkeley, Bellarmine, Diablo, Lamorinda and DLS each travelled well over an hour with at least two sides, for the chance to gain valuable playing time against stiff competition. The Celtic Barbarians, a side drawn from across Alberta, Canada, went 1-2.
Mother Lode’s 15-year-old prop, Marshall Godfrey, fresh off the PCRFU U-17 tour to Hawaii, was named the Frosh/Soph MVP.
Saturday’s Girl’s Exhibition
The KOT failed to draw a competitive Girl’s pool for the first time in four years. Still, two top sides from NorCal played a 70-minute match with Amazons defeating Mother Lode, 46-0.
Sunday’s Junior Varsity B
Four new clubs, Kennedy, Stockton, River City (West Sacramento), and Bullard (Fresno), were part of the eight teams in Sunday’s Junior Varsity B Side play. Each of the newcomers picked up at least one win, with Stockton and Bullard playing their first games ever. River City (coached by former Eagle Captain Steve Gray) looking especially impressive, shutting out Lamorinda, Marin Highlanders and Sierra Foothills. River City’s No. 8 Christian Castro was MVP, and may well be Bill Leclerc’s next project at prop!
Sunday’s Frosh/Soph
Ten sides entered Sunday’s Frosh/Soph play, with Dixon and Lamorinda posting 3-0 records and the Calgary Hornets going 2-0-1. Jamie Vega of Lamorinda was MVP of this division.
Sunday’s Junior High
Thirteen sides entered Sunday’s Junior High (U14) play, leading to a creative solution for guaranteeing game time. Three sides played two 45-minute matches, while the others played three each in a round robin.
Land Park’s Motley, coached by National Referee Evaluator Matt Eason, outscored Lamorinda and Peninsula Seahawks by a combined 100-17. Sierra Foothills and Marin Highlanders were also impressive, both winning three in a row. Lamorinda’s Rory Howe took this MVP.
Sunday’s Grade School
Ten U12 and six U10 sides comprised the Grade School competition. Lamorinda entered six sides, the Danville Oaks three, while Land Park Motley, Marin Highlanders and the Pleasanton Cavaliers fielded two apiece. Sierra Foothills U12 side rounded it out.
Lamorinda’s Foto Mokofisi was the Grade School MVP, but the joy on the faces of every player and parent, it was clear that everyone was a winner here.
Successful Event
The success of this year’s Kick Off Tournament were well expressed by a parent who drove hours to attend: “This weekend was my first time at the KOT and you guys did a fantastic job! It was very well organized and I was impressed both by the caliber and quantity of rugby on display. My son is a member of the Silicon Valley RFC, and this is his first year learning and playing the game. I was more than thrilled with his participation, and with the camaraderie and sportsmanship on display.
“Thanks for putting on a first class event, but also for your commitment to developing the sport.”
2011 KOT - January 28-30
Next year’s KOT is set for January 28-30, 2011; the weekend before the Super Bowl and two weeks before the USA Sevens was selected to avoid conflicts.
Online registration should be available by the end of February 2010. Both PayPal and Credit Card online payment options are expected. Discounts will be offered for early registration with early payment.
Program Directors and coaches are advised to visit www.SVRF.Org after February 28th to see what’s available. A full refund will be made for cancellations made by Dec 31, 2010.
Reduced fees for the younger teams, and ladies/girls sides are expected but final costs have not yet been finalized. The registration fee per side entered remains at $250, excluding discounts for early registration and younger/ladies teams that may be offered online at SVRF.Org
In response to requests, an Under 8 Division may be offered in 2011.
Details of KOT 27, along with results, pictures and Videos from KOT 26 should be online by Feb 28 2010 at SVRF.Org.
Questions may be directed to Roger Clague:
TechCzar@WinFirst.Com
C - (916) 600-2107
W - (916) 359-1508
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