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Marin Highlanders - Final Tournament
The Highlanders completed a challenging and successful weekend of rugby on Sunday, May 11th, with a 20-15 victory over the Peninsula Green, taking third place in the top level, "Gold" Division of the Pacific Coast Invitational Tournament at Stanford University. The PCIT is the premier end of season high school rugby tournament on the West Coast.Top teams in the PCIT from out of state this year included the 2008 Washington state champions, Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. The Highlanders drew Chuckanut in their first game on Saturday morning and were soundly beaten for the first time this year. The loss turned out to be a positive, in that it caused the boys to focus, pull together and come up with two very big wins.
Our second game Saturday afternoon was against perennial East Bay powerhouse Lamorinda Rugby Club. The Highlanders recovered their form and matched LAMO's power and skill. In an exciting game, the Highlanders struck first with a diving try under the posts by fullback Jake Anderson. Converted by Bertie Wrench. 7-0 Highlanders. Continuing to get the ball out to the backs at every chance paid off when wing Will Johnston completed a brilliant long run with a try in the corner (not converted). 12-0 Highlanders. Anderson then again completed a backline move with a try in the corner just before half. 17-0 Highlanders at the half! A well coached and athletic LAMO side (the #2 ranked U-19 Club side in N. Calif this year) came back with two unconverted tries in the first part of the second half to close the gap to 17-10. With Lamo close to a potential tying score late in the game, the Highlanders put on a goal line stand that was in a flash turned into a long run up the middle by fullback Jake Anderson, who was tackled at the LAMO 22 meter line. Wing Bernie Wrench kicked the loose ball ahead, then scooped up it up to dive into the try zone for a last second score. Final score - Highlanders 22, LAMO 10. A big win over a strong playoff caliber team. As Chuckanut had beaten LAMO earlier, the Highlanders were in the "Plate" final to play for third place on Sunday against Peninsula Green, the second place team from the other pool in the Gold Division.
The Peninsula Green game was a seesaw battle from start to finish. The Green fielded a well coached, very large and strong side that pounded the ball ahead with its forwards over and over. The Highlanders tackled fiercely and for the most part held the Green out, while spinning the ball out to our backs at every chance. The two different styles of rugby balanced each other and the lead changed several times. Highlanders opened the scoring with a try in the corner by Jake Anderson, not converted. Peninsula next scored a converted try to take a 7-5 lead. The Highlanders countered, driving close to the try line. With the Highlanders forwards pushing over, three off sides LAMO forwards illegally tackled Bertie Quai Hoi at the goal line and the referee awarded a penalty try. The conversion by Bertie Wrench made it 12-7. But the Green's came back with two unconverted tries to take a 15-12 halftime lead. The second half was hard fought. A penalty goal by Bertie Wrench tied the score at 15-15 midway through the half. Peninsula twice drove the ball to within a few meters of a go ahead score, but great tackling at the try line pushed them back. Strategic kicking by the Highlanders moved the ball back deep into Peninsula territory. With only a few minutes left in the game, Jake Anderson sprinted wide to the corner and looped back through the try zone to touch the ball down for the winning try. 20-15 Highlanders!
Tournament honors went to Highlander scrumhalf Matt Cadelago, who was named MVP of the Gold Division, and lock Matt Petrini, also named to the All Tournament team. Special mention by the coaches went to Bertie Wrench, Matt Frederickson, Chase Neely and 8th grader Jeff Calzaretta, who played the entire final game at hooker!
The national age grade team selectors were present at all of the Highlanders' games at Stanford. USA U-19 head coach Salty Thompson let our Coach Mateo Medrano know that as many as 8(!) Highlanders are on the radar for immediate or future consideration for national rep side try outs. We expect that at least two, Cadelago and Anderson, will be invited to the All American try out camp to be held this summer, and more may be invited to the Grizzly (No. Calif all-star) camp at Feather River College in July.
The PCIT ended the Highlanders 2008 season with a 14-6 overall record, including a second straight appearance in the Northern California championship playoffs and one first place and two third place finishes in three major tournaments. The overall quality of play has improved greatly again this year and the Highlanders are now recognized as one of the top high school rugby programs in California.
Thank you to the players, coaches and all the Highlanders parents and supporters, for your efforts during this long, very rewarding season. We will miss our departing seniors tremendously, but look forward to a successful 2009 season with a varsity side, and a strong frosh/soph side, based on our many returning "veterans" (8th graders to high school juniors. Stay tuned for announcements about our planning for next season and summer touch rugby evenings for all ages.
Marin Highlanders - Spring Tour
The Highlanders Spring Tour side traveled to the Fullerton Youth Rugby International Tournament on March 22 and 23, 2008. Of the 16 boys teams and 10 girls teams entered, 10 of were from Canada and one from Australia. The Highlanders were the only No. Calif entry this year. Travel lag was apparent in the first game against the Hart District Wildcats from the Santa Clarita Valley area, a top Southern California Rugby Union High School club. The Highlanders did not play their best and spotted the Wildcats a 12-0 halftime lead. A stronger effort in the second half resulted in what should have been a tie score, as Matt Fredrickson scored a try, converted by James Faccinto, and Jake Anderson touched the ball down in the far corner of the try zone after a long run, only to have the referee, who was so far behind the play that he could not see the clean try, decide not to award it. Time expired with the Highlanders on the short side of a 12-7 score. The second game was against a talented side from Eastdale, Ontario, Canada. Despite some good individual efforts, the Canadians scored twice. Although a try by Quai Hoi (not converted) closed the gap to 14 - 5, the Highlanders fell to 0-2 on the day.
The coaches rallied the boys and made some replacements, giving reserves Jeff Calzaertta, Grant Collins, Brendan Hardiman, Pat Haley, Henry Thompson and Nick Klansko a start for the third game against Cantwell Sacred Heart Academy of Los Angeles. The energy level picked up and strategic substitutions throughout the game helped. The Highlanders played most of the game in Cantwell territory and scored four tries, two by scrumhalf Matt Cadelago, one on a brilliant 50 meter run, and one each by Max Roberts, who powered through several Cantwell defenders for the score, and Sam Sirell. Three of the four tries were converted by James Faccinto for a final score of 26 -0. The win gave us a 1-2 record that matched two of the other teams in the four team Division. The tie breaker is the best total points scored vs. points allowed differential. The Highlanders two close losses and one big win gave us the advantage and second place in the Division, and the right to play for the Bowl award on Sunday.
After a Saturday night trip to Huntington Beach for dinner and a high sported "team meeting" back at the hotel, the Highlanders woke up to a sunny, hot Sunday to play for the Bowl Championship (essentially the third place Tournament trophy). In the Bowl semi-final, they took on the North County Barbarians, the senior high school team in San Diego County that includes at least two So. California Griffins (high school all stars). The Highlanders this time played great team rugby, with consistent, effective tackling and good ball movement and handling giving them great field position throughout the first half. The first score was a try by #8 Bertie Quai Hoi. The conversion failed. 5 -0 Marin. The Barbarians drove for a forwards try that was converted to give them a 7 -5 lead. The Highlanders countered with one of their now frequent long runs by several of the backs, with fullback Jake Anderson again outrunning the last defenders for a try in the middle of the posts. Flyhalf James Faccinto's conversion made it 12- 7 Highlanders. A scoreless second half left the Highlanders victorious and moving on to the Bowl Championship game late that afternoon.
The Bowl Final was against the Trenton, Ontario, Canada Club. The Highlanders dominated from beginning to end. Again playing excellent defense, the Highlanders kept the play in Trenton territory for three quarters . Only once did the Canadians threaten to score. Highlanders tries by scrumhalf Matt Cadelago in the first half and breakaway Sam Sirell in the second half accounted for all the scoring in a 10-0 victory. The Bowl award ceremony was highlighted by the Trenton players joining in among the Highlanders for photos. The boys were excited to bring home the hardware. When asked after the game, "What are you going to do now that you have won the Bowl?", the cry was "We're going to Disneyland!" And they did. They closed the park after midnight and we all returned to the Knotts Berry Farm Resort Hotel. The party returned after enjoying that amusement park on Monday.
In a rotatational scrimmage at St. Mary's College, Moraga the honors were even this evening when Marin FROSH played the Lamorinda 7/8/9 graders through two sessions.
Luke Morrison scored a try 6 minutes into the first session. Mike Dupar was unsuccessful on the conversion. Marin 5-0
Around the 17th minute, Lamorinda equalized for the first period to end 5-5.
The second session began with Lamo ringing the changes, and they scored tries at the 8th and 15 minute marks, to lead 17-5. Dimitri Christopolous finished off a controlled rucking series by the Highlanders running over and through opposition for his touchdown, and Connor Smith converted for the second session to end with the hosts ahead 17-12.
For the third period Lamorinda substituted in several sophomore players who changed the pattern of the game by running in six unmatched tries to lopside the match in Lamorinda's favor 48-12.
Marin's FROSH showed courage and grit even when overmatched and have excellent team chemistry which portends well for our future. The Highlanders will get a re-match at Redwood HS with these Lamorinda Rodents Saturday at high noon. PLAY ON!! (See attached team photo)
The Highlanders fell just short of their goal of a wrapping up a conference championship on Friday, March 14th, losing 15 -17 to the Santa Rosa Rugby Club, under the lights at Cardinal Newman High in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa fielded its most balanced and skilled team in several years. In a very well played, hard fought match, the Highlanders were most successful in the first half, scoring three times, with tries by Paul Spurzem (conversion by James Faccinto) and Sam Sirell (conversion failed), and a Faccinto penalty kick accounting for a 15 -0 halftime lead. Santa Rosa came out strong in the second half and used a combination of running by both their forwards and backs and accurate kicking to keep the pressure on the Highlanders. The smaller Highlanders held their own for most of the half, but a series of Highlander penalties and well placed Rosa deep kicks gave Santa Rosa repeatedly good field position, from which it scored three second half tries, converting one for a total of 17 points. It was a night of well played, very physical rugby. The Highlanders have completed their Conference schedule with 2 wins and 1 loss in the games that count towards the championship. Santa Rosa has key games remaining against Montgomery and Elsie Allen, the outcome of which will settle the 2008 championship, but it is fairly certain that the Highlanders will do no worse than second, earning them a Northern California playoff spot in April.
Marin Highlanders U-19 RFC 53 - Rohnert Park Barbarians 12.
The Highlanders dominated the undermanned Barbarians throughout the match, with its fast backs repeatedly breaking through for long, multi-player runs for scores. For the second week in a row, fullback Jake Anderson scored three tries. Loose forward Sam Sirell and scrum half Matt Cadelago each scored two tries and center Matt Fredrickson and wing Bertie Wrench each had one. James Faccinto was 4 for 8 on conversion kicks. Forwards Matt Petrini, Jack Zimmerman, Ruben Chouraki and Chase Neeley all played exceptionally well. The win sets up the Friday night, March 14th, match against Santa Rosa as the Conference championship decider. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm under the lights at Cardinal Newman High School in Santa Rosa.
The Varsity B game started out slowly, as we started many freshmen against an experienced Elsie squad. The boys defended valiantly until support arrived in the form of Henry Thompson, Rob Spurzem and Sonoma Patrick. This helped solidify the team. the score at the end of the first half was 25-0 to Elsie. Changes were made and the second half score ended a 5-5 draw. Fine performances were put in by the thompson twins, Elijiah, Grant collins, Sean Van der wal, Jackson Hilmer and Holden " I have found my next scrumhalf" Youngert.
This week, we will have to work VERY hard in refining the skills needed to execute the game plan for Santa Rosa. Reportedly, they are very big, very strong, very athletic with a savvy 9 and 10; large centers and hard running outside backs. Believe in the pattern, execute the game plan, trust our team mates, communicate and tackle low and we will emerge from the battle as undefeated league champions.
Marin Highlanders 38 - Montgomery of Santa Rosa 0
In a key Redwood Empire Conference match on Saturday, March 1, 2008, the Highlanders put together their best game in several seasons. Executing the game plan perfectly, the Highlanders moved the ball quickly to their fast backs and kept the pressure on Montgomery from the start. Fullback Jake Anderson (Tiburon) had the hat trick, scoring three tries in the first half, the final one on a 50 meter run. Two of the tries were converted by flyhalf James Faccinto (Larkspur) and one by wing Bertie Wrench (Sausalito). Faccinto added a 30 meter penalty kick for a halftime score of 24-0. Great intensity and tackling by its forwards in the second half gave the Highlanders many opportunities. A length of the field play, with 5 backs handling the ball, ended with a Faccinto try after a 50 meter run (Faccinto conversion). Scrumhalf Matt Cadelago
(Greenbrae) later darted in from a 5 meter ruck for the final try (Faccinto conversion). Men of the Match were Matt Cadelago (backs) and Sam Sirell (Kentfield) for the forwards. The Highlanders play at Rohnert Park Barbarians on Friday evening, March 7.
Highlanders 10 - Elsie Allen Lobos 7.
"THE TRY". The Marin Highlanders U-19 Rugby Club took on the recent Northern California champion Elsie Allen Lobos on Saturday, February 16th at Redwood High School in Larkspur. The big and aggressive Lobos forward pack pressured the Highlanders throughout the first half. But persistent hard tackling and strategic kicking kept the Lobos at bay and the first half ended scoreless. The sides battled evenly in the second half, with the Highlanders looking for a chance to break loose their fast backs and the Lobos continuing to control the ball with their forwards. A Lobos penalty mid way through the second half resulted in the first points of the match, when James Faccinto's 25 meter place kick gave the Highlanders a 3-0 lead. The Lobos immediately attacked, moved the ball deep into Highlander territory, several times to within a meter of the try line, but were pushed back again and again, until finally scoring with about 10 minutes remaining. The conversion kick was good and the Lobos led 7-3. With the game clock running down and the ball inside the Lobos 22 meter line, a series of passes through the back line (Faccinto to Max Roberts to Jake Anderson) put the ball within 5 meters of a winning try. But the Lobos regained possession and quickly moved the ball most of the length of the field to threaten a clinching score. With less than a minute left, a Lobo forward broke for the try and was met by 8-man Paul Spurzem's form tackle at the 5 meter line. Lock Matt Petrini grabbed the loose ball and quickly passed to center Max Roberts. As he was hit by two Lobos, Roberts flipped the ball to speedy fullback Jake Anderson, who burst through the defense with wing Bertie Wrench in support. As the Highlanders coaches and fans cheered, Anderson ran 30 meters, drew a Lobos defender with an inside move and passed the ball out to Wrench, who then outran the last two Lobos for 50 meters down the touch line to score the winning try as time expired. Faccinto's conversion kick was good to make the final score Highlanders 10, Lobos 7. The Highlanders had their first victory over Elsie Allen in many years. Highlanders Men of the Match, chosen by the Lobos players, were James Faccinto and Sam Sirell. In the following Jr. Varsity match, the Lobos prevailed 15-0, as many Highlanders first year players got valuable game experience. Hall Middle School 8th grader Jeff Calzaretta and Redwood freshman Conner Smith were voted Men of the Match.
The Marin Highlanders Varsity A side bounced back from last week’s last second, preseason loss to Peninsula Green (7-10, Max Roberts try, James Faccinto conversion) with a bang on Saturday, beating an athletic, tough but inexperienced side from Berkeley High, 61-0 (9 tries). The Berkeley Rhinos hit hard and competed the entire game, but Marin took advantage of the Rhinos numerous mistakes. The Highlanders forwards dominated ball possession and its backline repeatedly breached the Berkeley defense. Center Matt Fredrickson scored about two minutes in, soon to be followed by 2 tries from fullback Joe Riley and one each from wing Bertie Wrench and outside center Max Roberts. Will Johnston, on a 50 meter sprint along the touch line, and James Faccinto also had tries for Marin. The Marin forward pack contributed to the scoring, with tries from eight man Paul Spurzem and Sam Sirell. Faccinto was seven of eight on conversions, notching 19 points on the day.
Men of the match: James Faccinto (10) and Paul Spurzem (8)
The Highlander varsity lost to Peninsula Green 10-7 yesterday in awful weather that obviously affected the level of play. Numerous dropped balls and penalties kept us from scoring on many opportunities. The Green pushed over a for a try in the last seconds to frustrate what has been a valiant Highlander comeback a few minutes earlier. Max Roberts scored on a long run and smartly put the ball down between the posts for James Faccinto's conversion kick. It looked like it would be victory, as everyone except the ref believed there were less than 5 minutes left. However, almost 10 minutes elapsed by the time the Green scored and the final whistle was then immediately blown.
The Highlanders Varsity team played greatly improved and skilled rugby and won the Varsity Bronze Division of the Kickoff Tournament in Sacramento on Saturday, January 26, 2008. In three tournament length games (15 min. halves), the Highlanders scored 54 total points and gave up 0 - None! In its first game against a well coached and disciplined Tri-Valley Rugby Club (Livermore area), the Highlanders came out quickly and Bertie Quai Hoi roared through to touch down in the corner of the try zone. Tries by Jake Anderson and Joe Riley followed, with the final score being 15 - 0. In the second game the Highlanders faced the South Bay Exiles Club, made up of athletes from the football powerhouse Valley Christian High. Although bigger, the Exiles could not match the Highlanders fast developing technical skills and were outmatched. Tries by James Rodrigues (conversion by James Faccinto), Matt Cadelago (not converted), Sam Sirell (Faccinto conversion) and James Faccinto (Faccinto conversion) resulted in a 26 -0 final score. The two wins put us in the Division championship game against Diablo Rugby Club of Walnut Creek. Again, the Highlanders outperformed the opposition in all phases of the game and tries by Bertie Quai Hoi and James Faccinto (Faccinto conversion), and a penalty kick by Faccinto gave the final score of 15 - 0. Captain Matt Cadelago and head varsity coach David Cingolani accepted the championship trophy for the Club.
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