Pacific Coast Women & SoCal Men Stake 7s NASCs Claim in Chula Vista

For rosters and scores from the 7s NASCs Tournament, go here.

from USA Rugby:

Pictures of the event.

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — The Pacific Coast Grizzlies and the SoCal Griffins claimed the Women’s and Men’s All-Star National Championship respectively at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista on Saturday.

Pacific Coast Grizzlies defeated the USA Developmental team 34-17 to win the 2011 Emirates Airline USA Rugby Women’s All-Star National Championship.

SoCal Griffins won the Men’s Championship, beating the West Mustangs 19-7 in the final. Peter Sio (Belmont Shore) and Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues) were named Most Valuable Players in the tournament

USA Rugby sevens head coaches, Ric Suggit (women) and Al Caravelli used the tournament as a scouting vehicle for the upcoming international seasons. Suggitt will be looking towards his team’s tentative fixtures in 2011 and Caravelli with an eye on the 2011 Pan-Am Games in October.

The USA Developmental side, as you would hope, improved with every game in the All-Star tournament. Young stars like Rebekah Siebach and Kaelene Lundstrum were electric, but the experience and flat out talent of the Pacific Coast Grizzlies edged the younger players and gave them a wealth of experiential learning in the final.

Speedster Nathalie Marchino was remarkable, but not only because of her pace. She showcased her defensive awareness and knowledge of sevens to lead her team to what turned out to be a decisive victory over the USA Developmental side.

Phoebe Boone made a series of electric runs and ferocious fends in the middle of the field to force the USA to pay close attention to her, often leaving the outside backs with lots of space and unenviable match ups. Boone had a strong supporting cast too as Kelly Griffin and San Juanita Moreno were fantastic.

In the end, Pacific Coast’s ability to read the field and exploit won out, but both teams exhibited fluid team play. The Grizzlies were too hungry and too experienced for the young national team hopefuls.

Pacific Coast 34
Tries: Marchino (3), Griffin, Boone, Cabrera
Cons: Griffin (2)

USA Developmental 17
Tries: Siebach (2), Rozier
Cons: Rozier

For rosters and scores from the 7s NASCs Tournament, go here.