PCIT Major Success - Reprinted with Permission from www.erugbynews.com

May 15, 2008 - The Pacific Coast Invitational Tournament wrapped up on Mother’s Day featuring plenty of top-level high school rugby and awards. With much talk about the changes in the national high school championship structure actually damaging the future of a national playoff, the idea that big regional invitational tournaments might be the future is taking hold. Certainly it took hold for Boys HS Washington state champions Chuckanut.

Chuckanut passed up a chance to play in the Pacific Coast playoffs for a PCIT spot instead, and swept their competition to win the Varsity Gold bracket. Led by a powerful forward performance, and a wonderful team ethos, Chuckanut defeated Lamorinda in their opening match, the Marin Highlanders next, before defeating Santa Rosa in the Cup Final on Sunday. All three of Chuckanut’s opponents were NorCal Playoff quarterfinalists or better. Marin, led by scrumhalf Matt Cadelago, won the Plate over Peninsula Green, while Vacaville defeated Lamorinda for the Bowl.

View and Buy 2008 Photos at http://www.numinaphoto.com/

In the Varsity Silver Liberty (Washington state finalists) beat Silicon Valley in the Cup Final, while Graham Helm of PITS was that level’s MVP. Lancers defeated Redwood Empire Select for the Varsity Bronze. Lancers player Caleb Short got MVP there. In the U17 boys bracket Sacramento Valley Select defeated Liberty, led by Rio Rugby’s Jenner Long.

In the Girls Bracket there was plenty of drama as Washington-based club Budd Bay tied Oregon selects in the opening match in the stadium. Oregon went on to defeat Northern California’s Lady Pelicans 31-5, setting up a must-win for Budd Bay on Sunday. The Steelheads won 20-10, giving Oregon the title on total tries scored. Oregon’s No. 8 Audre Jones earned MVP honors.

“We are blessed to have access to such a fabulous facility as Stanford, with three neat pitches so tightly packed together, great medical support, fine referees, a clutch of friendly volunteers, and then to have every team turn up, every game go off and end well,” said tournament director Ray Schwartz. “It was all very gratifying. Even the USA Rugby Coaching Clinic with Lynn Evans Friday night was a nice success, well attended and received.”

This was the 4th Annual PCIT, and the one that had the broadest reach as more teams from the Northwest participated. Schwartz said there is still more work to be done, noting that the referees were overworked, and some last-minute withdrawals due partly to finances made things tough.

“My best memory was somewhat personal, sitting down to dinner Saturday night, after an incredibly long day, with my wife Kat Todd-Schwartz, a PCRFU Referee Coach, and with old nemesis, respected rival and now friend Salty Thompson, a former opponent and now our National U20 Coach/Selector, only to be joined by Pat Fry, CEO of a major hospital chain, and father of Cal prop Eric, and Sac Valley U17 stand out Chris Fry - an amazing conversation then went on for over an hour. I love the way tournaments draw like-minded rugby addicts together from many different backgrounds.”

Top moments from the tourney included Chuckanut, who had used the tourney as a reward for players in past years and played everyone, went in to win it and did just that. Budd Bay girls played as a club, fielding two teams, against select sides and were outstanding – with Ellie Linn slotting a drop goal in open play to get everyone talking.

The pig roasting in the Eucalyptus Grove was another special moment.

These thoughts come from PITS Head Coach John “Trailer” Cullom, “I love this tournament as it gives a final aspect to the season. It’s something every club can look forward to regardless of the success of the season. It’s a great opportunity for seniors to play their last game, and for the younger players to step up into the ‘biggies.’ It also allows for competition between teams we won’t normally see during the season. My players especially enjoy playing against the Beaverton Barbarians. The PCIT has been the catalyst for what has become in a very short period of time, a great relationship between programs 600 miles apart.”

“The PCIT is the brainchild of long-time PCRFU President Frank Merrill, who in turn is a long-time old friend and supporter of Jeff Lombard of International Athletics,” said Schwartz. “Three years ago Jeff convinced his close friend Neil Gardner of Chuckanut to bring his club to Stanford for their first PCIT. As a result of that first trip, several of his players were recognized on the National level, though they lost every game.

“I remember well the barbecue at Frank’s home after that PCIT with the entire Chuckanut crew. Neil and his assistants had been blown away by the depth and quality of the local teams, but promised that now they knew the level of play to expect down here. Chuckanut came back stronger last year, but finally won the Varsity Gold Division only this year. It was just wonderful to see good things happen to a group so nice, and ones who had set as a real goal the year before to attend and win at our tournament.”

The PCIT gave everyone a chance to extend their season, in great company, and at a wonderful venue… lots of good rugby for all. And there were lots of good rugby players. But the Tourney also gave our National Selectors a chance to see a cross-section of talent from across our region, and to identify such talent for possible Elite Player Development. Salty Thompson named an all-tournament team for the boys.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM

1 Kevin Herrera, PITS
2 Gavin Snyder, Chuckanut
3 Patrick Latu, Pen Green
4 Matt Petrini, Marin
5 Carl Hendrickson, PITS
6 Patrick Blair, Liberty
7 Viliami Huihui, Pen Green
8 David Tameilau, Penn Green
9 Matt Cadelago, Marin (MVP of V. Gold)
10 Jared Braun, Pen Green
11 Paul Smith, Chuckanut
12 Mike Trumbo, Lamorinda
13 Jacob Gowan, Rosa Rugby
14 Tyler Swanson, Liberty
15 Loui Mitchell, Chuckanut

OTHER PLAYERS WHO PLAYED WELL (that Salty saw)(in other words… we need more selectors!)

PITS: Travis Moscone, Graham Helm
MARIN: Chase Neely, Bertie Quai Hoi, Jake Anderson
LAMORINDA: Vince Bruzzone, Evan Schlinkert, Will Kopas, Charlie Smith, Zach Purdy, Grey Dixon, Wesley Van Tonder
BEAVERTON: Doug Gilmore, Adam Schwander
LIVE OAK: Alex Muhn, Ronny Dominguez
PEN GREEN: Mack Johnston
LIBERTY: Drew Grant, Wade Moore, Shane Brown
DIABLO: Joe Mathews, Matt Carter, Sione Hausia, Mateaki Hausia, Morgan Breslin
SAC VALLEY u17s: Joe Portale, Jenner Long, Jake Wrobel, Chris Fry,
Below is the all-tournament team for the girls (Selected jointly by Alex Goff and the Lady Pelican coaches):
1. Lynn Ensminger - Lady Pelicans
2. Maddy Jordan - Oregon Select
3. Kaylee Parvinen - Budd Bay
4. Audie Haisch - Budd Bay
5. Adrianne Rubiaco - Lady Pelicans
6. Echo DuPlessis - Budd Bay
7. Sara Towne - Lady Pelicans
8. Audre Jones - Oregon Select (MVP)
9. Nikki Linscott - Oregon Select
10. Angelica Santos - Budd Bay
11. Erica Fife - Budd Bay
12. Becca Coffey - Oregon Select
13. Maddy Glainyk - Budd Bay
14. Jamie Marshall - Oregon Select
15. Justine Jonutz - Lady Pelicans