Cold day, just over 40 degrees and quite windy. The game was played on American football field - narrow and short. This proved bad for SJ and beneficial to SP. This first half ended quite even, SP with one try and SJ with a penalty. The 2nd half, however, was quite different. SP came out running hard and straight through the tiring Jesuit defense scoring 3 more tries.
I don't feel like I made my mark with the Strake players in this game as they committed constant penalties. My management was just not effective. I think this trouble communicating might be partly due to my law precision: using the correct words and having a clear and distinct understanding.
These two teams came out ready to play some rugby in cloudy and windy but comfortable conditions. University struck first, demonstrating better pace and tackling than the "older" Katy side. University of Houston's play in the loose to start the game would have led the spectators and referee to believe this might be a blowout but unfortunately for UniHou - their discipline was not up to snuff. A swift two yellow cards (10 min apart) for red zone breakdown infringements brought Katy back into the game. Katy were certainly the more organized and disciplined rugby side - just not quite so light on their feet as UniHou. Katy only scored one try on the day (converted) but did kick 3 penalties and a drop goal. UniHou scored three tries, 2 converted. Their last try and conversion was scored right as we passed fulltime....bringing the game to an unfortunate draw.
Overall - I wish my communication had improved to prevent me from having to use the 2 yellow cards on UniHou - something to improve certainly.
Following the game we went to a classic Texas bar - Mr. Jim's Hole in the Ground for a classic american rugby social. Contentious points of the game were discussed and kegs emptied.
Welcome to Texas Larry! you brought the weather with you! 32 degrees and wet! Regardless of the weather, this was a fun and challenging introduction to texas rugby.
This was my first experience with Houston area rugby....a early season High School scrimmage tournament. The games were played with 2 20 minute periods, the conditions were muddy, and many special rules were implemented for the young teams...such as uncontested scrums.
Westside 0 - 10 Strake Jesuit
The westside team had a total of 3 players with on-field rugby experience....the strake jesuit players all had game experience (it should be noted, they are also a Varsity sport). The game started with a free kick. The teams did not want to kickoff...said they had not practiced it yet. Seems to me that a scrimmage is prime opportunity to practice kickoffs...at any rate...Westside proceeded to take a free kick and get tackled, strake immediately penalized...and westside took a quick tap....then strake didnt go back 10...then westside took another...and jsut keep trying to tap and go. I had to literally stop play and explain the best options to the teams. This type of communication and "greenness" to rugby continued throughout the game. Strake naturally beat Westside because of their game experience....but Westside were extraordinarliy good at rucking. They turned over a number of strake rucks quite legally, it was quite impressive.
Strake dominated the lineout and their overall skills were superior, enabling them to score two tries out wide. Westside never really managed to pass the ball further than their flyhalf.
Overall, I felt delayed in response during this game. To be expected after a 2 month break, but I hope my response and comfort level improves.
Katy 45 - 0 San Antonio
The next game was much better with all players having played rugby before... Katy v. San Antonio. All players had played rugby before, made for quite a skillful game....though Katy were clearly superior. Gave a yellow card at the end of the game for a player who didnt understand "fringing" despite my personal explanations. We talked further after the game. I also missed a clear maul collapse early in the game - too much of a delayed response to some obviously dangerous play.
US History really needs to get it right, the oldest collegiate sporting event in American history is the Yale v. Harvard RUGBY game. Sure, football may have evolved from rugby, but people still play rugby and the history books need to get this right.
I refereed the Yale v. Harvard women's rugby game on friday night. The men played at 9 AM on saturday beside the football stadium to prep for "the game."
Unfortunately the Harvard ladies got stuck in traffic out of boston, so the game did not kick off until about 9. This lead us to play on 30 minute halves....and the harvard ladiesa also only had 17 players. The ladies were obviously up for the game, but understood the situation. Yale are d1, Harvard d2. Yale made this clear throughout the entirety of the game. Overall, the ladies played in good sprit and they had a good time out there. I refereed the game rather loosely because that's the way the ladies seemed to want to play and I think they appreciated it.
Following the game I stayed with a local referee and traveled to the NRUs on Randall's island in NYC. I was an AR for two D3 games on saturday - I enjoyed it very much. Both games were action packed...for an AR anyway. I was forced to make number of critical decision to help out the man the charge.
These were also unfortunately my last games with the New England referees. It was good to see many of them again. I will be moving to Houston after christmas...hopefully I can return to New England to work and referee. I was given many great opportunities and really enjoyed the rugby here...could not ask for better.
Thanks for all you have done for me NERFU - hopefully I can repay.
This was the Northeast #1 v. #8. Hamilton College women come from a school of 2000 students and this was their first year in D1. Good on them for making the playoffs (NYS #3) but surely they would be happier in D2 long term...much like Middlebury college.
Army put out many of their B side players....despite that the game still ended up 68-0 to Army. It's not so challenging refereeing these types of game but I used it to practice counting my penalties...of which there were only 11 (including free kicks). Women also seem to tend to be much more receptive to preventative talk...but this might just be because the game is slower such that the referee can be one step ahead of the players to prevent penalties.
FT
Army: 11 Tries, 5 Conversions, 1 Penalty (68)
Hamilton College: 0
Oh, I did a youtube search for Hamilton rugby and this came up. Just humorous....rugby's still a party game.
Middlebury (reigning d2 champs), UVM, UMASS - Amherst, and Boston University all converged in Middlebury (Sat) and Burlington (Sun.) Vermont for the New England Division 2 College Championship. This tournament determined seeding for the Northeast playoffs.
Saturday 10/31 Middlebury v. UVM
A new experience for me, Middlebury always starts their games with a haka. Here is an example I found on youtube:
I should get the video of my game soon.
On saturday I was charged with refereeing what was hotly tipped the northeast conference decider...Middlebury v. Univerity of Vermont. The conditions were very wet with clay mud..making for a very sticky field.
Middlebury picked up their only try in the first few minutes from a quick tap penalty. I had given the mark at the ball, they took it quickly and scored the try. There was some confusion, however, from the UVM because they did not think I had given the mark at hte ball (on the 5). I am still waiting on the video to confirm what happened here.
I also had a referee coach at this game who told me afterwards that I needed to be harder on the players going off their feet. I was playing it (considering the conditions) that if the intent for staying on their feet was there and the ball was produced quickly..play on. The coach wanted to see me not let this go and set the standard high at the start to send the right message....
I should also note problems with lineout numbers. UVM/Middlebury had a habit of walking up to the lineouts, then having players retreat. I had to tell the teams to stop this and only brin ghte players up to the lineout to set it...otherwise...no advantage/free kick and they're liable to penalty for changing it after setting it.
This game also came form an intense week of work training where I was up at 630 every morning and working until 10 PM at night all week...thus...I was very tired friday night and had to get up at 630 on sat morning for hte drive. This left me feeling a little under the weather and I recall the strange sensation of feeling out of breath during scrum cadence. This made my cadence EXTREMELY FAST..something I did not correct until the 2nd half following a note from an AR. I slowed my cadence in the 2nd half, but the referee coach showed me an interesting video of our intended cadences....EXTREMELY SLOW. I tried this on sunday.
As the game wore on UMASS dominated more and more. Winning almost every scrum and breaking tackles left and right - Middlebury could not handle the momentum UMASS built up. Players kept their feet in this game and the slow cadence was effective. I reset a few scrums from the slow cadence and give a few early pushes - but overall it remained effective.
I had a few decisions I was unhappy with. At the goal line I must always remain composed and not blow too quick. UMASS had worked to a "pick and score" range under the posts. When the UMASS player picked up he lost posession forward...but then recovered and got downward pressure on the ball. When I saw him push it forward in the air my immediate reaction was "knock on" and I blew it as such...unfortunately, looking back I should have waited another second to see him recover and score a legitimate try. I corrected this later on - using my team of 3 to give me time to think about questionable groundings.
Speaking of my team of 3...I struggled to communicate with one of my ARs. At the goal line I moved infield to the back of the lineout...instructing my AR to leave his flag up if there is a problem (not 5, pulling down front, etc.). UMASS won the lineout at the front, went to a maul...and a very likely score...but my AR left his flag up (he was giving no other indications to me of an infringement) and I stopped play. Turns out...he was just leaving it up for no reason...I had to reset play giving a scrum to UMASS on the 15 for this error. UMASS did not complain (their scrums were awesome) but it was a bit embarassing.
One more thing, Vermont is beautiful. It's rural everywhere and so clean. Every thing looks historic but is very clean...almost looking new. Thanks to my hosts for the weekend, I had a wonderful time. I hope I can return.
45-50 Degree Weather, Rainy, and very muddy field.
the start of the game: end of game
Within about 10 minutes both teams were wearing a very similar color...mud brown. Scrums were regularly getting repositioned to enable to players to get their safe footing.
Hartford had a distinct advantage at scrum time but struggled to capitalize on that dominance.
Worcester were given a yellow card at the 60 minute mark for repeated zone entry infringements.
The score was 14-14 with about 5 minutes left in the game and Hartford made a critical error ...throwing the ball to a "brown" "teammate"...a Worcester player who strolled in to make the score 19-14.
In the next few minutes Worcester took a shot at a goal to stretch the gap and end the game...but the attempt was wide and Hartford made a nice break up the sideline only to step out around the oppositions 10 meter line (game over).
FT
Worcester: 3 Tries, 2 Conversions (19)
Hartford: 2 Tries, 2 Conversions (14)
A few notes for myself from the game:
Missed a Worcester player reaching through to strip the scrumhalf at a ruck...I was busy getting the backs onside. When I looked back it seemed the Hartford player had knocked on.
The Hartford scrums were bothering me...they were so dominant. I did not pick up on any binding problems on my side...but the Worcester coach pointed out to me after the game that the loosehead was binding on to the arm and pushing down
The Hartford hooker had great timing, consistently getting his foot in front of the Worcester foot...unfortunately he could not get a hook and it kept coming straight bcak out. My only solution was to tell him to be better...his foot was not up early but it was very disruptive to continue resetting the scrum.
Cold day, just over 40 degrees and quite windy. The game was played on American football field - narrow and short. This proved bad for SJ and beneficial to SP. This first half ended quite even, SP with one try and SJ with a penalty. The 2nd half, however, was quite different. SP came out running hard and straight through the tiring Jesuit defense scoring 3 more tries.
