Colts Tour

The weather gods, rather like coaches Monro and Plater, were none too keen on The Weather Network’s forecast for the first match of our Californian tour, and instead of drowning in a deluge, the golden stags galloped under sunny skies. Captained by Nathan G., the irony was that Shawnigan were the lightweights in this contest; their sparring partner, Lamorinda, had a healthy composition of hard-running Pacific Island genetics. Nevertheless, the Colts were sharp out of the blocks, playing with intensity at the breakdown and moving the ball to space.

 

After twelve minutes, the scoreboard read a healthy 12-0 to the tourists, and things were looking rosy. However, our realignment in attack flattened, leading to lateral running and ineffective ball-carriers. Meanwhile, the hosts started to find their rhythm, employing Newton’s Laws of momentum advantageously and asking serious questions of our players' courage.

 

Fortunately we weren’t found wanting in this department as the Stags invariably managed to get their antlers tangled in the opposition’s thighs. Yet eventually, Lamorinda’s power and pace proved too much and by the final whistle, they had run in seven unanswered tries. Welcome to California.

 

Even though the scoreline seemed lopsided, the effort, bravery, and commitment could not be faulted. One can only keep moving forward, and the path led to Golden Gate Rugby Club, who play in the shadow of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge.

 

Strolling across the famous Golden Gate Bridge the next morning, scenes of James Bond battling with Zorin from A View to a Kill played out on the suspension cables above. Meanwhile our tour group was doing its best to block all others from walking the bridge; in fact it took until halfway for some tourists to realize the traffic – pedestrian and cyclists – was two way! This sort of slow adaptation is why certain species become extinct and your scribe was praying that we would be more adaptable against Golden Gate, our afternoon opposition.

 

After a tour de Treasure Island, we found the rugby ground and began mobilizing the joints and saying adios to the stiffness from the previous day’s match. Whilst the surroundings may not have been familiar, the body type of the Golden Gate players was. Another sturdily-built group of teenagers trundled out onto the paddock and Mr. Plater and Mr. Monro were hoping that the Stags would not transform into matadors. Our fears we confirmed as a disastrous spell of matador-meets-speed bump-meets-revolving door was cast upon many Colt players, consigning us to a three-try deficit after just twenty minutes. Fortunately, we cast aside the red capes, we raised the speed bumps into walls, and we turned the revolving doors into emergency exits, used by opposition runners only in the gravest of moments once we were stretched too thin. Indeed, we also responded with three tries of our own and led the match 21-19. Welcome to Shawnigan.

 

Unfortunately the effort could not be sustained. We struggled to play as a team and when tactical decisions were made which favoured the individual rather than the team, more pressure was exerted on ourselves than the opposition, who gleefully converted that pressure into points. Alas, a victory was not to be, but a valuable lesson learned nonetheless.

 

The following day was a travel day to Sacramento, which afforded a stop at the golden arches for a Big Mac, and also a dip in the coldest swimming pool in California. Suitably refreshed, we threw some bowling balls down the odd lane (many players using the barriers, which was character revealing!) before meeting our host billets from Jesuit High School, the premier rugby high school in the United States of America.

 

On a sunny morning, we took to the artificial turf of Jesuit’s football stadium. In stark contrast to the scenic grass-laden berm and Tudor-style Hyde-Lay Pavilion,  which borders the Canada Field, this state-of-the-art arena looked like and smelled like the professional culture of North American sports. Having warmed up and spouted off about what we were going to do, the referee's blast signaled the start of the contest. A lackadaisical effort in the first half of the match meant we were 22-7 down at halftime. Cue stern words from coaches. Commentary on team work and passion delivered. No tactical suggestions. In the words of the mythological god Nike, “Just do it!” They did. Some inventive running mixed with improved handling skills saw the chaps run in some wonderful tallies that got the sideline supporters’ hands warm and their feet airborne. Marvelous stuff.

 

We retired to Top Golf for the afternoon where Mr. Monro gave a tutorial on how to swing on a plane whilst passers-by took notes. The boys had a fantastic time sending golf balls down the range and various food groups down the throat. A quiet evening in the Holiday Inn next to the Sacramento airport was a welcome change of touring pace, and by noon the next day we were gazing down on the dreamy inlets and beaches of the Gulf Islands, nestled in God’s Country.

 

The California Tour provided all the sort of challenges and opportunities we needed to develop a foundation for the BC season. It brought the team closer together, it developed a backbone in defence, and it emphasized the significance of playing as a team. We are now looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of the regular season.

 

I would like to thank the Headmaster and the players’ parents, who supported this venture. It was time well spent.

 

– Coach Ander Monro

 

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