37 is the Magic Number

37 emails when I returned from Nash Bash this morning…mostly about rugby. I love that rugby crowds my inbox pushing the spam and forwards from old friends to the trash.

• First off a quick recap from our coaches about Nash Bash (I will write my version a little later in the week):

  For all Valks & Valk-lovers:

  The Austin Valkyries went 2-1 this weekend at NashBash, ending with two consecutive dominating victories to build some great momentum going into our first weekend of West Div I matches (see below). Our toughest match of the day came first, of course, at 10am Saturday v. the two-time defending Div II champion Raleigh Venom. We had some moments of brilliance but a few too many miscues and the Venom prevailed 19-0. However, their points came off simple errors, penalties & a freak kick-interception so we kept our heads high.

  In game two we faced Glendale (formerly the HOGS) who had picked up about 12 whores — suffice to say we crushed them. The final score was Austin 18 Glendale 7…I know Ros scored once and Wendy had 2 lovely penalty kicks. Ros also got called names by her opposite — that’s how tough our defense was. 🙂

  On Sunday we faced Memphis, a scrappy but less skilled team. While Memphis earned one try, the Valkyries scored 3 gorgeous ones: a long series of phases ending with, no joke, a 1-14 switch on the wing between Traci & Rocky, a beautiful catch & counterattack by Shalay from about 30 meters out, and another gorgeous passing attack featuring ‘Meg the Prop’ stepping into 10 and ending with Shay scoring on the wing. This game ended early as the Memphis ladies kept dropping like flies in the heat…final score was Austin 15 Memphis 5.

  Lastly, what you’re all waiting to hear about, we once again kicked butt at the party with our steers & queers theme! Highlights included: Burns’ blue bonnet/walrus tusk headgear, Wendy & her dam bells, Bags’ bevo head/hat, Rocky’s rollerskates, Tiff’s cowprint skirt, Kitty’s uhaul, Traci’s hot-glued horns, Krafty’s seat belt dancing and, of course, our Head Rancher Meg, complete with lasso.

  SO, come watch your feisty & festive Valkyries this weekend in our West Div I debut doubleheader:

  Sat, March 31 @ Noon v. Denver Black Ice
  Sun, April 1 @ 11am v. Boulder Babes.

  Both games at Burr Field, steers & queers welcome. — Your Coaches

• Scores from the weekend:
  Wyoming defeats CO State Univ for ERRFU 3 seed. A lot of upsets this year in the collegiate brackets!
  As soon as scores from Nash Bash are posted I will post them. I lost my little paper that I wrote most of the scores down on…crap!

• Vassar in the Bahamas for Spring Break! I am WAYYYYY jealous! Talk about a spring break tour in heaven….click here for the full article.
• History Made as Portugal Qualifies for RWC 2007…via Goff (free on website)
  
  “Portugal’s remarkable Rugby World Cup 2007 qualification campaign has ended in joy as the Lobos hung on to complete a 24-23 aggregate victory over Uruguay in Montevideo to book a place at the finals for the first time. “
• U19 Eagles lose tough match to England 31-7…via Goff (subscription required for this article.)
  
• Hong Kong pools set for Eagle 7’s:

  Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D
  A1 New Zealand B1 Australia . C1 USA . D1 China .
  A2 Hong Kong . B2 Kazakhstan . C2 Thailand . D2 Singapore .
  A3 Canada . B3 Arabian Gulf C3 PNG . D3 Japan .

  GAME TIME POOL TEAM VS TEAM
  1 09:30 A New Zealand VS Hong Kong
  2 09:50 B Australia Kazakhstan
  3 10:10 C USA Thailand
  4 10:30 D China Singapore
  5 10:50 A New Zealand Canada
  6 11:10 B Australia Arabian Gulf
  7 11:30 C USA Papua New Guinea
  8 11:50 D China Japan
  9 12:10 A Hong Kong Canada
  10 14:00 B Kazakhstan VS Arabian Gulf
  11 14:20 C Thailand Papua New Guinea
  12 14:40 D Singapore Japan

  13 15:00 Plate/Cup 1st Pool B 2nd Pool C
  14 15:20 Plate/Cup 1st Pool C 2nd Pool B
  15 15:40 Plate/Cup 1st Pool A 2nd Pool D
  16 16:00 Plate/Cup 1st Pool D 2nd Pool A

  DAY TWO: Friday, 30th March 2007, So Kon Po Recreation Ground, Causeway Bay
  17 9:30 9th – 12th 3rd Pool A 3rd Pool D
  18 9:50 9th – 12th 3rd Pool B 3rd Pool C
  19 10:10 6th /Bowl Loser Game 13 Loser Game 14
  20 10:30 6th /Bowl Loser Game 15 Loser Game 16
  21 10:50 11th / 12th Loser Game 17 Loser Game 18
  22 11:10 9th / 10th Winner Game 17 Winner Game 18
  23 11:30 7th / 8th Loser Game 19 Loser Game 20
  24 11:50 Plate/Cup Winner Game 13 Winner Game 14
  25 12:15 Plate/Cup Winner Game 15 Winner Game 16

  26 14:05 Bowl Final Winner Game 19 Winner Game 20
  27 14:30 Plate Final Loser Game 24 Loser Game 25
  28 18:42 Cup Final Winner Game 24* Winner Game 25

• Girgio Armani created the off-field outfits for the South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby Team. Check out this photo!

  “…Of the design, FWD says “a soft tailored two-button jacket in a subtle pinstripe in the team’s cardinal red and myrtle green on-field jersey colors. It’s worn with tan flat-front trousers and white shirts featuring the player’s initials in light gray.” I’ll admit it’s weird to think of Armani and the rough world of rugby, but it works beautifully.”

• USA Rugby and Goffon Rugby both redesigned their websites. They are both a TON easier to navigate and give equal coverage to women’s and men’s rugby. I like the makeovers a lot… 🙂
• Interesting article on How the Black Ferns won WRWC 2006. Check it out here.
  Upon further clicking around on the site, I noticed that the aforementioned link doesn’t actually point to the article. I have emailed the web master and am waiting to get the correct link. I’ll keep you posted.
• The consequences of under age ruggering…a sad story we can all learn something from. Click here & here. Looks like a few St. Patrick’s Day Parties were spoiled by under-age drinking and general hard partying.