Guess what? At the nine minute mark Chico State Men 14 Sac 0! Guess what happened next, never mind, cause I’m about to tell you!

In a game that saw our seniors playing their final game on the Wildcat Rugby Pitch, it also saw 4 lead changes and one tie during the course of play.

We welcomed back senior William Kendrick in to the starting lineup coming off of broken ribs yesterday and it paid off immediately! Kendo took a crash ball from fly half Mike Keane and raced through traffic for the first try of the day. Keane slotted the kick and CSR is up 7-0 in the first 6 minutes! 3 minutes later, the defensive philosophy that we had been working on for the past two weeks (coming up flat, hard and fast) created the next score! Fullback James McIntosh intercepted a pass and out ran Sac to the try zone dotting the ball down under the posts and Keane kicked it through giving Chico the 14-0 lead I mentioned above 9 minutes in to the match!

I’m not sure what happens mentally at this point….!?

Somehow the Chico defense forgot all tackling abilities! Sac kicked off and we turned it over almost immediately and they ran straight through the defense with a couple of offloads scoring their first try making it 14-7. Five minutes later, SAME THING! Tackling, tackling, tackling! Those that know me know how FRUSTRATING that is! 14-14! Sac got a penalty kick to take their first lead on the day at 17-14 just about at 20 minutes in to the game. I can’t tell you I remember the next score much, a little numb at this point, but I know it was Sac and I know they converted the try going up 24-14 23 minutes in.

8 man Mike Morello got Chico back in the game at the 29 minute mark taking a ball on a hard hitting run to the try zone! With Keane’s conversion, the score was Sac 24 Chico 21! That is how the half ended. All in all great half!

The second half saw Sac score at the 50 minute mark making the score 29-21. Then things got interesting. A repeat infringement yellow card sent Chico flanker Zack Trap (ZT) to the sin bin. (This coming from our ref that really ONLY SAW CHICO DOING ANYTHING WRONG. This was more than just my opinion by the way.) Something happened to the boys when this happened, Chico scored not one, but two tries being down a man and actually recaptured the lead at 35-29 with 23 minutes still to play. Tries were scored by a bouncing ball which landed straight in wing Pat Boal’s hands which he took the house and Keane came on to convert pulling within a point, 28-29. Next up was Morello again, taking a hard charge to the try zone that took the lead at 35-29.

ZT came out of the sin bin and we were able to hold the lead for 11 of the 22 minutes but Sac scored and took the lead 36-35. We played the next 8 minutes back and forth, but we really only had one really good opportunity to score and somehow a poorly executed weak side move and a ball that went to touch put the game away for Sac. They took the lineout and, again, numb at this point and not really remembering the sequence, kicked or drove the ball down scoring another try which they failed to convert, making the final score Sac 42 Chico 35.

TWO WORDS – KILLER B’S!!!!! At the end of this day these guys will have outscored their opponents from Sac by a combined 118-22! They simply came out of the gate offloading from the tackle, running hard and hitting harder! Who would have thought that one of our hardest hits this season would have come from a scrum half……great job Potato! Today we saw tries from 9 different players, two of those having 2 apiece. Daniel Pevear (who is that? Chubs) had two tries and Ryan Lopes had 2 as well. Also scoring were Brandon Johnson, Matt Zarchin (Potato), Doug Holecheck, Zack Davis, Jeff (JP) McKinley, and Maxx Caveney. You notice there are only 8 names in this email. God knows what happened as to why I didn’t write down the last name, but I failed to do so. Truly sorry for whoever scored this try and I didn’t write it down. PLEASE, someone, fill in the gap for me so I have it correct! The score at the half saw Chico up 41-0. It was like a machine!!! We made quite a few subs going in to the second half and still outscored Sac 24-17 making the final score on the day 65-17!

All in all, a good day on the pitch for Chico State Men’s Rugby. A lot of players stepped up today. We saw great things from quite a few. We have a bright future that is for sure! And as always, as the boys break down the day, IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE A WILDCAT!

Good morning. I sit with my morning cup(s) of coffee preparing for yet another GREAT weekend of Chico Rugby! Today sees the Wild Oaks Girls High School playing the Humboldt Girls at PV at 2:00pm. Should be a great match. For those that don’t know, Humboldt is the old nemesis of the Mighty Oaks! MANY of great matches against those guys. One of the last games that come to mind saw the Mighty Oaks sending the Olde Growth home by a score of 22-0 earning their way to the National Elite 8 in 2001!!! What a day!
Also this weekend in Chico sees our Chico State Men playing Sac St on campus at the Wildcat Rugby pitch. The last time Sac got the best of us in game that saw 6 lead changes and two ties!! Game time starts at 1:00pm!

In Chico on sunday sees the Chico State Women playing host to the University of Oregon. Match time is 12:00 noon! Also, as you already know, the Chico Oaks travel to Rocklin to play Sierra Foothills and Motherlode in both U-10 and U-12 matches!

If you need any more info, please feel free to call or email!

I look forward to seeing some of you out there today! Keep your fingers crossed…..! If not, see you tomorrow in Rocklin!

Parvis E Glandibus Quercus

Once again our Wildcats jumped out to a big lead and were not able to hold on to it. This time, we weren’t so lucky and Stanford came back to defeat Chico State 31-19. Stanford took the first lead 2 minutes in with their weak side wing crashing inside the fly half from about 22 meters out and we simply didn’t make the tackle! 7-0 them.
After completely dominating the first half, our fly half, Mike Keane was able to connect on 3 of 3 penalty kicks giving Chico a 9-7 lead at the half. This was ok, but we all know that a couple of different breaks, or decisions on breaks would have led to tries and NOT PK!
Stanford was not really able to get much done offensively! They were continually off sides on defense as well and for that they had 2 yellow cards that we were not able to take advantage of. Either way, we were dominating and where just looking for our breaks!
The second half begins and 13 minutes in Keane connects on another PK giving the Wildcats a 12-7 lead and still looking good!
Just a couple minutes after Keane’s 4th PK, wing Pat Boal, off a break down right on our side lines called for a weak side HEARTBREAK and MAN was it ever!!!!! Scrumhalf Ben Fisher, who is always at the right place at the right time, delivered a perfect pass to the speedy wing at full pace and he burst right past the defense. Guys, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Pat’s roommate and starting flanker, Jim Beahm was in support the whole way down the side line. Pat passed back in to Jim who in turn found the other starting flanker and FRESHMAN, Charlie Brennan to dot it down giving Chico a 17-7 lead at the 54 minute mark! Then it was up to Keane to slot the conversion. “It’s good!” Chico now 19 Stanford 7! Things were looking even better now, but……!
So up 19-7, Stanford started to claw back! We received 2 yellow cards in the second half due some repeat infringements and unlike us, they were able to capitalize. One yellow card (not to mention any names) was the wing aforementioned. The Stanford scrumhalf has a great box kick and he put the ball up high to our wing and full back, Michael Deel and James McIntosh. While the two were able to get under every kick and get some type of counter, Stanford was quick in support and chase of their kicks which put us under a tremendous amount of pressure.
Things were still ok, after Stanford scored their second try of the day to make the score 19-14 to Chico after 64 minutes of play. After this, you could see one of two things; either the wind coming out of our sails or our lack of fitness. On the following kick from Chico, our forwards, who give a GREAT chase and almost never a return of the kick, were allowing the Stanford forwards to bring the ball back to us…..! Just a couple minutes later, where the ref was we have NO IDEA!!!!!!, our securely won ball is SLAPPED out the side of our ruck and picked up by the wing from Stanford who scored the first try and raced down the sideline to score the go ahead try and the 68 minute mark. They converted so now the score was 21-19 to Stanford!
Next kick off, same thing, no chase and all return leads to Stanford field position and eventually a PK to them, that they converted putting Chico down 24-19 with only 10 minutes left! Still doable, BUT, we didn’t get it done. Stanford scored another try at the 76 minute mark and that made the final as I mentioned above, Stanford 31 Chico 19.
Elsewhere, conference leader Sac St lost to Santa Clara 36-27 so we are now COMPLETELY jumbled! I’m not sure of how the points are laid out at this point, but records show Sac and Santa Clara at 2-1 and Chico and Stanford at 1-2.
Now for the FUN!!!! Whether you are a player or spectator, you know that the coaches gather the boys at half times and post-match to give a quick synopsis of the game. Beau did his and all I could say to our B side following their complete 46-0 DRUBBING of the Stanford team, was
“THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK THE KILLER B’S TO CHICO STATE RUGBY!!!!!” (I just got chills typing that!)
The game started out and looked like the cardinal was going to give us a run for our money. They were big, fast and somewhat organized. As the game went on and our physical nature, led by an unlikely position but not an unlikely player in scrumhalf Matt (Potato) Zarchin, the wheels started to fall off the Stanford bus putting Chico up 7-0. (In games that end with a score line such as this, I need to get better at who scored when…! Sorry) either way, the route was on!!!!!
These guys, many who have never played prior to this year such as Brandon Johnson, Cody Holt, Renee Melgoza, Jimmy Burrows, Franco Ragusa, Zack Davis and the list goes on, are amazing. We have such a BRIGHT future because of these kids!!! We are really excited! Now to mention everyone else that really stood out on the day!!! Starting with EVERYONE’S FAVORITES, prop Mickey Canterbury and wing Maxx Caveney, then Carson O’Connor, Zack Trap (ZT), Jeff McKinley (JP), Max Mills, James Butler, Markus DeJesus, Owen Bentz, Sean Hennessy, Sam Friedman, Ryan Goff, Potato (as mentioned above), Torrey Francois, Andres Leal, Garrett Prather, Alex Maccani, Sage Birdseye, Kyle Carlson, Joe Quiles and Bobby Peterson. IF (which I don’t think I did, forget anyone, posted and I owe you a SODA!)
They truly have brought the KILLER B’S BACK!!!! Thanks guys!!! Hard work dedication and your commit to yourself, your teammates and your coaches is what is going to continue to propel Chico State Rugby back to the top!
Try scorers on the day for the Killer B’s include a two unbelievable runs by wing Maxx Caveney scoring on both. One I have to tell you about. He got the ball about mid field, holding it out in two hands to be a threat and with great support outside he made THE BEST dummy of the season sending his opposite wing spinning around (or making him look silly) to bring it down, step through the gap and as he was hitting the try line he was getting tackled but still able to dot it down. It was so great, I walked out on the field having in mind something like shaking his hand and telling him what a nice play it was, to simply shaking his hand and CRACKING UP LAUGHING because it was so picture perfect! (Refer to the silly comment above and read between the lines;) )Other scores on the day came from Brandon Johnson (2), Owen Bentz and Sage Bridseye (both who played for the Mighty Oaks last season and transferred to Chico State to play for the Wildcats, thanks Buck, John and Robbie). Andres Leal and Franco Ragusas had great runs in support and for that where both rewarded with scoring tries!
Chico State Men are back in action next Saturday the 10th home against the first place Sac St Hornets! It is a MUST win for us and should be a great game. Please come out and support the Wildcats in their last home game of the year!
As we gather at the end of the day as a team, it is then, that we realize and break it down with a loud and proud, “GREAT DAY TO BE A WILDCAT”
Until next week!

March 3, sees all of the Chico Rugby clubs playing at home. Wouldn’t it be great if we were all able to play at the same venue?

The weekend starts of with the Chico Wild Oaks girl’s high school club playing Piedmont at 11:30am at the Chico State pitch. The day continues with the Chico State WRFC taking on Stanford at 1:00pm. Should be a real cracker of a match. Elsewhere, at Bidwell Jr., our Mighty Oaks Men’s Club will take on B.A. Baracus at 1:30pm. That will bring us back to the Chico State pitch at 2:30, where the Chico State Men find themselves in a must win match against Stanford, in the highly contested Nor Cal division. The Chico State Killer B’s will round out the playing on the day as they take on Stanford’s B’s at 4:00.

The day is not over, as the Chico State Women will host their annual Fan/Parent’s Appreciation Dinner at 6:00pm.  This event will be held at the CARD center at Vallombrosa. This event is free and open to all. There will be a silent auction, merchandise/apparel for sale, and of course, donations are always welcome (so bring your checkbooks!!) Come out, meet,  and join the Chico State Women for this festive event.

The rugby is not over yet, as Chico’s youth clubs will play on Sunday 3/4, at 20th Street Park, just north of the tennis courts. The Oaks will take on Dixon starting at 11:00am. Please come out and support our little Oaks.

~Parvis E Glandibus Quercus