OK, I don't know how to do this, but...
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 21, 2009 6:05 PM PST
Email
PrintI attended my first ever Rugby Union match today, and I think I picked a good one.
Cal faced probably our best collegiate competition in North America today, and I'm happy to say we came out the winners. 31-15 Golden Bears!
It was obviously a hard-fought match, and there were at least 4 lead changes - we only broke it open late in the 2nd period with 2 rather sudden tries.
Everyone should be going to these games - I think it actually sold out, but I arrived 30 minutes before gametime, bought my $8 tix at the window (kids got in free), and got seats in the 2nd row, mid-field (I'd say 50 yard line, but they measure the field in meters for Rugby Union).
The reason we all need to get out there is the UBC team brought their own fans, and they were louder and better organized than we were most of the time - and we had the strawhat band to help us out! Thank god they were there to lead us in a few cheers.
Let's see if I can get some images in here:
via gallery.me.com
Goddamn but they have some nice grass on Witter field. If you're a soccer or ultimate fan, you have dreams of getting to play on super delicious cushy grass like this. I wish I knew how to grow this stuff - probably with LOTS of chemicals...
Here's the team running out on the field:
via gallery.me.com
The game was sponsored by the National Guard, who did a flyby with a couple of helicopters:
via gallery.me.com
Goddamn, I had good seats this is a 'lineout' after an out of bounds play:
via gallery.me.com
You might think I did the throw in - but it was that Cal dude 10 feet away from me wearing number 2:
via gallery.me.com
Here are the two teams setting up for a scrum - Cal was awarded the scrum so our scrum-half (fly-half?) will be putting in the ball:
via gallery.me.com
Here's another good line-out that happened near us:
via gallery.me.com
Just after our #12 got tackled - it's an intense and fast sport:
via gallery.me.com
A scrum - UBC just put in the ball:
via gallery.me.com
Notice in the background that by this point (2nd half, I think), there is a huge "tightwad hill" contingent. They get a much better view then Football tightwad hill folks...but they're only saving $8. I think the event may have actually sold out - it seemed like every seat on both sidelines was taken, as well as the West endzone (sorry - "try-line"? it's not called an endzone...)
This zoom shot is for the ladies - or the men - there's nothing wrong with that:
via gallery.me.com
I think they all wear teethguards, and about 10% of them wear these rubbery helmet things - this guy went up for the ball and is preparing for a massive hit. I'd sure as hell wear the rubber thing - I'm surprised more don't. My wife cringed a lot during the big hits - and so did I. There were a couple of injuries - though 2 of the guys came back in the came - and I'd swear #13 for us got hit so bad he broke a rib or two - but just 'walked it off' and made a serious 30 meter run a few minutes later to keep the pressure on and hold for the win.
via gallery.me.com
Here is our total stud #10 kicking a penalty kick -
via gallery.me.com
Don't worry - it was good - just started a little left from my angle. Our kicking made a difference today - 2 good penalty kicks we made and 1 they missed. Also one notably difficult after-try kick we made, and one they missed...
Victory!
via gallery.me.com
You can get right out on the field afterwards - godDAMN they have nice grass.
via gallery.me.com
I also checked in on Memorial Stadium - nothing to see on the inside:
via gallery.me.com
but it sure made we wish it was August!
From the West side - not much to see yet:
via gallery.me.com
Over at Gate 1 - they're up to something on the ground there - I think staging some I beams...
via gallery.me.com
OK, I made some videos, too, I'll have to figure out how to post those....
But anyways - I plan to go to more Rugby games and I hope to see you there.
- We rock
- it's easy, cheap, and you get great seats
- the team needs a better cheering section
- there were tons of hot chicks there
- there's no football during rugby season
- even after the Rugby primer I felt like I didn't 'get' the game - until I watched it for about 5 minutes in person - then I got it and rugby makes so much more sense and is such a great sport. I still have questions (offsides and illegal tackling is REALLY hard for me to detect), but it didn't take long to know when to cheer and when to worry. I can totally tell the difference between a scrum and a maul, now (duh!)
The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.
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Let's see if I can do a video
Here is a youtube video:
Hmmm – do I just put the link:
How do I get it to be an image you would want to click? Like this?
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 21, 2009 5:36 PM PST reply actions
Well that didn't work...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB1Lh96IOfI
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 21, 2009 5:37 PM PST reply actions
I thought the final score was 31-15.
With the last second kick.
Jerrott, were you sitting right next to those UCB guys? Were they from the freshman team? Their matching sweaters were cute.
I was pretty close to them.
I was literally right behind the red flag at half-field.
Those UBC guys were cute. Hecklers, too. They knew some of our players by name and were calling out to them.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 21, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions
nice photos
i must’ve been not too far to the right of you, over closer to the band.
my photos are up here:
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
I think maybe I saw you...
You’re right, I forgot about the last kick. I’ll edit the post.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 21, 2009 6:04 PM PST up reply actions
Also
We heard they stopped letting people in around the time the game started.
by CalBandGreat on Feb 21, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions
Canon PowerShot CD850 IS
Setting was basically auto – with ISO at “High”.
I’m a big fan of the Canon Powershots for years – really small so you can take them anywhere in a tiny belt case, and actually get snapshot with one hand while dealing with the kids.
I aspire to a much nicer camera with a real lens, but I’d never end up taking any pics with it b/c there’s too much setup or stuff to bring with you.
Canon Powershots get it done…
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 22, 2009 8:50 PM PST up reply actions
That should read SD 850 IS
not CD.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 22, 2009 8:53 PM PST up reply actions
Rec'd
Thanks for the update and pictures. Looks like it was a good time.
I rec people.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
We have our ways...
to tell them apart. But I certainly screw up their names even though I know who I’m looking at.
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 22, 2009 8:51 PM PST up reply actions
I should add - we almost never dress them identical like that...
But they insisted this morning, because they wanted all Cal outfits – and we don’t have more than one kid-sized Cal hat or Cal T-shirt, and their only blue pants are those jeans.
So having them dressed differently is the easy way out with identical twins. Obviously I need to invest in mutiple full Cal children’s wear getups…
Stand the whole game, stay to the end, and start yelling while they're still in the huddle. GO BEARS
by JerrottWillard45 on Feb 22, 2009 8:57 PM PST up reply actions
I think you should just make them wear numbered jerseys…
I'm Fijian. Yes, the water is like that.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Feb 22, 2009 9:14 PM PST up reply actions
awesome pics and writeup
I’m glad you guys had a good time. We’ll have lots more rugby to watch and discuss in the coming months.
You are correct – all players are REQUIRED to wear mouthgards and no one can wear metal spikes (like baseball) or have a front cleat at the end of the shoe. That being said, their boots (cleats) are typically mid tops with 1/2" to 3/4" cleat on the bottom. Players don’t wear pads, but some wear cushioned soft helmets which helps prevent ears from being ripped off and provide some cranial support. Some forwards also wear cushiony shoulder pads that are so thin that’s it’s usually undetectable. It helps keep things together with repetitve tackles, scrums, and rucks.
Tedford...if you're reading this...I'LL WORK FOR FREE! I'll fill out your Coach's Poll!
also – does anyone know if Cal football practices on Witter Field prior to road games on natural grass? I think they need to sometimes reaquaint themselves with non-Momentum Turf™ conditions.
Tedford...if you're reading this...I'LL WORK FOR FREE! I'll fill out your Coach's Poll!
I’ve read that they sometimes practice on grass turf before playing away games on grass.
On the topic of rugby, why don’t all players wear those soft helmets? I saw more than a few guys take painful-looking elbows/knees to the head.
"After review, it has been determined that the previous play was not reviewable"
The Pac-10: where quality officiating happens.
they might answer:
cause their not pussies.
Remember, these guys are running around for a good hour and a half or so. Those helmets don’t offer the best ventillation.
My guess is that of the players who wear the soft helmet, they’ve probably taken a scary blow in the past and wearing the soft helmet provides confidence that their melon will be ok.
Tedford...if you're reading this...I'LL WORK FOR FREE! I'll fill out your Coach's Poll!
They might not be pussies, but it is probably a good idea to wear a helmet. Want to know guys that had stones, hockey goalies before masks.
It'll be just you, me, and Peter Nincompoop.
If Witter field is the one right next to the stadium, then yes.
You ain't got it like Marshawn got it
by Thoroughbred on Feb 22, 2009 3:27 PM PST up reply actions
I used to work up at the pool in Strawberry Canyon
And the football team definately worked out on Witter from time to time. I’m not sure it was in preperation for a grass surface or if it’s just another place to practice if they want to work with a specific group of guys away from the rest of the team. One time when I was walking home they were having some sort of silly competition/team building excercise and the guys were all shouting and laughing. I wanted to stay and watch, but it would have been just a little too stalkerish for me.
It was a great time!
It was my first time at a Cal rugby match (well, my first rugby match ever!) and it was a blast. The game was pretty easy to pick up fairly early on, and I was glad this game was my first one – unlike a typical blowout victory, this was a hard-fought battle on both sides, so we really got to see what rugby is supposed to be like. Of course, getting to hang out with friends and CGB peeps never hurts either!
I have determined that watching Cal rugby is awesome, so I’ll hopefully be going to more matches. Thanks for the great day, Bears!
I haven't seen that many tear-stained dollar bills since my dad hired a stripper for my uncle's funeral.
I'm glad to see this post
because I couldn’t make it and really wanted to get the flavor of it all. Hopefully I’ll be able to go to a good game soon. Rec’d!
USA Rugby Quarterfinals
Some good USA Rugby April 18-19 at Witter Field
I believe thats the same day as Cal Day and hte Spring game.
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
what about the 19th?
Marshawn...if you're reading this...I'll JOIN YOUR POSSE FOR FREE! Dave Chappelle says every group of brothas needs a white dude for safety in case the shit goes does (which it allegedly has with you several times) and someone needs to talk to the pol-ece.
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