 Congratulations to BRENDAN DALY who was selected THIS IS AMERICAN RUGBY Club Player of 2016.
Brendan, who has captained the SFGG's men's side for the last 2 years, plays lock and #8. He discovered rugby in his senior year at High School playing for SFGG HS, before going on to star at Cal Berkeley. He returned to SFGG after graduating Cal in 2013 and has been a stalwart in the SFGG side since. In 2016, after leading SFGG to the PRP final and completing his club obligations. Brendan went on to join the San Francisco Rush ProRugby team for the remainder of their season and was selected to AMERICAS RUGBY NEWS ProRugby 2016 Dream Team as a result of his impactful play. He personifies a never say die attitude on the field with an incredible workrate that guarantees he is never far from the ball - if he's not scoring, he is one of the first to congratulate a scorer with unconditional enthusiasm. His tenacity and will have been a big driver of SFGG's success over the last few years. It's good to see Brendan getting the recognition he richly deserves.
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 By Austin Brewin In recent years, SFGG and OMBAC have experienced a great rivalry, the sort that comes from being evenly matched. This year and in this competition, it continues. SFGG traveled to San Diego Saturday with hopes high, and opened the game with tries scored at 1 minute BY flyhalf IZZY DONALDSON (converted) and another at 4 minutes by Captain BRENDAN DALY. Todd Clever opened the scoring for OMBAC at 11 minutes with the first of his 3 tries of the day, converted by Kalei Konrad. SFGG’s PILA HUIHUI, converted by IZZY DONALDSON, who then added a penalty bringing the score to SFGG 22 – OMBAC 7. The home team then got 2 quick, converted tries from flanker Chris Turon and center John Grant to see the half end with SFGG holding the lead 22 – 21. The second half started much like the first, with DANNY LAPROVETTE scoring at 43 minutes, converted by IZZY DONALDSON. SFGG then seemed to lose focus, as OMBAC started running downhill, with a quick try from winger Tim Stanfil, followed by Todd Clever adding 2 to get his hat trick, center John Grant his second of the day, and Nick Evans coming off the bench for yet another. Fullback Zach Pangelinan added a penalty at about 60 minutes putting OMBAC up by 55 – 29. During this run, flyhalf Ben Bulger controlled the flow of play, keeping SFGG off balance and our defense left the edges vulnerable, and the floodgate opened. With the game lost and only 20 minutes to go, SFGG regained composure and it became an even game to the final whistle. JOE FUKAFUKA scored a try, which was converted, then John Grant closed out the scoring with his third try, ending the day with OMBAC walking away with a 62 – 36 win to move into 2nd place with SFGG and Belmont Shore. The game was refereed by USA Rugby Elite panelist and Boulder resident Kurt Weaver, who was up to pace and maintained control. He issued yellow cards to PILA HUIHUI and BRENDAN DALY, which did not effect the outcome. Captain BRENDAN DALY , scrum half COLBY STEVENS had good games, and TOM ROOKE took up where he left off, missing last week with a red card penalty. On a somber note, JACK HALALILO who has been enjoying a terrific year, suffered a knee injury and will miss the remainder of this short season. As we come to the Holiday break, Coach NEIL FOOTE is taking our theme of ONE CLUB seriously by offering to eat Holiday supplements for each of the players, who can then continue to stay in shape for the return to the fray in January. Challenged by my skepticism of being able to accomplish this, the Coaching Staff devised an answer, so will be holding assessments of the conditioning at this week’s practice, then again on the return in January to prove all skeptics that The Coach can do it for the team. We do have a challenge when we return. Only Life West remain undefeated, with SFGG, Belmont and OMBAC tied with 2 wins and a loss apiece. The goal – win our next 3 games - Belmont Shore, then Life West, then the Final at Sheeran Field. We will have a roster with great depth in the New Year, including VOLNEY ROUSE who was unavailable for week 3. Early in 2017 we will have our player profiles to introduce folks to the players who represent us every week on the field. HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND MERRY NEW YEAR TO ALL The Schedule December 24 – Bye Week December 31 – Bye Week January 7 – Week Four Life West at OMBAC SFGG at Belmont Olympic Club at Old Aztecs January 14 – Week Five Old Aztecs at OMBAC Olympic Club at Belmont SFGG at Life West January 21 – Grande Finals – Treasure Island 1v2 3v4 5v6   By Austin Brewin On a day to be loved only by a rugby forward, SFGG defeated cross town rival O Club 28 to 7 to earn 5 points and remain tied for first place in the new California Cup competition. Preceded by 2 days of heavy rain, a constant to heavy rain turned Sheeran field into a muddy challenge for all. US Referee Panelist, Chicagoan SHAWN BASTIC , was also equal to the challenge, maintaining order despite the soft sod and slick ball. The SFGG forwards stepped up and lead a team effort to overcome the elements and the O Club’s formidable pack to forge a solid victory. Man of the Match NEIL BARRETT opened the scoring early with a long ramble, and VOLNEY ROUSE converted for the 7 – 0 lead. The O Club got a solid game from their forwards, always dangerous around the scrum, combined with launched high balls testing the SFGG back’s handling ability in the rain – all to no avail. PILA HUIHUI scored a converted try at 24 minutes, while the forwards continued to control the play. New comer ISMELI RATUMAIMURI, added another try, converted by ROUSE to bring the score at half time to 21 to 0 for SFGG. The second half saw more of the same, with hooker NEIL BARRETT setting the tone with another long run, resulting in another try at 43 minutes by fullback JACK HALALILO. Continuing his kicking clinic from the opening week, VOLNEY ROUSE converted all 4 attempts to close out SFGG’s scoring for the day. The O Club’s winger, JOHN GALLO. Veteran flyhalf KEEGAN ENGLEBRECHT. Who missed the opening week, converted to end the scoring – SFGG 28 – O Club 7. Coach NEIL FOOTE was generally pleased with the results under the conditions. The onus fell on the forwards, and their fitness and intensity kept the O Club on their heels and provided opportunities for all 3 deep backs to score. He is pleased to have DANNY LaPREVOTTE back in the fray after missing the last 3 seasons. Captain BRENDAN DALY led the way with his hard play from the Number 8 position. VOLNEY ROUSE’s kicking, both for goal and position has been outstanding. All in all, it was a great effort from the 23 men suited up for the day. The B Side game, scheduled for 3, was called because of the weather and deterioration of Sheeran Field. Next week sees the Club on the first away game of the young season – against OMBAC. They had an upset loss to Belmont shore, on the short end of the 31 - 16 score. We have a solid rivalry over the years, and can expect a hard game. The Coach has several areas to work on during the week. This season, NEIL FOOTE and GRANT WELLS have been joined by newly retired PAULA FUKAFUKA and MIKE CARRAVELLI, WITH JONE NAQICA never far away. The men’s senior sides train together, and the B side will have a game following all the California Cup games until the league ends. At that point, the Cup team will become our entry into Division I, the B Team in Division II. We will have more on this later. Also, a report on our Women’s team, the High Schools and the Youth divisions.  SCORING
SFGG Tries: Huihui, Halalilo, Ratumaimuri, Barrett Conversions: Rouse (4) Olympic Club Tries: Gallo Conversions: Engelbrecht Coming up: December 17 – Week Three SFGG at OMBAC Belmont at Old Aztecs Life West at Olympic Club December 24 – Bye Week December 31 – Bye Week January 7 – Week Four Life West at OMBAC SFGG at Belmont Olympic Club at Old Aztecs January 14 – Week Five Old Aztecs at OMBAC Olympic Club at Belmont SFGG at Life West January 21 – Grande Finals – Treasure Island 1v2 3v4 5v6 COMING UP: Hall of Fame Dinner – Stay tuned! WELCOME to the first report of the 2016 -17 Rugby Season.
It is the 50th year since a group of young players banded together to form the San Francisco Rugby Club. We will be celebrating this over the course of 2017. The THEME for this celebratory year is “ONE CLUB” – a throwback to how we began. With the expansion of our rugby efforts to provide support for the Youth, High School, Men’s Club, Women’s Club and our Premier team, plus our attendant activities, we became a bit unfocused – ONWARD THROUGH THE FOG into 2017! And it was quite a good start for our top competitive side, as SFGG with a solid win over San Diego’s Old Aztecs, scoring 35 unanswered points in the first half, then finishing with a 42 – 19 win. VOLNEY ROUSE celebrated his birthday by scoring a try to go with 6 conversions. Winger PILA HUIHUI, selected Man of the Match for his sparkling play, scored two tries, as did fullback JACK HALALILO. Newcomer flanker MANU LAQAI got a lot of attention with his work effort, ball skills and speed and added another try for the winners. Shortly after the second half got underway, TOM ROOKE was shown a red card for a high tackle, and the home team were down a man for the final 35 minutes, calling on everybody to step up. Coach FOOTE noted that we lost a little composure under this added pressure – an area that needs some work. Coach NEIL FOOTE noted that the team, including some exciting newcomers to the stalwarts, were well prepared to play the open, fast paced attacking game for the full 80 minutes complement SFGG’s consistently solid defense. He had further praise for BRENDAN HARDIMAN, who “worked tirelessly throughout game, clearing bodies from rucks and in defense. He epitomizes the attitude we are looking in our players this year. The game opened with a minute of silence in memory of DAN DALY, father of Captain BRENDAN DALY, who passed away last week. The Old Aztecs fielded a solid team with some new players just starting to work into the side. They came back to score 19 points in the second half, with tries by JOHN PRICKETT (x2) and LUCAS EDWARDS taking advantage of the red card penalty. NEXT GAME – SATURDAY DECEMBER 10 against O CLUB 1 PM AT SHEERAN FIELD |