The Return of the Founder's Cup

On the same weekend as New Zealand contests the Bledisloe Cup down in the southern hemisphere,  Brookfield and Memorial renew their equally epic and fiercely contested FOUNDER'S CUP competition.  

  A brief history of the cup is reprinted below.  Suffice it to say,  a glooming peace has loomed over the Founder's Cup for a few seasons now.

  On the eve of Saturday's FC match, Crusader's supporters have unearthed the ancient chalice from its well-guarded vault deep inside Gringott's new Waukesha branch.  It has been some time since both houses contested the ornate, and slightly dented talisman of honor.   Followers will not soon forget that Gringott's managers refused to sign off on its release last spring.  The International Rugby Board even  intervened on the eve of the 2014 State 7's Championships to declare that the original treatise agreement of 2009 only applied to 15's matches.  Ever since a noteable violation of the Irishfest Accords in 2010,  when Memorial caretakers allegedly damaged the Cup in a "fall", officials have guarded its integrity closely.   Conspiracy theorists continue to accuse Memorial of intentionally damaging the Cup in anticipation of having to turn it over on the eve of their first FC Loss back in 2010, although no proof has ever been proffered in the case.

For the historical record:
A more recent record of events:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4795567289883301946#editor/target=post;postID=4594132962458484496;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=postname

An ancient scroll:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4795567289883301946#editor/target=post;postID=8735809663838252978;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=517;src=postname

Friday Night Rugby Lights

Friday night the Catholic Memorial girls rugby team plays an exhibition 7's match at halftime of the Crusaders v Waukesha West varsity football match.  The rugby match is being held at Waukesha NORTH high school against Kettle Moraine.

North's new turf field was just completed this summer and promises to be a wonderful multiuse facility.

Memorial Parents, coaches, and players will be there to answer questions about rugby, the Wisc. girls rugby league, the Crusader team, and their summer gradeschool touch rugby camp.  Just visit the table for a free ball drawing.

WGR State Championship Tournament Oct 26th, 2014

The 2014 WGR State Tournament takes place Sunday Oct 26th at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex located in Franklin at 60th and Ryan Rd.

 

All matches will be played in the stadium.  The venue has hosted several top tier events in its history, including notable events such as the high school girls National Championship Tournament, Midwest Collegiate Men's Playoffs, USA Rugby 7's Championships, and Milwaukee Barbarians, Division One Collegiate matches, along with many other matches.

 

Matchups will be determined by the results of Saturday's semifinal matches.

 

9th Place: 1:30 pm           Muskego vs Appleton
7th Place: 2:30 pm           Fond Du Lac or KM vs  Vernon or OC
5th Place: 4:00 pm           Fond Du Lac or KM vs  Vernon or OC
3rd Place: 5:30 pm (under the lights)   DS or DS jv  vs  Catholic Memorial or Brookfield
1st Place: 7:00 pm (under the lights)   DS or DS jv   vs  Catholic Memorial or Brookfield 

WGR Playoff Weekend Oct 18th

All matches will be played at Minooka Park

The Championship Semifinals (#1-#4)
10am. Catholic Memorial v. Brookfield
1130. DSHA v DSHA

The Challengers Semifinals (#5-#8)
1pm. Fond du Lac v Kettle Moraine
230. Vernon v Oak Creek

Final Conference Scores

Saturday Oct 11th
Pictured:  Dasher scrumhalf Genevieve Rusch playing against Appleton.

 



 Pictured:  Brookfield senior Reina Anderson getting around the corner on the defense.

 

Pictured:  Oak Creek sophomore Megan Bird battling.

 

Pictured:  Brookfield team photo, Fall 2014


North-South Conference @ Fond Du Lac

DSHA 50 Fond Du Lac 0

"They are a good team," said Coach Klein after the first meaningful conference matchup between the sides in some time.  DSHA emerges as conference champions.

DSHA jv  defeated Appleton
Sophomore scrumhalf Genevieve Rusch may have been the player of the match as the young Dashers moved the ball skillfully throughout.

Brookfield 32  Oak Creek 20

Oak Creek gave Brookfield all they could handle for 60 minutes, but fielded only 13 players. Liz Grall, Megan Bird, and Kayla Kurszewski scored tries for Oak Creek in a brave effort.  Coach Kurth noted that Brookfield's scrumhalf handled the ball well all afternoon and that "Both teams played hard and were exhausted when the final whistle was blown."

Right from the kick off the Bruisers scored early taking the opening drive 70 meters down to the 22, off loading the final play to Reina Anderson for the go ahead try.  Anderson scored again from 22 meters at the 15 minute mark in the first half.  Raquel Galarza scored the conversion kick to put the Bruisers up 12 to 0.  Oak Creek put together some nice forward drives, scoring twice, and the Bruisers had one more 20 meter score from Anderson making the halftime score 17 to 10. 

In the second half, Brookfield seniors, flanker Miranda Bradford,  8 man Meredith Paloucek,and  flanker Destiny Dallas, stepped up their defense.  The return of Senior and Wauwatosa East homecoming Queen Destiny Dallas, sparked the Bruisers.   While Oak Creek eventually scored again, Brookfield answered through Sophomore newcomer Abby Andler on a long weak-side scamper.  Reina Anderson scored her fourth try of the game running for 80 meters for her final score to seal the victory. Reina Anderson has scored 15 trys in four matches this season (she was unavailable for the DSHA match)

Bruiser's Coach Grintjes said, "the team is just starting to gel.  The team is really getting what the new coaching staff is putting out there.  Coach Rob Young put together some great backs training sessions and new forward Coach Carly Amy has helped improve the forward play.  The chemistry is really flowing.  I am excited for my first final four with the team."

Classic Five Conference @Bluhm Farm Field

CMHS  50  Muskego 0
CMHS 29  Muskego  5 (jv game)
In an A and B pair of 7's matches, Memorial Junior Ellie Metz scored three tries, to stay two ahead of her twin, who caught a 17 yard touchdown pass in the varsity football game the night before.  Junior Katie Mcginn and Lizzy Jacobson both added two tries of their own in addition to winning several turnovers.  Sophomore Niina Sjogren also added two tries of her own.

Vernon 32  Kettle Moraine 7

NS Conference
DSHA 4-0
Brookfield 2-2
Fond Du Lac 2-2
Oak Creek 1-3
Appleton 0-4

Classic Five
Catholic Memorial 4-0
DSHA JV 3-1
Vernon 2-2
Kettle Moraine 2-2
Muskego 0-4

USA Rugby Coach of the Year Nominations

Coach of the Year Award nominations open in four categories

 

                       

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby has opened the nomination process for the 2014 Coach of the Year Awards, which recognize rugby coaches who have demonstrated the values of excellence and dedication. Coach of the Year recipients will be announced at the 2015 USA Rugby National Development Summit in Chicago, Ill., during the weekend of Jan. 23-25, 2015.
Nominations will be accepted for the Participation Coach of the Year, Competitive Coach of the Year, Female Coach of the Year, and the Senior Club Coach of the Year.

Life University Head Coach Dan Payne was awarded the first Crispin Cider Senior Club Coach of the Year Award for 2013. He led the Running Eagles to a Men’s Division I Club National Championship and runner-up finish in the inaugural Elite Cup competition before he took up an increased role with varsity athletics at the Marietta, Ga., institution.

The Participation Coach of the Year will have demonstrated dedication to expanding the game of rugby, including bringing the game to new athletes to enrich the local community. Billy Nicholas received the 2013 award for his work in building rugby in an urban and culturally-diverse area at the Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists High School in New York. Since then, Nicholas has been hired as head coach of the Lindenwood University Women’s Rugby program.
Participation Coach of the Year submissions are limited to coaches who do not receive monetary or any other compensation for their coaching services.

The Competitive Coach of the Year is a youth-, high school-, or college-level coach who has put together a successful side by raising the level of development and refinement of the program’s athletes. Back-to-back National Small College Champion St. John’s University was led by Tammy Cowan, the recipient of the 2013 Competitive Coach of the Year Award.

The Female Coach of the Year is awarded to a female coach who has contributed to the progression of female involvement in rugby. With the aid of Title IX and Try on Rugby, as well as a growing list of varsity women’s rugby programs, USA Rugby is dedicated to help raise stronger, more confident, empowered young women. In 2013, Fallbrook High School Head Coach Marin Pinnell led three teams to a combined 35-1 record and sent multiple players to the Stars and Stripes Camp in Greeley, Colo.

Nominations for the four Coach of the Year Awards must be fully completed and submitted prior to Nov. 26, 2014, after which they will be reviewed by an independent panel of USA Rugby Members. Award recipients will also be nominated for consideration in the United States Olympic Committee’s Coach of the Year Recognition Program.

Senior Club Coach of the Year nomination form >>

Female Coach of the Year nomination form >>

Participation Coach of the Year nomination form >>

Competitive Coach of the Year nomination form >>

Final Conference Weekend

Oct 11th is the final weekend for regular season conference matches in WGR.

The North South Conference has the most at-stake in the final seedings, as three teams still appear to have a chance at the second seed.  Brookfield, Fond Du Lac, and Oak Creek could all end up tied at 2-2.  Fond Du Lac will be hosting all the NS matches.

North South Conference
Fond Du Lac v DSHA @ Fond Du Lac 10am
Fond Du Lac hosts one of the top teams in the country.  Fond Du Lac was missing their starting 9 and 10 last weekend and will be excited to get back in sync this week with a full lineup and playing before a home crowd.  The Dashers are really finding their momentum after defeating Memorial last weekend and are looking tough to beat.

Appleton v DSHA jv @Fond Du Lac 1115am  (non-conference crossover)
The young Dashers have played well against every varsity opponent they've faced this season.  Another conference win would be a significant milestone for them.  The Appleton Dragon's first full conference season continues to see them build depth and experience.  They get a bye week after this match and will look to finish strong before ending in two weeks at the state tournament.

Brookfield v Oak Creek  @Fond Du Lac  12:15pm--MATCH OF THE WEEK--
Brookfield controls their own destiny.  Should they win, they lock up a championship playoff semifinal against Memorial, for the third time since 2008.  They didn't travel well last time they headed north.  Can they keep their momentum going and build off the big win against Fond Du Lac?  Can Reina Anderson keep up her remarkable scoring? 
Oak Creek had a tough early schedule and a slow start.  They've been scoring more and more in recent weeks and are clearly improving.  They could pull off a character building return to 2nd place with a big victory.  Playing on neutral ground up north is a significant investment of time for both teams, in an effort to showcase more girls rugby up north.  Will not playing on home turf hurt Brookfield?
It's also the match of the week because two of the top gunslingers in the league face off, with top scoring threats Anderson and Megan Bird likely to meet in the open field at some point.

Classic Five
Catholic Memorial v Muskego  10am Bluhm Park
Shorthanded Muskego will play some 7's against Memorial.  Muskego found some success in 7's last spring and the game suits their athleticism.  Should be a better matchup for them than playing 15's.

Kettle Moraine v Vernon  1130am  Bluhm Farm Field--OUR OTHER MATCH OF THE WEEK!
The other really good matchup of the week.  Vernon even rested key people last week in anticipation.  Vernon has also had a good season which has seen their numbers and team athleticism improve.  The Knightmares also continue to pick up recruits and athletes.  These two teams always play hard against each other and have had many memorable matches over the years.  This should be another classic..