Congratulatations PITS Varsity on reaching and very nearly beating Hayward for the KOT Varsity Gold championship.  You and your Bay Conference rivals went 1-2-3 in Varsity Gold, demonstrating that you are capable of the highest level of high school rugby in Northern California.

Congratulations PITS Frosh/Sophs for showing in spades that you are PITS.   Get ready for the rematch with the Rhinos this Saturday!

Please Click Here to access the PITS Rucking Outline.  This is mandatory reading as the coaches will be reviewing this at practice next week.

First Half: PITS 26, Marin Highlanders 12

PITS Scoring: Tries by Inch, Justin Mendoza, Milne, Hendrickson.  3 Conversions by Hanafee.

Final: PITS 33, Marin Highlanders 19

PITS Scoring: Try by T. Moscone.  Conversion by Hanafee.

Men of the Match selected by Marin Highlanders: Forwards: Hendrickson;  Backs: Milne

 Frosh/Soph Match:  PITS 12, Marin Highlanders 7

Congratulations PITS on a successful start to 2010!

Here is the referee’s report from pelicanrefs.com:

PIEDMONT 33, MARIN HIGHLANDERS 19  Referee: John Coppinger
Rugby stars aligned last Saturday, as I was able to handle the Piedmont/Marin Highlander U19 match on the field turf of Redwood High in Larkspur at 11 in the morning and the Humboldt/Marin club match in Marin City at 1:30 that afternoon.
 
Piedmont traveled to Marin for a pre-season friendly.  Both sides bloodied (probably a poor choice of a word given that a Piedmont player in the Frosh/Soph match split his head open and required a number of stitches before I arrived) a lot of new and younger players and the 33-19 score in favor of Piedmont probably shouldn’t be taken as an indication of anything.  It was 26-12 in favor of Piedmont at the half.  Piedmont has a number of impressive players, including Jesse Milne at flyhalf, Captain Travis Moscone at hooker, and Captain/#8 Carl Hendrickson.  Milne is a junior and Moscone and Hendrickson I am told are Cal bound.  Marin was smaller than Piedmont, but more aggressive in the loose and were ably led by their impressive captain/hooker, Jeff Calzeretta.  Both teams showed discipline and accepted direction well and I wish them good luck in the upcoming season.

The Northern California Rugby Football Union (NCRFU) has adopted a Protocol to Enhance Safety at Rugby Matches.  All PITS Players, Staff and Parents must print out, read and initial each page of the Protocol, and sign this Agreement that he or she understands and will abide by the Protocol.

Key aspects of the Protocol are:

1. Sideline Barriers at least 5 meters from the touch lines must be set up.

2. Only 2 registered coaches and a trainers may stand inside the Sideline Barriers.

3. Replacement Players are NOT permitted inside the barrier until entering the match. 

4. Each team will assign 1 or 2 Field Monitors to ensure compliance and respectful conduct of its Spectators, Coaches and Players.  Field Monitors will wear distinctive apparel, e.g. a florescent vest 

Please deliver the initaled Protocal and signed Acknowledgement to PITS Registrar Cathy Farmer or the Captains prior to attending or participating in a 2010 match.

Travis Moscone and Jesse Milne helped USA Rugby’s High School All Americans defeat Canada’s Under-17 national team twice over New Year’s weekend.  In the New Year’s Day match, the US prevailed 40-10, while in the match on Sunday, January 3rd the All Americans blew open a 7-5 halftime lead into a 32-5 win.

Click on the photo from the match at www.usarugby.org for the full article on the January 3rd match.