Updated: 1/25/07
HOG ARCHIVES
The HOG Archives contain results and match reports from previous years, as well as a repository of old announcements.2007 Results
2007 Match Reports
2006 Results
2006 Match Reports
Previous Years' Announcements
2007 MATCH Results
Record: 2 – 3PF: 113, PA: 68, PD: +44
1) 01/06/07 vs. Vacaville (L: 12-24)
01/13/07 BYE
2) 01/20/07 vs. Chico (L: 15-19)
3) 01/27/07 @ Shasta (W: 27-5)
4) 02/03/07 vs. Mendocino (W: 49-0)
02/10/07 BYE
02/17/07 BYE
5) 02/24/07 @ Chico (L: 20-10)
6) 03/03/07 @ Mendocino (Potter Valley)
03/10/07 BYE
7) 03/17/07 vs. Shasta (ARCATA)
8) 03/24/07 @ Vacaville (Vacaville)
03/31/06 BYE
04/07/06 BYE
04/14/06 NCRFU Playoffs (SF)
VIEW/DOWNLOAD
2007 HOG Match Schedule (52 KB)
(UPDATED: 11/02/06)
2007 MATCH REPORTS
Match reports for Vacaville and Chico coming soon.12/09/06 vs MARIN
Marin-A-No-Go
Our friendly pre-season match with Marin on Dec. 9, 2006, was a no go. They didn't have the numbers, and apparently the Tahoe snow was pretty inviting. Next time fellas, give us a little more notice. An EMAIL on Friday night is cutting it a little close – we had already bought the food for the social.
1/06/07 vs VACAVILLE (L: 12-24)
Match report coming soon.
1/20/07 vs CHICO (L: 15-19)
Match report coming soon.
1/29/07 @ SHASTA (W: 27-5)
HOGs Victorious Over Highlanders
The Old Growth traveled to Shasta (formerly known as "Redding") on Saturday with 16 players and a touch judge (Thanks, Johnny), bringing home a much needed win. Ray Schwartz officiated.
Staack and I arrived at the pitch over 2 hours early. The wife opened the minivan doors and kicked us out. The kids threw our bags and the jerseys out the window, laughing, as they sped away to the mall for a quick round of shopping before kickoff.
We went on a walk-about, becoming one with the pitch and discussing the anticipated numbers along with the many players that would NOT be making it. Shasta players arrived quickly and began warming up while ours were barely trickling in. Welcome to another HOG road trip ... Apparently, we wouldn't have it any other way.
I don't remember the exact order of scoring, but I'll fill you in on what I do know: We won. We won 27-5. We scored the first try (and four more tries with one conversion) and they scored the last try, just before the final whistle.
Pieced together from memory fragments, here's the approximate order of scoring: Pud scored off of a driving maul, a few minutes into the match. Then it was Nattkemper's turn, dotting it down after a long drive, many passes, and even more broken tackles. Our third try was by far the best of the match. From 40 meters out, Staack kicked a loose ball from between an opponent's legs as he was about to pick it up, immediately giving chase and booting it again with 3 defenders closing in fast. Approximately 15 meters out he received a fortuitous bounce right into his hands as he sprinted toward the goal. Staack was tackled at the goal line, reaching in for the try.
Pud appears to have dotted down his second for the day, just before the half, off of a ruck about 2 meters out. Pud picked and went with a couple of supporters but they stalled just before crossing the line, when myself and another drove into the back of Pud, pushing him over the line. And that was the half, 20-0.
The next half saw a lot of ball movement, but no scoring until about half-way through. Just after losing Tom to a cut above his eyebrow and using our ONLY sub -- one more and we'll have to use Touch Judge Johnny -- There was a ruck a meter out with the ball under our feet. Morgan saw the ball sitting at the back, picked it up with no hesitation, and dove over the goal line scoring our last of the match and Jeremy converted. With a few minutes remaining, Shasta made use of an overlap after a couple really nice passes and ran it in for a well-deserved try from about 40 meters out.
Both teams came out strong and ready to play, with hard runs and crunching tackles for most of the match. Shasta had numbers, youth, and some speed. What they lacked was experience. There were the same few faces that we've seen over the years, but many of them were new. If the newbies stay with it, they should soon be a stronger team.
Social Notes:
Shasta provided a nice social at Brian Peterson's house where we feasted on some delicious tri-tip, pork-n-beans, and potato salad. Both teams quickly dusted one keg and started another before the singing began followed by a boat race -- With Shasta the victor. The men of the match were the HOG's Mark Distefano and Shasta's fullback. Great Job Fellas!
2/03/07 vs MENDOCINO (W: 49-0)
HOGs Win First Meeting With Steam Donkeys(posted: 2/22/07)
The Old Growth hosted the Mendocino Steam Donkeys for the first of many matchups with the newest team in the Emerald Triangle. Jim Crenshaw officiated.
The first half of the match was spent mostly in Mendocino's territory and ended with the HOGs up 22-0 (3 tries, 2 converted, 1 penalty kick).
A fractured Mendocino leg just before the half gave both teams an extended rest during halftime. The ambulance arrived, everyone clapped the player off, and the match was on.
Due to many stupid and unnecessary penalties, and a newly energized Mendocino side, the second half saw Humboldt barely cross the 50-meter line until they drove down the field and scored 15 minutes in. They settled into their game and continued the scoring until the final whistle (5 tries, 1 converted). The final score 49-0, Humboldt.
Social Notes:
Thanks to Mendocino for sticking around and partying it up with the HOGs. The Broken-Leg Player (Sam?) arrived just in time to receive Man-of-the-Match honors from Humboldt and his complimentary gallon of Chianti. Everyone drank beer, filled their bellies, drank more beer, sang songs, had loads of fun drinking beer, and partied until the wee hours drinking beer. Welcome to NorCal Rugby, Mendocino!
2/03/07 @ CHICO (L: 20-10)
HOGs Drop Second-Half Ball in Chico(posted: 3/03/07)
The Old Growth traveled to Chico last Saturday for the second meeting of the season with our long-time NorCal rivals. Sam Reagle officiated.
It was a freezing cold, rainy, windy, muddy day in Chico. The HOGs arrived 22 strong (that's a hell of a lot of players for an Old Growth road trip) and ready to play. Both sides came out strong, but chico put one down in the corner less than 10 minutes in to the half (no conversion). The Humboldt scrum was having their way with Chico, moving them around the field, bending the Chico forwards to their will. It would be a long day for that pack.
The HOGs answered back with a converted try of their own and added a penalty kick before the end of the half. HOGs 10, Chico 5.
Half time was extremely cold as the players from both sides stood muddy and wet in the arctic winds. We couldn't wait for the next half to start. Again both sides came out strong. Humboldt was knocking on Chico's door for the first 20 minutes. The visitors drove a maul toward Chico's goal, but a wiley Chico player got his hands on the ball as it crossed the line and went to ground. Humboldt received a 5-meter scrum where they threatened to just drive it in, whe Morgan picked it up from the back of the scrum and ran for the goal line with supporting flankers. This next part is somewhat disputed as some say Morgan touched it down before it was stolen by a Chico player, but others insist that Chico took it before it was touched down. Needless to say, the ref awarded Chico a 22-meter drop, where they cleared the ball. This heartbreak took some of the wind out of the visitor's sails and changed the momentum of the game.
Chico had subbed in a new loosehead at the break, an old boy back from a couple-year hiatus. This proved a smart move for the home team as it added some stability to the left side of their scrums. It also proved to be the downfall for the traveling side as he barrelled down the field, breaking Humboldt's attempts at tackling, and scoring an unconverted try. Chico took the lead, 10-12
A short time later, he did it again off a quick-tap penalty, running in an unconverted try from 10 meters out. They added a penalty kick a few minutes later to give Chico a 10-point lead, where it would stay, despite Humboldt's valiant efforts, until the final whistle. Final score Humboldt 10, Chico 20.
Social Notes:
Chico provided a great feed at a very accommodating sports bar called The End Zone. I highly recommend this establishment to anyone travelling to Chico. The owners enjoyed our singing and when non-rugby patrons (women and small children) arrived, he very kindly provided a private space on the covered patio where we could continue.
As with most teams in our division these days, there has been a lot of turnover but without the passing of certain traditions, in this case, singing. There were only a couple players on the home team that knew any songs. Fortunately for them, the teachers had arrived and school was in session. Humboldt led many songs, enjoyed by all -- even the parents who were visiting. The HOGs may have lost the game, but they emerged from yet another social VICTORIOUS!
But our story does not end there, my friends. This is Chico. A vast majority of the team stayed over at the Thunderbird, the perfect accommodations for this type of evening. But because what happens on the road, stays on the road I can only tell you that somebody may have gotten drunk.
2006 RESULTS
Record: 5 – 8PF: 104*, PA: 127*, PD: – 23*
* Score unknown vs Berkeley 1) 12/03/05 @ Reno (L: 0-5, forfeit)
2) 12/10/05 vs. SF Fog (W: 21-10)
3) 12/17/05 vs. McGeorge (W: 5-0, forfeit)
12/24/05 BYE
12/31/05 BYE
4) 01/07/06 @ Vacaville (L: 16-20)
5) 01/14/06 vs. Redding (W: 23-9)
6) 01/21/06 @ Chico (L: 16-39)
7) 01/28/06 vs. Petaluma (L: 0-12)
8) 02/04/06 @ Stanislaus (L: 0-5, forfeit)
02/11/06 BYE
9) 02/18/06 vs. Monterey (W: 5-0, forfeit)
10)02/25/06 vs. Aptos (L: 16-17)
11) 03/04/06 @ Mission (L: 0-5,forfeit)
03/11/06 BYE
12) 03/18/06 @ Marin (L: 0-5, forfeit)
03/25/06 BYE
13) 04/01/06 @ Berkeley (W: )
2006 MATCH REPORTS
The following are this season's match reports written by the completely unbiased hands of our Official Recorder of Things To Be Recorded.12/03/05 @ Reno (L: 0-5, forfeit)
The league (NCRFU) decided to begin the season a month early and we were caught off guard and unprepared, resulting in our first ever forfeit.
12/10/05 vs S.F. Fog (W: 21-10)
The Fog made the long journey inside the Redwood Curtain with many reserves and a large posse of supporters. The referee for the match was Bjorn Strommer. And because of the early start to the season, we were unable to assemble for our annual practice, usually held in early January, and this day served as our first on-field meeting of the season.
Bjorn took an immediate disliking to the HOG's method of play. To our discredit we didn't adjust well to this ref's officiating, which resulted in an exorbitant number of penalties against the home team. The match was hard-fought by both sides, but because of the high number of whistles, neither teams was able to mount a sustained attack.
SPECIAL NOTE: It has been brought to my attention by our Party Pimp that it was in fact he who scored all our points on this day – Four tries and and a bonus point for extra-special skill as a 220 lb. winger with wavy pony tail and extraordinary Keith Hess-esque shit-talkin' abilities.
If there is nobody out there that can dispute this, it will stand as fact and be entered into the permanent record by the official Recorder of Things to be Recorded.
12/17/05 vs McGeorge (W: 5-0, forfeit)
McGeorge is a law school in the Sacramento area and finals are held during this time. Because of this unfortunate timing, they were forced to forfeit this match.
01/07/06 @ Vacaville (L: 20-16)
The HOGs travelled in true Humboldt fashion with a skeleton crew of 18 players, 3 of whom had never played rugby. The opposing side had a good number of experienced and inexperienced players in reserve. The referee for the day was our old friend, Bjorn Strommer.
Vacaville scored twice (no conversions) early in the first half, while the visitors struggled to get their footing. The HOGs joined the match and answered back with a penalty kick and converted try before the half-time whistle blew. Score: 10-10.
Humboldt was the first to score in the second half with a penalty kick, taking the lead for the first time. The lead changed once again after an unconverted Vacaville try, bringing the score to 15-13. But the HOGS slotted another kick resulting in yet another lead change, giving them a one-point advantage. But another unconverted Vacaville try would bring the lead back their way, 20-16.
The HOGs fought hard to put the ball over the line, spending the last 10 minutes inside the opponent's 22, but a few inopportune penalties during those last minutes allowed Vacaville to temporarily relieve the pressure each time until Humboldt drove back into their red zone. Time expired while the HOGs were knocking on the door, giving the victory to Vacaville, 20-16.
POST-MATCH NOTE:
This Socially inexperienced Vacaville team, and they're not alone in our league on this point, could use a few tips on the Social Traditions of Rugby. Although the beer was quick to flow and the pizza also came out rapidly, there was not enough of either and the visiting team left for their long trip home thirsty and hungry. In addition, a few home-team players fed themselves BEFORE the guests were done – HUGE faux pas, fellas!
But worst of all, no songs were sung! Me me me meeeee. Hold my pickle ... Once again, the HOGs win the ever-important Third Half!
01/14/06 vs Redding (W: 23-9)
On this day, rays of 'Humboldt Sun' (ie: rain) were falling all around us and collecting in large pools all over the field. Redding arrived at the field, ready to play even before the field crew came to set up. I arrived to find the large clump of trees on the east end of the pitch (which also served as our pissing tree) victims of that week's strong winds. Maybe it was years of accumulated urin that had somehow weakened the roots ... Our official for the day was Joe Leisek, who barely made it through the slide on the 101 at Confusion Hill.
I'd heard a rumor that Isaac Vaughn's step-dad was now coaching Redding, but couldn't quite comprehend what would bring this Santa Rosa family to Redding and had to call 'Bullshit' on that one. I was proven wrong when I showed up and saw first-hand Dave Ellis in the coach's role for our opponents. With Dave at the helm I felt this may be a different Redding side than we had played in the past.
Our opponents won the coin toss and opted to defend the west end of the field with the arctic wind at their backs. This was the last time that anyone on the pitch would be dry and warm. Humboldt was the first to score with an unconverted try in the corner, 10 minutes into the match. I don't recall who dotted the ball, but if nobody claims it the Party Pimp will be all over it...
Two minutes later, Humboldt provided Redding with the first of three ill-placed penalties in a row, all of them at about the 22 in front of the posts. Their kicker easily slotted all three to take the lead, 9-5. Just before the halfway mark, Humboldt drove in another unconverted try to take a 1-point lead at the whistle. Again, who was that? I think I need to write up the match reports BEFORE the social, when those brain cells are still activie.
Halftime found us huddled together for warmth, fighting off that howling cold wind and driving rain. After another 40 minutes of drowning in the bottom of rucks, splashing down the field, repositioning scrums out of the small lakes to at least be on the shore, and huge splasing tackles and belly-flops, the HOGs emerged the victor with two more unconverted tries and a penalty, final score 23-9.
I would like to especially thank Joe for a very well officiated match, which was much needed and appreciated. It's alwasy a pleasure Joe. Unfortunately, because the 101 was now closed, Joe had to take the long way home from the 101, across the 299, down the 5, back across the 20, and down the 101 home.
SOCIAL NOTE:
Great food and beer was had by all in attendence. Thanks to the food crew and especially Mr. Death for another great shephards pie. Singing followed the food at the rear of the pub, after the presentation of the 'Cheap Wine' to Mr. Dave Ellis.
01/21/06 @ Chico (L: 16-39)
With another typical Humboldt Road Crew traversing Hwy 299 to Chico, we foud ourselves with only 14 players 5 minutes before kickoff. I've never been so happy to see two rookies as Will pulled up with Renaldo riding shotgun. An unfortunate alarm clock incident now has Will fending off the No-Holds-Barred tormenting of his teammates until such a time as someone else screws up and takes our attention away from Will. I think Cesar might want a few words with you also, Will, for leaving him behind.
The referee for the day was Jim Crenshaw, the second week in a row that we received a quality official. The gods must be smilling upon us ... someone on our team has been a good boy.
The few of us HOGs that are left from the days of our traditional and long-standing feud with Chico, held over from our college days, were searching to find the few familiar faces remaining on the opposing side. It seems that both of our teams are undergoing major personnel changes.
Chico began the scoring at the 6-minute mark with a try a couple meters from the posts, which was easily converted. A few minutes later Jeremy put us on the board with the last of three successive penalty attempts. A few minutes later Chico added another penalty and halfway through the first half, a Chico wing put one down in the corner, with the kick just wide of the posts giving Chico a 15-3 lead.
Having a spectacular day, Our Party Pimp, #8-sometimes-center, Mark Johnson was taken out of the match after a cheap, yes CHEAP, elbow to the ribs. An unfortunate turn of events. Since our reserve was a front rower, we moved the tight head prop, the Angry Armenian, out to center, leaving us with no reserves.
The HOGs added another penalty kick and with only a minute left in the half, flanker Fred Victor dotted the ball between the posts with Jeremy easily converting. Halftime score saw Humboldt down by two points, 13-15.
The match claimed another casualty as rookie center Montrell Anthony played the first half with a pulled hamstring that kept getting worse and had to call it quits at the half. Humboldt would begin the second half with 14 players. We played without a #8 as we moved Fred out to center and Mooney from #8 to flanker.On the other side of the field, Chico brought out a couple of more experienced substitutes
Chico opened up the second half with a converted try by a wing four minutes after the whistle. Ten minutes later, the other wing dotted down an additional try that the kicker was unable to convert, giving Chico a 27-13 lead.
Prop Cody Gulewich went down with a twisted ankle forcing Humboldt to move the Angry Armenian back to the front row, replacing him with our other flanker, Curran Sanchez. The HOGs were now down to 13 players. Fortunately for Humboldt, though, Chico rotated a few players through the Sin Bin throughout the half, spending 10 minutes apiece for being naughty, naughty boys.
But the scoring wasn't done, yet. Jeremy slotted another penalty for Humboldt and a few minutes later a Chico center dotted a converted try. Ten minutes before the final whistle a Chico wing scored another try, that their kicker failed to convert. Final score gave Chico a 39-16 win over Humboldt.
NOTE:
After the Party Pimp got some x-rays in Arcata the following morning (no broken ribs) he headed to the pub for some beer and AFC/NFC Championship football action. After the hospital reveiwed his x-rays they phoned to tell him to get his pimp-ass to the hospital, as he has a collapsed lung.
That is were he sits, with a tube sticking out of his chest, as I write this on Wednesday morning. He should be released today. Send him a shout out.
PIMP-UPDATE: Mark was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and is relaxing at home.
SOCIAL NOTES:
After the match we retired to a pizza place out in the emerging sprawl. Much thanks go out to Chico for lots of pizza and beer, but the newbies on both sides need to learn some verses and songs as the singing was short-lived.
One little thing to remind the new Chico players about: It is tradition in rugby that the home team always waits for the visitors to eat first. Then, once the guests have eaten the home team can dig in. This is to ensure that just in case there isn't enough food for both teams, the visitors leave with a full belly.
After the majority of both teams left, a few of the remaining old boys on both sides hung out, reminiscing about the good old days. It was a good end to a good rugby day as we left for our long journey home with bellies full of food and beer...
01/28/06 vs Petaluma (L: 0-12)
It was a long day of rugby Saturday as both HSU teams and the HOGs had home matches in Manila. The field proved to be the great equilizer as the speed demons on each team were neutralized. By the end of the day the field was reduced to a giant mud pit just beggin' for scatily-clad hotties wrestling over the last Twix.
The opening match began with a typical torrential downpour as the HSU Women squared off against UC Davis in mud and standing water, with John Coppinger officiating. When the rain stopped and the mud cleared the scoreboard saw HSU down 0-10 at the final whistle.
The second match of the day saw clear skies and sunshine as the HSU Men gave a thorough thwomping to Santa Clara as Rich Anderson officiated. I don't know what the final score was, but it wasn't pretty.
There's a saying behind the Redwood Curtain: 'If you don't like the weather, wait a minute ... it'll change." That rang true once more as the third match saw a third weather pattern: The sun was gone but this time there was no rain in sight. The HOGs faced Petaluma for the Main Event and John Coppinger reffed his second match of the day as the HOGs' 3-match streak of decent refs continued.
The pitch had seen better days as the HOGs took the field for the opening kickoff. The center of the field, from end to end was filled with thick, creamy mud a few inches deep with pockets of standing water off to the sides. Humboldt kicked off with their backs to the bay. After a few tackles and rucks it became increasingly difficult to differentiate the two sides as both were now wearing brown jumpers. It was a good thing we had the standing water to rinse the mud out of our eyes.
Big hits and big splashes abounded throughout the first half, but no big runs. Either team could have scored as each spent ample time within the opposing 22. The beginning of the half saw Humboldt knocking on Petaluma's door, but nobody was home. The home team was in the midst of a long defensive goal-line stand as Petalum tried to, but couldn't, seal the deal when the whistle blew to end a scoreless half.
The Petaluma pack greatly outweighed the HOGs, who just couldn't dig in and found themselves pushed around like a sled throughout the first half. They made some personnel changes which added some beef to the front row in hopes of stabilizing their ailing scrums. It worked as Humboldt was now able to get some of their own ball out the back.
Most of the second half was just like the first in that either team could have scored, but didn't, and there was mud and water flying everywhere. Humboldt had another stellar goal-line stand which unfortunately ended in a try as the Petaluma fly-half passed an unexpected long bomb to the other side of the field and the wing blasted through to dot it down in the corner during the 60th minute of the match. Kicking in this muck was a joke and the conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Petaluma took the first lead of the day, 5-0.
Humboldt continued to play tough and after a fair amount of time within the opposition's 22, a penalty allowed Petaluma to relieve pressure once again. More muddy play in the middle of the field, blah, blah, blah. Then with less than 10 minutes to go Petaluma blasted through off a few quick rucks. Humboldt tried to hold it up, but the ball was touched down over the line, just North of the posts. The kicker found the one solid patch of ground and slotted the kick to widen their lead to 12.
The HOGs, with the help of some young new recruits, kept the pressure on but the final whistle blew to signal their first-ever loss to Petaluma, 0-12.
SOCIAL NOTES:
Humboldt Rugby is always willing to host the travelling side with great amounts of food and beer. However, after being told earlier in the week that the visitors would be leaving right after the match, the decision was made to cut down on the amount of food so it wouldn't go to waste. After the match the visitors decided to stay and we gave them all the beer they wanted and fed them what we had. They left early with bellies full of elk stew and NO SINGING!
[Excuse me for a minute while I get my soap box ...]
This is not directed at Petaluma, but toward the state of the league itself and in some cases, the whole sport: What in the name of all that is fucking holy is happening here?! Does nobody remember the traditions of this sport? Why are teams not participating in the social aspect any longer, or when they do they go about it in a half-assed manner? If something is not done soon, we run the risk of becoming just another sport in America. If you don't want to participate in the entire aspect of Rugby, on the field and off, then play something else. Start up a badminton league and leave us the fuck alone ... [OK, I'm done.]
The HOGs, on the other hand, raged on and closed the pub down that night – Oh, yes ... we did! An HSU rugby alum, Matt Griffith and his political punk band SuperRuin from Grass Valley played HumBrews after the social (I don't think the social really ended for us that night). The band played a powerful set and since Matt sings like he plays rugby, he was falling all over the stage. At one particular moment early in their set his fall was broken by a beam that got the best of him and split his head open, unbeknownst to him. He kept singing, though, and the center of his bald head was soon covered in blood like a red mohawk. Rock On! At the end of the show I faced my disappointment as my cries for an encore of "Free Bird" went unanswered ... they call themselves musicians? Thanks for making the trip fellas.
02/18/06 vs. Monterey, Win 5-0 (forfeit)
Monterey was unable to muster the numbers for the trip north, and as disappointed as we were to not have Monterey come to Humboldt for a game and party, we realized that we have never ever played against Monterey ever! They have been on our schedule for a few years now and they have never come to Old Growth Country nor have we visited them as they have always forfeited.
Perhaps Monterey is a fictitious entity, existing only in the schedule and sending an anonymous representative to the annual scheduling meeting for the sole purpose of getting sponsorship in Monterey so he can make t-shirts and regalia for his own false sense of the sporting life. Or maybe they are made up of a group of recovering alcoholics who don't need any "triggers" to get them back on the wagon. More likely, they are former Lacrosse and Ultimate players from Humboldt who don't want to endure any more harassment from the HOG's of Manila.
If they don't play us next year, we'll just have to go to the pub and sing crass songs about their mothers, sisters, grandmothers, dogs, cats....
02/25/06 vs. Aptos Beach Dogs, Loss 16-17
So Aptos made the long haul to Humboldt, bringing 14 players (which is nice). They didn't have a legitimate front row and requested uncontested scrums which we agreed to (our bad). Their ugly 8man got through on a long break away in the first half, no conversion made. They scored a try again before the half while we answered with a penalty from the legendary all time Humboldt golden shoe, Sir Drakeford. Second half, we established a string of posessions and hard tackling defense which put us on the board with a try, conversion and two penalties. Then, the ugly 8man did a repeat run for 40 meters, placing the ball center for an easy conversion to win the game by a point.
Humboldt had one player yellow carded in the first half but not to be outdone, Aptos had one in each half sent off for their obligatory ten minutes of rest. HSU alum turned Beach Dog, Kevin Miske, nearly caused a game ending brawl when he smacked our hooker Mark Distefano, drawing blood from the brow. Mark is a lover not a fighter yet his response was to return some tough love, his fan extraordinaire from the sideline ran onto the field and elbowed Mr M to the head, chaos, yelling, heavy breathing, no blinking, name calling and referee ejecting our man and his progenitor from the field. Bad Miske, bad Beach Dog.
SOCIAL REPORT:
Aptos was fed the grand feast $ndash; Wings and beer upon arrival at our friendly neighborhood Humboldt Brews. Sheperd's Pie, garlic bread and salad followed with a sing song reminiscent of a real social gathering.Beer National Anthem started it off followed by at least ten more songs. Big cheers to Aptos song leader RePhil Hicks who brought many tunes out of the vault and serenaded our lesbian friends. Ugly 8man was awarded the big whiner award of a jug of Carlo Rossi Chianti. The rule is the wine must be finished before reaching Willits on the drive home, but the big sissy needed a lot of Old Growth and Beach Dog rookie help – freaking poser!
03/18/06 @ Marin, Loss 0-5 (forfeit)
Unfortunately, Humboldt had to forfeit due to the lack of numbers. It was decided to have a friendly game anyway. Humboldt was able to drag people from the sidelines, players from the previous high school game and out of the stands to put together a pretty good side that made Marin work for the win.
Honest, the night before the game we had 18 confirmed travelers. Due to mystical and miraculous circumstances, we only arrived with 11. You see, many of us on the team are of the Celtic persuasion, meaning prone to being pissed and oi! Friday night turned out to the night the Leprechauns opened up a jar of whiskey and poured it down our throats.
- Here's a report on the Celts of Humboldt:
- Johnny Death had to walk 8 miles barefoot from Eureka to Arcata, only to arrive with blood blisters and pink eye.
- James Regan's girlfriend is superstitious on a grand scale and locked him in the garage because "the stars were spelling doom for anyone from Santa Rosa who lives in Humboldt."
- Jon Mooney woke up on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
- Michael Murphy and Patty O'Toole woke up in the drunk tank.
- The other two fellas are still missing.
So the truth of the game was that St. Patrick won over Humboldt, Marin just kicked us while we were down. Oh Yeah, we outsangdrankatepushedthelimits and remain undefeated in the post game standings.
04/01/06 @ Berkeley RFC, (W: ? - ?)
Our first trip to Treasure Island ended happily with a victory to end the season, ahead of CHICO in the standings. The referee was a chump to both teams- calling penalties and making rule changes at will. He seemed a bit nervous and perhaps, high! The game was back and forth as far as scoring, but our tries were much more dramatic, with a flair for athleticism and a spritzer of panache as evident by the seven foot leaps for tries.
On Berkeley's second to last try, our Angry Armenian Nikos was standing under the posts telling the Party Pimp that he couldn't run and would just go from "scrum to lineout as best as I can." He looked pathetic asking permission to wuss out but as it turned out, the next two times he touched the ball, he rumbled for major territory, running over defenders while screaming out his trademark Caucasus Battle Cry. On his third touch of the ball, he ran for 40 meters, slamming their defense and scoring the go ahead try.
Berkeley had a chance (thanks ref) at the end of the game to win it by one point with a conversion of a try scored in the freakin' 48th minute of the half. But, we kept winking at the kicker and calling him names like "cutie pie" and "beefcake" which totally threw him off the mark. Later that night at the drink up, he was buying shots of whiskey for all the Humboldt guys and kept saying, "let's hook up in the city tonight, guys." We gave him false cell numbers.
The social was convivial enough and the hosts were generous. They even had a guy from Pittsburgh, PA that knew how to sing- bless Pennsylvania rugby for keeping hope alive. We did however teach the local bar patrons how to sing South of the Border and therefore remain, undefeated and by independent accounting,
THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS OF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DIVISION III RUGBY SOCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ... TEN YEARS RUNNING.
Send yer congrats to us in the form of insults and cases of whiskey.