4/3/2009 Spring Shorties: Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) @ Springfield College (SC)

This was a friday night game, I traveled straight from work to Springfield, MA. Having a chat with the Springfield College Coach (SC), I discovered that Basketball was invented in springfield - actually in the gymnasium right beside the field. Now Rugby was invented in Rugby, England --> what if basketball had been called Springfield?

The third team failed to show up for the spring shortie, so we only officially played one 50 minute game between SC and MMA.

Also, this game was being played on a football field, meaning:

• 5 yard lines along the 100 yard (not meter) field.


• No 22 meter line --> I ended up having the coaches mark the 25 yard line with a cone, but it was a nightmare for me to judge taking back in.


• The goal posts (at gridiron width) were at the back of the tryzone, so on conversions I had the players line up on the dead ball line. And on penalty kicks, the posts were also the deadball line, so the ball could not be played had it been hit off the post.


• The field was artificial turf, and not rugby style turf, it was very hard ground.


• The field was very narrow --> this greatly favored SC as much of their team were also SC gridiron (football) players.


• In addition, it was rainy conditions --> so this again favored the SC team filled with big boys for the tight game.
  

In pointing out all these conditions that favored SC....SC went on to win the game handily 24-3 in only 50 minutes....pounding it down the middle. I couldn't count the number of times a MMA bounced off a SC player.

Now I had expected this game to be played on Saturday (as scheduled) but upon calling the team.....friday morning....I found out it was actually to be played on FRIDAY NIGHT! I had not prepared for this, having had a hard workout (at crossfit) and training session on thursday with the Albany Knicks, really making my ankle sore --> I had planned on resting it friday for saturday. At any rate, the field was friendly to sore feet (being flat and turf), so it was not so bad.

I was pleasantly surprised by some rucks performed in great form this game, everyone one on their feet, coming in straight, and driving straight over. In saying there, there were a few occasions of bridging, the the players knew exactly what they were being called for. One of my main concerns coming out of the game was my judgement of advantage. Early in the first half, I gave a penalty advantage at midfield and I simply let it run too long. I think I could understand letting it run as long as I did attacking near the goal line, but considering the midfield ....after one phase of little gain in ground, I should have brought it back. Instead, I allowed probably around 5 phases without much gain (if at all). When I finally awarded the penalty (for offsides) the players had no idea what was wrong since my advantage call was so long ago. Another concern I had in this game was my judgement of knock on advantage being elevated to a penalty. I feel I missed a number of opportunities where I had allowed knock on advantage only for the defending team to infringe (offsides, handling on the ground, etc.) but I brought it back for the scrum, where it should have been elevated to a penalty.

I also had some issues with side entry (SC) but after a chat I managed to clear up the gray area for the boys, as the penalty count went down in the 2nd half.

The SC scrum pulverized the MMA scrum, and I probably would have been right to award SC a penalty in some collapsed cases. In considering the field conditions (hard turf, wet) I felt it would have been a bit harsh to penalize MMA for going down as it was very difficult to get a good footing.

I also have some concerns of my "playing the man" when is a player doing more than just bumping shoulders in trying to claim the ball.

Overall I was pleased with the game's performance, but I would really like to work on my advantage and continue to develop my judgement of the breakdown.

3/28/2009 Fatal Fourway (UMASS Amherst, Amherst College, Providence College, Sacred Heart College)

This spring tournament was held at UMASS Amherst. Despite the beautiful sunny conditions, the fields were horrendously muddy, both having standing water. All four teams played two 60 minute games.

Providence College 15 - 5 Amherst College

This game got off to a bad start when Providence College wore black and Amherst College wore black jerseys with a dark purple stripe. After about 5 minutes in the mud, both teams were wearing black. I did my best to manage the colors but it really made things difficult. Fortunately it was clear who was the better side so it did not effect e result.

Refereeing wise the most hotly contested point of the weekend was "Bridging" and it's materiality. There were a couple of instances in the first game were I had the coach yelling from teh sideline about it, where I had determined it immaterial. It was causing confusion with players.

Providence College 27 - 12 UMASS Amherst

This game was on the better field (though still with standing water) and teams with different color jerseys: Red/White and Black.

An excerpt from the UMASS Amherst rugby website:

"The next match against a Providence College, a match fit team. They had toured on Spring Break to Bermuda for three matches, added a match vs BU, which they won 32-0 and and defeated Amherst College earlier in the day 15-5. This too, was an exciting match, though PC showed the ability to maintain possession as well as forcing turnover ball. We fell to 0-17 at the half. We fought back and never lost our sense of determination. We began to get our act together and matched them at every turn. Tries were scored by Nick Petmezis and Connor Carroll in a 12-12 second half battle. We lost too much of our own possession, where PC showed great concentration on ball retention and the ability to strip ball from our hands. The 17 point 1st half hole we dug, proved to be too great and we lost 12-27."

The most important take away from this game was the UMASS coach's comments about bridging. He was adamant that I had penalized some immaterial bridging or "killing" the ball. The coach, however, makes some good points...his side lost this game at the tackle, they were simply not aggressive enough. Did I allow Providence too much leway and credit at the tackle/breakdown? I don't think so.

3/21/2009 U Albany v. Albany Knicks

In an open weekend for me, I volunteered to help my adopted club (Albany Knicks) out and referee a friendly scrimmage with the local college side, U Albany. The game was to be played on a surface impossible to play rugby on, hard field hockey turf. This resulted in most players wearing tennis shoes, long sleeves and pants to avoid the nasty scrapes certain to result. We played two 20 minute periods, taking time outs for short coaching sessions.

Fortunately this was a friendly, so all of the players were only out their to help each other, nobody wanted to hit the ground anyway. The scrums could not really be contested due to a lack of footing, and the D1 Knicks totally ran rampant over the scrambling college boys, I don't even recall the score. I do recall a try being scored off the kickoff though, without a tackle even being made (had the time been measured, it may have even made the guinness book of world records).

The game presented a great opportunity for me to practice positioning, whistle tone, signals, and prove my worth to the local rugby club.