GNC Glory for Northern California U19 and U16 Boys Teams
GNC Glory for Northern California U19 and U16 Boys Teams
Northern California took both the U19 Boys and U16 Boys trophies at the Great Northwest Challenge state-based select-side tournament this weekend in Missoula, Mont.
Hosted by the Montana Youth Rugby Union and signaling a return to the old-style state-organization select-side event. In fact, The GNC did not allow anything other than state or regionally-based SRO teams.
For Northern California's U19s team, they brought a squad that was heavily influenced by the top two teams in their Gold Division: San Mateo Wolverines and Elsie Allen Lobos. Both of those teams love to throw the ball around and play with abandon. With Head Coach Adriaan Ferris and his staff providing them direction, and lock Lyndon Bailey leading by example and as captain, the Grizzlies made their mark in the mountains.
It did take a while, however. Their opening game against Colorado was a very difficult one. Colorado's defense in their own 22 was impressive, and while the Coloradans struggled to clear their way out of their end of the field, they also didn't give up much in the way of tries.
In fact, that game was 14-7 before NorCal was able to tie it up and then, thanks to some defensive pressure, produced the game-winning try as the last play.
Along the way fullback Emasi Rabukawaqa showed himself to be enormously elusive. Flanker Jojo Keve was versatile and covered a lot of ground, and a smart halfback combined of Meli Serevi and Edwin Lee got them moving.
Shaken a bit NorCal was able to beat Minnesota 38-3, but even with that 35-point victory, they came away from Friday's action feeling like they hadn't really played their game. They wanted to play with more daring, but also be clinical close-in.
So Day Two dawned with the Grizzlies determined to take control, and also to start better than they did against Colorado the previous morning. And they did that, smoking a very capable Idaho side 45-5 in the semifinals.
Serevi scored two, Salesi Kotavalu scored two. Rabeukawaga, Andrew Linga, and Peter Anthony Flores all touched down, as well, with Lee slotting the conversions.
Meanwhile, Montana went 2-0 on Friday. They battled past Arizona thanks to a late try from Cormick Calkin to seal it 17-7. They pulled away late from a very good Washington team to win 20-10.
They looked very good in their semifinal over Oregon, shutting out the Redhawks 19-0 with tries from Harley Bianchini, Sawyer Troupe, who had a strong weekend, and Calkin once more. Kutuk White and Patrick Sale combined nicely in the midfield, while Calkin at No. 8 was impressive, highlighting a back row that included Tyler Conrad and Patrick Culpon.
But the final saw the Montana attack stymied. NorCal's defense was very strong. They caused problems for Montana in the lineout, and combined their talents nicely. Power up front forced Montana to worry about the forwards. Bailey led from the front for sure.
And when Montana worried too much about what was happening on the interior, Serevi was there to send it wide. The scrumhalf was outstanding, scoring and getting the game MVP award. And he got that partly for his ability to scamper through tiny gaps, but mostly it was about finding the right attackers at the right moment. Lee had a big game, and scored a key try.
While the Premier League teams such as Granite Bay, Danville, De La Salle, and Sacramento Jesuit were not featured sources of the NorCal team, this was a good reminder that the talent is everywhere in the region. In addition, the players from Elsie Allen and the Wolverines (HS National Championships Tier II winners), know each other and, after a few hiccups, showed it.
Elsewhere in the GNC Boys U19 competition, Colorado put aside the disappointment of that opening loss with a rebound win on Friday and then two impressive victories on Saturday. They beat Utah 24-12 in a game where Utah crossed the tryline seven times, but were held-up five times. The goalline defense and defense in their own 22 from Colorado was astonishing. They won that game in large part because of several big players from inside center Troy Heroldt, including two tries and an interception than set up another; but they more won that game thanks to unflinching defense under pressure.
That set up the 5th-place game against Hawaii, and with the Hawaiians' depth sorely tested this weekend, they were defeated 29-8.
Final U19s Boys finish:
1. Northern California
2. Montana
3. Idaho
4. Oregon
5. Colorado
6. Hawaii
7. Utah
8. Arizona
9. Washington
10. Washington East
11. Minnesota
12. Idaho East
Northern California's trip to the U16 title looked like it would end in the championship game. Montana was the opposition in this game, too. The teams traded tries but as the game wore on Northern California got into penalty trouble. They were disjointed and rattled as Montana defended well and showcased a strong scrum. With the game 17-10 for Montana, Northern Calfiornia bashed hard against the Montana line.
The hosts held and when an almost sure try was called back due to a forward pass, NorCal maybe felt like it wasn't to be. But, with four minutes remaining No. 8 and captain OC Lehner found a seam and finished off a nice movement to score. Thomas Parrott's conversion made it a tie ballgame 17-17. NorCal received the restart, immediately broke through, and Lehner once again was off to the races. This time, he was caught as he crossed the line—high tackle, and after a referee-AR consultation, a penalty try. Now it was 24-17. NorCal capped it off with another try at the end, as the Grizzlies found their form at just the tight moment.
Scrumhalf Chris Leibbrandt was good fir NorCal but in the late minutes it was backs such as Tuivomo Asaeli Remah, Daniel Dunne, Jared Randall, and Jojo Laqere who broke tackles and kept them moving.
Rowan Hester was big at lock, too. But everything went through Lehner in this game. Montana had done superbly to make the final, but it was a bit too much.
Idaho took third over Arizona, while Washington shut out Washington East (Cascade) to take 5th.
Run on grass fields at Fort Missoula State Park and run by JD Stephenson, Allison Schrichte, and Montana Institute of Sport, the GNC is back at a picturesque setting providing intense competition for players who want to learn and get better. Certainly you could see the growth over the weekend, although you could also see that there were some harsh lessons to learn.
The tournament brought in top up-and-coming referees from all over the country, and every game was run by a high-level team of three. As we said, the GNC is back.
