9/13 ECU, NCSU @ Cape Fear

Each of the following games played 30 minute halves:

12:00 PM Cape Fear 10 - 40 ECU

1:15 PM ECU B 3 - 24 NCSU B

2:30 PM NCSU A 12 - 42 ECU A

3:45 PM Cape Fear/ NCSU MOTLEY 17 - 0 ECU B

I officiated the Cape Fear vs. ECU game, the last 10 minutes of the NCSU A vs. ECU A game (due to the other ref pulling his calf), and the motley game.

ECU has done an excellent job of recapping the play for the day, http://ecurugby.weebly.com/1/post/2008/09/ecu-opens-fall-campaign-with-victories.html

NC State took firm control of the the NCSU ECU game, the forwards supporting and providing plentiful go forward ball. NCSU's game plan, however, tired very quickly - it was hot and humid as hell outside. As NCSU's pack tired - ECU took quick advantage, running through the uncovered NCSU backline defence to score. ECU definetly showed they have some very skilled backline players - but for them to go further this season it seems as though they need to improve the organization of their game as their game plan seems primarily based on the athleticism of their backs.

NCSU need to diversify their game plan - it is too simple. They can maintain possession and work their way down the field - but the finishing ability is just not there. Phases off the side of the ruck will not get you in the try zone every time.

From a refereeing point my biggest question on the day was is a "ruck" a "ruck" when there is no opposition committed? ECU, being much smaller than many of the Cape Fear players, would often not contest the breakdown at all. Cape Fear would take the ball in, ECU tackler going to ground, Fear players would keep their feet coming over the ball forming what was most of the time an uncontested ruck. Uncontested either because a contesting ECU player lost his feet or immediately disengaged from the ruck having realized it was lost. Now, how long should I allow for Fear to play the ball before I call it out - as after all - there is no opposition so there is no ruck - no need to wait for the ball to "come out." It seams unreasonable for me to allow the ECU players to come around immediately - as they did choose to not contest - but what is the right amount of time? or should it be blown immediately?

Considering this situation in international and guinness premiership games the ball is generally played immediately, causing no concern like this. In lower level games, where players are less knowledgeable, this situation is more likely to happen, and what is the right decision?

Overall, the event was great. Cape Fear but on food and beverage for everyone and there were even a couple "zulus." The B-side boys from both clubs all showed up very well considering for most of them it was there first time playing rugby.

Summer 2008

5/17 Airborne 7s - Fort Bragg, NC

This was a fairly social sevens event hosted in Fayetteville, NC by Fort Bragg RFC - an army base. Cape Fear (Wilmington, NC) came out easy winners of the tournament. Competitors included Southern Pines, Bragg, Lejeune, Raleigh, Providence Hoggs, and more. The closest game of the day was Fear v. Raleigh early in the morning.

5/24 Memorial Day 7s - Charleston, SC

This tournament included many teams from NC, SC, and Georgia. Many of the larger rugby clubs, such as Charlotte (USA Super League Club), entered a few different sides under names such as "Playas," "Super Friends," "Legion of Doom," and "Team Beautiful." The tournament was definetly of a higher level than the Airborne Sevens, but still had a distinct social atmosphere. I can't recall the winners of the event - I know Fear lost in the semis to one of the Charlotte teams.

I got to meet many different referees at this event from regions much further south - including USA national panel referees - who watched and commented on a couple of my games. They provided some good input for sevens refereeing with regards to positioning, penalties, and forward passes. As anyone who has watched a real life rugby game knows, referees miss "forward" passes and knocks, it's inevitable, we cant see everything - but what many people form the sideline don't realize is that not all forward passes are really "forward." If the balls momentum carries it forward....even though it is directed backwards, it is NOT a forward pass. Anyone who doubts me, watch this video from the ARU (with some horrible 80s music)




6/21 Triad 7s - Greensboro, NC

Triad Rugby Club, based out of Greensboro, NC, competes in USA Rugby South Men's Division 3, but I really wonder why they aren't competing at a higher level. Greensboro now has a men's high school team and three men's university teams (Elon, Guilford, UNCG) - four if you include Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. That's FIVE teams that feed the Triad Rugby Club, where do all those players go after graduation? All the rugby players can't be moving out of Greensboro right out of college - where is the retention?

At any rate, this tournament was of a similar level to Airborne Sevens. The highlight of the day was the final between a Charlotte Team (heartwood??) and ECU. Prior to kickoff, the Charlotte team performed their version of a haka - similar to New Zealand's Ka Mate Haka - but with the use of chainsaws revving and smoking in the middle of the field. It was quite a spectacle - I wish I could post a youtube video of it for you.

Instead, here's a haka video:





7/5 Cape Fear 7s - Wilmington, NC

In summer 2008 I was living in Wilmington, NC - as such - I requested to be a part of officiating this tournament. The Cape Fear 7s tournament, held every July 4th Weekend - is the premier sevens tournament in the Southeast - many consider it to be one of the most important 7s tournaments in the country.

This year the USA Rugby decided to bring it's National Focus Panel of referees down to have a look at them - thus, many SERRS refs who would have normally officiated the tournament were not invited - including myself. I, however, being a local - decided to show up and offer my services anyway. SERRS el presidente and many of the older national referees were happy to oblige - at one point giving me 3 games back to back!!!!! (high school, old boys, and club divisions). Then, at kangaroo court that night, they had the nerve to enforce beverage consumption and general embarassment on me for stupidly accepting 3 games back to back.....bastard shady old referees.

At this sevens tournament there is generally a few international touring sides..and they generally win it. This year, however, NOVA turned it over on a British Army touring side - winning a very entertaining final.

7/26 Bele Chere 7s - Asheville, NC

I don't have a lot to say about the rugby - the final was Asheville v. Greenville, Greenville came out on top. Most of the teams were social sides, all there for the same reason - Bele Chere - a big hippy redneck festival deep in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. It was a great weekend full of rugby, hippies, rednecks, mullets, booze, lots of live music, and shenanigans.

Me and a good friend from work made the trip up to Asheville, NC from Wilmington, NC - basically traveling the entire length of North Carolina. We picked up two NCSU ruggers on the way. On the way I got on the Tom Leykis Radio show - for those of you who know who that is.

We arrived on friday night to discover the tournament was actually in Hendersonville, NC - about 20 minutes outside of Asheville - and my hotel was there as well. We did not make it into Bele Chere that night due to horrible traffic conditions to the festival, so we had a few at Applebees and called it a night.

Rugby started the following morning and conveniently ended at about 3 PM - at which point we booked it into Asheville to join the bele chere festivities. I wont explain too much - hopefully pictures help:

Creepy emo art
Asheville sunset...from rooftop bar
until 6 AM that morning.....

THE NEXT DAY:

off the Blue Ridge Parkway

A Great Way to end the summer.....
The USA v. Clermont Auvergne game was the weekend after this.....blogpost to come...

The rest of spring 2008

My first season of refereeing wrapped up as follows:

4/12 - 4/13 MBA World Cup

This was an event to remembered. Every April, the Duke University Fuqua School of Business hosts the MBA Rugby World Championships. This celebrated event has been held since 1980 and is typically attended by 25 or more of the world’s most prestigious graduate business programs.

In 2008 it was plagued by some serious monsoon type weather (april showers) - with all the fields having standing water. I had a really good time - the rugby, even though it was wet and slow - fit the style of teams competing at the tournament and made for a good event.

The first day was a stop and go affair - any time there was lightning there was a required 30 minute break. The day, however, did finish as intended. I unfortunately cannot remember exactly who I refereed - but I do remember being assigned Ivey (Canadian Business School) 3 times, awarding a penalty try, and thinking NYU were a bunch of pricks (they were very mouthy).

I refereed the Plunger Final (for 17th out of 22) between Chicago and Harvard B. This was by far my best game, from a refereeing perspective, and from an entertainment perspective. Harvard B pushed ahead with an early try and conversion through a backs play. They also picked up a penalty to round out their scoring at 10. Chicago got one try in the first half, leaving them with 5. In the last play of the game Chicago scored another try, making it 10-10 - leaving me with the fear of going into overtime. Luckily, Chicago nailed the difficult conversion for win, 12-10.

The second day I had my first assessment by Ray Davis. I did not feel the game went well - I even made a blatantly wrong call (calling a scrum for what should've been a 22 drop by grounding in goal). Fortunately I was still promoted to C3 that weekend.

4/19 Enodiaks @ Guilford

Guilford College is based out of Greensboro, NC and is a member of USA Rugby South's Collegiate Men's Division 3. I don't know the last time they won their conference - but it has not been since I have been in college (2004). Guilford, however, did show up well on this day where I had my first experience ever with them. They were playing Enodiaks - a combination of two new clubs in the Raleigh/Durham area. Eno River is based out of Durham, NC. The Kodiaks are based out of Raleigh, NC and advertise themselves as being open to men no matter their sexual orientation.

At any rate, Eno River and Kodiaks were both low on numbers to they combined to become the "Enodiaks" to play Guilford.

It was immediately obvious who was the better team - Guilford basically ran in tries at will. To Eno's credit, they did muster a penalty and a lineout on the Guilford 5 meter line to drive it over for a try. Final score was something along the lines of 90-5.

Hopefully Guilford will capitalize on the excellent number of players they had for the game - many of whom looked rather good (but considering the opposition....).

I hope Eno River and Kodiaks continue to grow their clubs so that they can be competitive in the NCRU.

4/26 Elon Women's Round Robin

This was my final game of the season. Upon arrival at Elon's field I realized this was going to be a PROM DRESS game. I immediately told them I was going to have a hard time refereeing the game....as it was impossible to tell who was on what team as they were all wearing randomly colored dresses. The girls were all comfortable with that.

It turned out to be a reasonably enjoyable event - the crowd was really into it and the girls spent most of their time laughing.

An easy way to end the season......