johngateswhiteley
04-13-2007, 08:47 AM
DI Clubs Get Ranked
Wednesday Apr 11, 2007 in Amateur Competitions Division I Clubs
The DI club playoffs are coming upon us all soon, and everything has been thrown into a tizzy with national contenders going to the Super League, one or two teams possibly shut out of the competition altogether, and, as always, a few new upstarts trying to break through.
Here below is the ERugbyNews ranking of the DI clubs in the nation, with a few comments:
1. Life University. Top to bottom they have much to recommend them. In recent years have been the best in the South, but this year they are head and shoulders above almost everyone. Scott Lawrence is a smart and dedicated coach and it is starting to show. His development of more local talent will pay off, too.
2. Olympic Club. The big knock on them is they're not spectacular enough. Do they have blazing match-winners out wide? Maybe, maybe not. But they are clinical and very tough, and they have won Northern California, which isn't something you do easily.
3. Hayward. NorCal has improved, and that's saying something as you've got the national #3 here in Hayward. The Griffins have a reputation for taking a few games easy. They will bring it all the way come playoff time. They might wilt a little in the Nevada heat, but they should do fine.
4. Pearl City. Emerged as a top team in the Midwest in their first season out of DII. Well-coached and very, very fit. With the Griffins out of it in the Midwest they are now in with a shot to do a national championship triple - three titles in three divisions in three years.
5. Belmont Shore. Can they keep doing it? Heck yes. There's enormous confidence in Long Beach that they can win the Super League and DI too. They certainly have some excellent players, and depth is less of a problem than in previous years.
6. South Side Irish. Some element of playing with something to prove here. Have David Fee playing at fullback in a really smart, exciting backline. The guy who is second all-time in Eagle tries doesn't get an NA4 look? Has to rankle somewhat.
7. New Haven. Top seed from the Northeast, and a club that has real experience in a national championship setting.
8. White Plains. One of the up-and-comers. Possibly better than New Haven. We'll see in different weather but the results show otherwise.
9. Park City Haggis. Will they be allowed in the CR1 playoffs? Did they get screwed or are they simply too lackadaisical to put together an acceptable schedule? Does anyone really know what the rules say? They are appealing, that's for sure.
10. Huntington Beach. Always start slow, always finish tough.
11. Austin. Have been one of the best clubs in the West for several years, now. This year they are much more up and down, which generally connotes a team of veterans who know what is expected when the time comes.
12. Maryland Exiles. Are stronger in XVs than they have been in some time.
13. Denver Highlanders. Something of an unknown. They have put in some good recent results (35-20 over the Albuquerque Aardvarks last week) and have added flanker Brian Stronach.
14. Aspen. Also a complete unknown. We know the Aspen name, and we know they have a rugby tradition. Now what they've done is attract players form the Mountain League teams to come play under the Gents banner, which is perfectly legal, and they could well scare everybody.
15. Seattle. Playing great in British Columbia where there are lots of forest, lots of trees, and no one seems to be hearing them fall.
16. Chuckanut. Playing quite well in British Columbia, and also got screwed by the rules. It's a little more clear-cut in Chuck's case, because they really didn't make the schedule, and could have.
17. Sacramento Lions. Another up-and-comer. Very tough in the forwards, supposedly not 80-minute fit but they still have been getting the results, which means if you're 60-minute awesome those last 20 minutes may not mean so much.
18. Santa Barbara. A very varied attack they can punish you up front or slip around you out wide. Lots of talented players and another team that showed up from DII and just started winning.
19. San Mateo. Not what they were, but could be great, really great. Should they play in the CR1, which remains in doubt, they could be pretty scary.
20. Missoula. Play outside of USA Rugby and usually win. Very tough, physical side.
thats awesome that we are in the top 20! woohoo!
Wednesday Apr 11, 2007 in Amateur Competitions Division I Clubs
The DI club playoffs are coming upon us all soon, and everything has been thrown into a tizzy with national contenders going to the Super League, one or two teams possibly shut out of the competition altogether, and, as always, a few new upstarts trying to break through.
Here below is the ERugbyNews ranking of the DI clubs in the nation, with a few comments:
1. Life University. Top to bottom they have much to recommend them. In recent years have been the best in the South, but this year they are head and shoulders above almost everyone. Scott Lawrence is a smart and dedicated coach and it is starting to show. His development of more local talent will pay off, too.
2. Olympic Club. The big knock on them is they're not spectacular enough. Do they have blazing match-winners out wide? Maybe, maybe not. But they are clinical and very tough, and they have won Northern California, which isn't something you do easily.
3. Hayward. NorCal has improved, and that's saying something as you've got the national #3 here in Hayward. The Griffins have a reputation for taking a few games easy. They will bring it all the way come playoff time. They might wilt a little in the Nevada heat, but they should do fine.
4. Pearl City. Emerged as a top team in the Midwest in their first season out of DII. Well-coached and very, very fit. With the Griffins out of it in the Midwest they are now in with a shot to do a national championship triple - three titles in three divisions in three years.
5. Belmont Shore. Can they keep doing it? Heck yes. There's enormous confidence in Long Beach that they can win the Super League and DI too. They certainly have some excellent players, and depth is less of a problem than in previous years.
6. South Side Irish. Some element of playing with something to prove here. Have David Fee playing at fullback in a really smart, exciting backline. The guy who is second all-time in Eagle tries doesn't get an NA4 look? Has to rankle somewhat.
7. New Haven. Top seed from the Northeast, and a club that has real experience in a national championship setting.
8. White Plains. One of the up-and-comers. Possibly better than New Haven. We'll see in different weather but the results show otherwise.
9. Park City Haggis. Will they be allowed in the CR1 playoffs? Did they get screwed or are they simply too lackadaisical to put together an acceptable schedule? Does anyone really know what the rules say? They are appealing, that's for sure.
10. Huntington Beach. Always start slow, always finish tough.
11. Austin. Have been one of the best clubs in the West for several years, now. This year they are much more up and down, which generally connotes a team of veterans who know what is expected when the time comes.
12. Maryland Exiles. Are stronger in XVs than they have been in some time.
13. Denver Highlanders. Something of an unknown. They have put in some good recent results (35-20 over the Albuquerque Aardvarks last week) and have added flanker Brian Stronach.
14. Aspen. Also a complete unknown. We know the Aspen name, and we know they have a rugby tradition. Now what they've done is attract players form the Mountain League teams to come play under the Gents banner, which is perfectly legal, and they could well scare everybody.
15. Seattle. Playing great in British Columbia where there are lots of forest, lots of trees, and no one seems to be hearing them fall.
16. Chuckanut. Playing quite well in British Columbia, and also got screwed by the rules. It's a little more clear-cut in Chuck's case, because they really didn't make the schedule, and could have.
17. Sacramento Lions. Another up-and-comer. Very tough in the forwards, supposedly not 80-minute fit but they still have been getting the results, which means if you're 60-minute awesome those last 20 minutes may not mean so much.
18. Santa Barbara. A very varied attack they can punish you up front or slip around you out wide. Lots of talented players and another team that showed up from DII and just started winning.
19. San Mateo. Not what they were, but could be great, really great. Should they play in the CR1, which remains in doubt, they could be pretty scary.
20. Missoula. Play outside of USA Rugby and usually win. Very tough, physical side.
thats awesome that we are in the top 20! woohoo!