PITS Wins Pacific Coast Tournament!
Monday, April 27th, 2009PITS RUGBY Wins Pacific Coast Invitational Tournament Silver Division
Carl Hendrickson Selected Tournament MVP
PITS 15- Peninsula Green 10
On an overcast Saturday morning, PITS kicked off day one of the Pacific Coast Invitational Tournament in San Jose against Peninsula Green, a team that they had narrowly lost to at the beginning of the season at the Sacramento Kick Off Tournament. With revenge on their minds, PITS started strong with some sustained early first half pressure inside their opponents 22 meter line that culminated in a great push over try by All Star 8-man, Carl Hendrickson.
Peninsula responded quickly with some very aggressive forward play and although PITS defended bravely Peninsula scored a try to tie the game 5-5, going into halftime. This was a seesaw contest with both teams swapping possession and scoring opportunities. Early in the second half PITS stripped a Peninsula ball carrier and Carl Hendrickson once again demonstrated his great strength and determination as he broke into the opponents half, leaving a wake of players in his path. Before being brought down, he off-loaded to Dante Affonso who made further ground albeit with an opponent attached to each limb. The Peninsula outside center was “sin binned” for an infraction in an attempt to waylay the PITS onslaught. David Johnson quickly capitalized driving home the advantage with some very bold running to score a well earned try.
Peninsula showed grit and determination, tying the score once again at 10-10 after some strong rucking.
But with minutes to go and advancement in the tournament on the line, PITS found another gear. With the heart and passion that has come to characterize this young team a period of sustained pressure inside their opponents 22 meter line, led to a succession of penalties. The PITS pack led by Travis Moscone, newly returned from his tour to England with the American Eagles U17 team, ran hard and rucked ferociously. They were rightfully rewarded for their efforts in the dying seconds of the game with Hendrickson scoring his second try of the day securing the win with a final score of 15-10.
In this very hard fought contest, flyhalf Charlie Sweeney kicked with confidence and consistency and the back line moved the ball through their hands with grace and fluency. But the day belonged to the PITS forwards. Their great lineout, scrummaging and counter-rucking wore down a very strong Peninsula Green team for a deserved victory in front of beaming smiles from coaches Cullom, Meyersieck, Campodonico and Schroeder.
PITS 24, Marin Highlanders 12
PITS started like a shot out of a gun in their second game against highly ranked Marin Highlanders. PITS drove at the Marin defense relentlessly in the first 10 minutes of the game and were rewarded with two quick tries to establish an early 12-0 lead. Hendrickson once again burst through the Marin line with quick thinking and quick movement from a penalty inside the 22 meter line. Sweeney hit the conversion. Scrumhalf Nick Singer floated one of his trademark chips in behind the Marin defense that Jesse Milne ran onto, with great pace, to score a well worked try. Marin came back before the end of the half showing their own brand of hard-nosed rugby ending the half at 12-7.
With both teams giving their all, there was an exchange of tries early in the second half. Charlie Sweeney made a key interception, that saw PITS break strongly from inside their own half. With Marin on the back foot, PITS forwards built phase upon phase of relentless, punishing pressure, driving Marin back inside their own 5 meter line to once again set up Carl Hendrickson to take the ball over for his fourth try of the day.
At 17-12 the game was still up for grabs, but it was evident that PITS had found their form. PITS put the game to bed when a series of crisp, timely passes through the hands of the backline which once more saw Marin on the back foot. With everyone on the field moving left, outside center George Fullerton ran a well conceived scissors movement to the right, cutting across the grain, breaking tackles as he galloped over the try line to secure the final score and a 24-12 PITS victory.
Silver Cup Championship Match: PITS 29, Islanders 19
With two solid wins under their belt, PITS faced perennial PCIT powerhouse Burbank Islanders of Sacramento in Sunday’s tournament final. The game stood up to its billing. Burbank streaked to the final with a big, strong, physical side who had played impressive rugby in both prior games. Although missing starters Moscone and Hanafee, the latter through injury sustained in the first game, PITS were up for the challenge.
The game started at a frenetic pace with both teams scoring within the first few minutes. But soon the PITS forwards, as had been the case all weekend, started to pound away at the Burbank defense and PCIT Tournament MVP Carl Hendrickson added another two tries for a first half hat trick. Sweeney added to the tally with two fine conversions giving PITS a comfortable 19-7 halftime lead.
With a renewed resolve, Burbank flew down the field in a series of quick phases to score in the first minute of the second half. Adding the conversion now meant that at 19-14 the game was still there for anyone to win. But once again, PITS settled into their rhythm of solid rucking and mauling. David Johnson was again a great performer in the lineouts and unsung hero Dante Affonso capped off some more great forward work with a fabulous second half try.
Not to be out done, the PITS backline contributed with a beautifully executed try of their own. Fullback Jesse Milne recovered a high kick deep in his own half returning it into Burbank territory with a dazzling run. At full speed the backs moved the ball through their hands out to winger Ethan Kaiser-Klimist who scampered 40 yards for a sensational try. The final nail was in the coffin. At 29-19 PITS had worn down their worthy opponents and secured not only the victory but first place in the tournament with an unbeaten record.
Next week, as is the PITS tradition, PITS will embark on their annual Tour. The Varsity squad will travel to Seattle to play a couple of highly ranked local teams and act as worthy ambassadors of not only Bay Area high school rugby but the Piedmont community.
