5/1/2010 Western Playoffs Division 3 Quarterfinal Northern State (1) v. Arkansas Gryphons (8)

 

I arrived in Fort Worth, TX about 6 PM on Friday Night. I first went to dinner with my referee coach and then participated in a short conference with the other referees and assessors on tackle law. The discussion was lively and I could tell this was a good group of referees so tomorrow was going to be interesting.

I was given the first game of the day, the #1 v. #8 Division 3 quarterfinal, Northern State vs. Arkansas Gryphons - 30 minute halves. It was to be played on Field #1, the one full sized and properly lined artificial rugby pitch (pictured above...the one with the posts). The other two fields (soccer) had full size fields of play, but the ingoals were quite small.

Northern State came down all the way from Aberdeen, South Dakota for the game. They were a good mixture of polynesians, college students, and local townspeople. Northern State also...happen to be the reigning Division 3 National Champions - they won the 2009 national championship game 67-22. This might bring one to wonder why they did not move up a division. Then you realize....they're from northeast South Dakota...who the hell are they going to play in a division higher?????? At any rate, here they were again, Western Div 3 playoffs ready to stick it to the lowest seed from Arkansas - the Gryphons.

The Gryphons sneaked into the Western playoffs as the Heart of America #2 seed. They were a great bunch of guys at the start of the game but seemed to have already admitted defeat to the Northern State side - something which turned out to be their undoing.

The game kicked off to Northern State, a few phases occurred, some slow passes...and BAM - a Gryphon center picked up an errant pass to dot down beneath the posts at 2:20. The Gryphons seemed more shocked than Northern State.The game contined to be well contested in every facet..the scrum, lineout, and tackle. Northern began to show their organization as they had two well worked tries at 11:20 and 15:00. The Gryphons worked their way back to dot another down 19:30. NS ended the half with a try at 27:10. It should be noted....the NS kicker nailed every conversion...and a lot of them were from the sidelne (very impressive).

The Gryphons really seemed a little surprised they were in the game. To be honest, had they been more confient and serious about the match - they could have won it!

In the 2nd half NS scored at 41:00, 58:20, and but then Gryphons scored again on full time (60:00). The game was well contested in every facet and I really feel that ive Arkansas had felt more motivated about it they could certainly have won it.

Northern State proceeded to hammer the teams in the Semi and Final - the Gryphons scored more points against NS than any other side.

I also had an assessor watching this match. He was very impressed with my performance and that night I was promoted to L1. I will post his report when I get it. I was very fortunate - the two teams were out to play a good game and not screw around with the referee, the result was really special.

Notes:

-Scrum issues. Some wheeling going on. Only gave one scrum penalty when a NS player got shoved too hard by his flank and lost his binds.
-On a kick the Green (Gryph) 15 was "slightly" impeded. Shirt was grabbed which slowed him down a meter. This is enough to give a penalty - poor call by me.
-Players were extremely receptive to communication
-was out of position for first try...need to go in goal. I moved infield away from ruck near in goal. Never do that...you have to be there for the try. Luckily my AR was there.
-Assessors commented on my "lope." My response - I move around very well - I just look slow because my legs are long
-on first intercept...it was so unanticipated I was drastically out of position. Barely got there in time.