Herb Howell reports from Oregon.
Herb pictured (right) presenting a Rybook Land Rover Man of the Match award at Dolgellau RFC.
Somewhere along my 50th year of active rugby I said quietly: “This is it”. I told a few friends and was always met with the same question. “How many times have you said this before?” In truth, I had never said this- even silently!
My pattern was that of doing too many things, as an active community volunteer as well as devoting two evenings a week and a handful of Saturdays- usually all day, to rugby . This does not even consider the countless hours of analysis and contemplation to the sport. Does any of this begin to sound familiar to any readers yet?
In recent years the joys of research, analysis, editing as well as the challenges of descriptive writing have captivated most of my declining rugby energy. Publishing is a thrilling art, but it is the whole process that is positive, albeit most consuming of mental and physical energy. Writing and publishing in Wales is beyond my wildest dreams!
Now I feel I am giving back to the sport that has given me so many rich experiences; world- wide and over the years. Now I feel a renewed energy by deciding to give more time to research and investigation for the writing pieces and less energy to physical acts of “bumping into people”, for the tactical fun of it- literally.
I was anticipating the last practices and matches, but was overruled at the last second, but a shift in Pacific University athletics and the football (gridiron) team. Since we shared athletes, training space and a common spirit, it was the proper thing to do and back off rugby training for the week and do the right thing. This is considerate of the fact that the small elite Pacific University relies on a limited number of athletes to fill both rugby and gridiron sports. Many athletes do both!
Pacific University, of Forest Grove, Oregon, USA, is unique in that the football coach encourages athletes to play rugby in their “off-season” and to better prepare them for their football season in the Autumn. That coach often potential new recruits to see rugby matches, and training sessions, as a unique way to attract highly academic athletes, who are not bend on a life in the National Football League (NFL).
For example, one night last month, Coach Barkley, his coaches and a room full of new recruits entered the field house while the rugby team was training to observe and enhance both programs. This is most unique in America because most football coaches are threatened by “letting their prime athletes” risk injury by playing rugby. That large group stayed for more than a half hour. Many of the practicing ruggers are also many of the defensive stalwarts for that “other season”.
As time grew short for any coaching time, during the last week of rugby practice, I came to accept what is and carry on despite not having that last dance. My perceived last practice, never happened and disappointment turned to acceptance and I went home early- all week.
Suddenly, Saturday loomed for the annual Seven a Side Tournament at Oregon State University, some 80 miles to the south. The university provided a new spacious 52 passenger motor coach for the day. All those dual committed athletes were there well in advance of the 8 AM departure time. That was a good sign when one can get 16 undergraduate student/athletes to turn up early on a Saturday morning! I had a feeling, but decided not to expect too much.
The brackets and then pools had been juggled three times during the week, so we adjusted to the uncertainty of the potential competition. We knew that Oregon State wanted a chunk of the Pacific hide, as we had beaten them a year ago, at our venue, and they left in a hurry after the final whistle. It was a classic David and Goliath adventure with tiny David winning in the end!
Originally, Pacific had been scheduled, as we surmised, to play Oregon State’s first XV in our first match. The brackets went away in mid-week and were shuffled again sometime Friday. When Pacific arrived, it was announced that ”those Boxers” would face the Oregon State seconds. Pacific leaped out to a 14= nil halftime lead and exploded to a 34- nil victory. Suddenly the play-off structure turned vague!
Then Oregon State and Pacific U kept winning each encounter they faced. Pacific then beat Central Oregon College and Oregon Technical Institute by identical 33-0 scores. Everyone go to play and spirits were high. Even the parents of the players were getting excited! Translated scores indicated that Pacific scored 100 points and conceded none, thru their pool play matches.
Officials huddled and determined that Oregon State would again play their rivals the University of Oregon and that Pacific would play the third seed Seattle U, who had beaten Pacific last year. Oregon State chose to not play against that small school! The Boxers won again by that magical 33-0 margin, while Oregon State and the University of Oregon ended the day playing in the spring rains!
For the team and that retiring coach, the 133- nil margin, with four wins from four matches was just fine! The weight of a half century of encounters and limitless stories was lifted and smiles emerged on the ride back home, amid constant chatter.
It was not the offense that gained the day, but it was the solid flat line defense, hard tackling and the quickness of recovery in the tackle area, orchestrated by those gridiron defensive specialists.
Thank you Rugby for being what and how you are!!
Did those hospitable Beavers really not want to play the Boxers, in front of their hometown crowd?
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