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Stanford Tournament — January 19–20, 2008

Congratulations to the team for beginning the season off right. Next weekend the Bruin Rangers have their first league match against UC Santa Barbara. We would love to see you out there!

UCLA vs. Stanford

The game we were not expecting to play first. We quietly thought to ourselves that the scheduling looked rather interesting with us playing Stanford first, something that had never happened in the 3 previous years attending this tournament. The Bruins were ready!

Griffin kicked off to Stanford. Pineda made the first hit — Stanford was not ready. UCLA kept Stanford on their side until a quick turnover got the Bruins in scoring distance. 15 meters out Pineda had the ball in hand, charged through numerous red shirts that couldn't stop her and went in for a try at 5 min. UCLA 5 — Stanford 0.

Quickly after kickoff UCLA got the ball back. Krell made a great long run to begin a maul with Hsieh. Bruins lost the ball but got it back quickly after Stanford kicked directly to Robin. Bruins got pushed back to their 5 meter line where Robin kicked the ball out giving UCLA some breathing room. Griffin found room to kick again getting Bruins great field distance for a lineout. Bruins knocked on in the lineout but quickly recovered with their amazing work at rucking. Griffin pop kicked, Blythe chased, gaining ground on the run. After losing the ball in a knock-on, UCLA recovered by winning the Stanford scrum.

Griffin and Chang kept the Stanford scrumhalf at bay by continually tackling her, giving her no room to move. At 28 minutes Robin found room to run, passing to Blythe in support, who passed to Griffin to go in for a try. Missed conversion. UCLA 10 — Stanford 0.

Bruin penalties kept Stanford in the game. Stanford never gave up, finding empty space on the outside to go in for the try. UCLA 10 — Stanford 5. Pineda tackled Stanford's "fire" off of a lineout. UCLA got the ball back, Griffin and Hurley inserted with Blythe in support, and Shannon made another 40 meter run. Hsieh blocked a Stanford kick deep in their territory to end the match. Final score, UCLA Bruin Rangers 10 — Stanford 5.

Starting Lineup

  1. Rachel Castillo
  2. Liz Baker-Jennings
  3. Gabby Mirsaidi
  4. Anita Bradbury
  5. Julia Notar
  6. Carissa Hsieh
  7. Middy Pineda
  8. Sonia Globerson-Lamb (C)
  9. Sophia Chang
  10. Laura Hurley
  11. Alex Morrissette
  12. Kelly Griffin (C)
  13. Tia Blythe
  14. Shannon "Wannie" Krell
  15. Robin Barnett

UCLA vs. Western Washington

This game started out with Globerson-Lamb stealing a lineout and MT making a great catch from Globerman-Lamb in the air to pass off to Griffin. The ball got out to Krell, who made a great run to score. UCLA 5 — W. Wash. 0.

Penalties were beginning to really hurt the Bruins, who saw Washington go in for a try and conversion. UCLA 5 — W. Wash. 7. Bruins fought back quickly to get deep in Washington's territory. Winning the scrum, scrumhalf Griffin popped the ball off to #8 Globerson-Lamb for a weak side play. Globerson-Lamb popped back to Griffin who sidestepped a number of Washington players to go in for the try. UCLA 10 — W. Wash. 7.

A quick turnaround after the kickoff. Griffin picked and went 40 meters with Blythe in support. Blythe passed the ball off to Morrissette, who went in for the try. Final score UCLA 15 — W. Wash. 7.

Highlight: Brittany Wolf had the best post and drive for a scrumhalf to get the ball quickly.

Starting Lineup

  1. Rachel Castillo
  2. MT (Maria) Mejia
  3. Gabby Mirsaidi
  4. Anita Bradbury
  5. Brittany Wolf
  6. Sophia Chang
  7. Middy Pineda
  8. Sonia Globerman-Lamb (C)
  9. Kelly Griffin (C)
  10. Carissa Hseih
  11. Alex Morrissette
  12. Laura Hurley
  13. Tia Blythe
  14. Shannon "Wannie" Krell
  15. Robin Barnet

Substitutions

  1. Danielle Nash for Tia Blythe

UCLA vs. Oregon

This was a great game for rookies (R) to get in their first experience in a rugby match. They tackled, ran with the ball, passed for the first time and learned how great it feels to play rugby with a team. Although our flat line defense needed work, Oregon was still unable to take the ball up the middle, scoring only when they took the ball out wide. The only Bruin score came when Griffin took the ball up with a fake to the back line. Griffin for the conversion. Final score UCLA 7 — Oregon 25 (or something like that).

Starting Lineup

  1. Rachel Castillo
  2. MT Mejia
  3. Lily Henry-Roberts (R) — Crystal Dorton (R) at 16:55 min. left
  4. Katie Siebert (R)
  5. Brittany Wolfe
  6. Kristina Lai (R)
  7. Middy Pineda
  8. Rebecca Mendoza
  9. Sophia Chang
  10. Carissa Hsieh
  11. Ann Leese (R) — Julia Chui at 20 min.
  12. Kelly Griffin (C)
  13. Alex Morrissette (R)
  14. Andi Wang (R) — Danielle Nash (R) at 25 min.
  15. Robin Barnett — Jane Fong (R) at 16:55 min left
  16. Cassandra Tong (R) at 13:52 min. left

Sunday

UCLA vs. UCSD

Griffin was aggressive on tackles off of the scrums. UCSD scored on the outside (they overloaded us within 5 meters of our try line). Tong looked amazing out there, but apparently isn't too keen on playing flanker (She may have to have a talk with Princeton). Newbies Lai and Tong were very quick to get off the scrum — good instincts for their first time out there. More rookies, more experience in their first matches. Final score, UCLA 5 — UCSD 10 (or something like that).

Starting Lineup

  1. Lily Henry-Roberts
  2. Liz Baker-Jennings
  3. Annie Berenberg
  4. Anita Bradbury
  5. Brittany Wolfe
  6. Kristina Lai
  7. Cassie Tong
  8. Sonia Globerson-Lamb (C)
  9. Kelly Griffin (C)
  10. Laura Hurley
  11. Julia Chui
  12. Jane Fong
  13. Danielle Nash
  14. Shannon Krell
  15. Robin Barnett

UCLA vs. Chico

Hurley had some good looking kicks. Globerson-Lamb on an 8-man pick took it up with Griffin to follow in support for the try. No conversion. UCLA 5 — Chico 0. Someone didn't get the memo to Notar that forwards don't kick. Either way, she made a well-placed grubber which lead to a penalty against Chico. Griffin took a quick tap into score with support from Hurley. UCLA 10 — Chico ??.

A lineout formed and Annie caught a loose ball, bursting through at fire. Globerman-Lamb quickly stole the ball at another lineout; Bruins formed a maul and got it out clean in less than 4 seconds. Great work by the forwards. Annie, in particular, played AMAZINGLY, as did Hurley and Baker. We excelled at taking advantage of clean balls, but they were hard to come by (more effort in the rucks!) The rookies were confused as we all were our first time out on the pitch, but it didn't stop them from holding their ground, especially with Malina — no one got through on her side while she was on her feet. Very nice work! On the other side, winger Krell showed impressive work throughout the weekend, including great support all game long.

The winner of this match headed on to the 5th place match. Loser went to the 7th place match. UCLA rookies stepped up with the few vets to power through, finishing the game with a tie. During overtime, the players (not Bruin Rangers) complained about being tired. Due to points overall, Chico went on to the 5th place finisher match. Bruins went on to the 7th place match. Final score UCLA 19 — Chico 19 (or something like that).

Starting Lineup

  1. Gabby Mirsaidi
  2. Liz Baker
  3. Annie
  4. Anita Bradbury
  5. Brittany Wolf
  6. Kristina Lai
  7. Cassie Tong — Julia Notar at 22 min. remaining
  8. Sonia Globerson-Lamb (C)
  9. Kelly Griffin (C)
  10. Laura Hurley
  11. Malina Tran
  12. Jane Fong
  13. Julia Chui
  14. Shannon Krell
  15. Jackie Johnson

Substitutes

  1. Julia Notar
  2. Crystal Dorton
  3. Danielle Nash
  4. Lily Henry-Roberts
  5. Robin Barnett

UCLA vs. Boulder (7th place match)

Balls were not coming out of the mauls. Globerson-Lamb was again fierce with steals in lineouts. The Bruins' lack of fitness started to show in the waning moments of the last match, when they started relying on high and arm tackles, which obviously didn't work too well (no excuse). Hurley kept up her great kicking. Jackie is starting to show great promise as fullback: she beautifully pulled off an insert through the backline. Big cheers to forwards Berenberg, Baker, Globerson-Lamb and eventually Notar, who really worked through it all until the very end. Nice runs by some of the rookie backs (Fong, Johnson, and Tong). Boulder scored mostly by taking the outside, which showed Bruin forward strength. Our flat line began to fade which allowed Boulder to sneak through for some tries.

Annie did an incredible. I wish you all could have seen her play on Sunday. She is definitely an asset to the team. She can play anywhere in the forwards and she always plays hard. Captains Griffin and Globerson-Lamb really stepped it up (as usual). They really held the team together all day and made the team proud. Hurley, getting back on her feet from injury, is always improving. Malina "Winger from nowhere" is ready to go balls out at wing. Fong and Tong are very effective players when they get the ball - nice hands and quick reactions. Lai picked up flanker pretty well! (She also could get some pointers from Princeton. Princeton, where are you? Come out come out, wherever you are.) Henry-Roberts displayed some great rookie prop techniques — Fenske would be proud. For as tall as she is, Wolfe made some very impressive tackles, nice and low.

The last and final match of the day was filled with whoever was left standing on the Bruin sidelines. Overall the weekend turned out really well with our first match a win against Stanford, even with a few of our starters out. The rest of the weekend rookies were able to get a lot of great experience, and the vets did a tremendous job of leading them on.

Starting Lineup

  1. Crystal Dorton
  2. Liz Baker-Jennings
  3. Annie Berenberg
  4. Anita Bradbury — Julia Notar at 10:00 min remaining
  5. Brittany Wolfe
  6. Lily Henry-Roberts
  7. Kristina Lai
  8. Sonia Globerson-Lamb (C)
  9. Kelly Griffin (C)
  10. Laura Hurley — Shannon Krell at 13:15 min remaining
  11. Shannon Krell — Julia Chui at 10:00 min remaining
  12. Cassie Tong
  13. Danielle Nash
  14. Malina — Jane Fong at 10:00 min remaining
  15. Robin Barnett — Jackie Johnson at 10:00 min remaining

Substitutes

  1. Julia Notar
  2. Jackie Johnson
  3. Julia Chui
  4. Jane Fong

If any of this information is incorrect, either keep it to yourself, or if it's really bugging you please let us know.

Senior Award goes to Shannon "Wannie" Krell. She did a tremendous job during Stanford in not allowing anyone to come to her outside. Krell played the best rugby of her career, an outstanding performance for any wing — sticking tackles, running down opponents, and getting in long runs down field. Krell scored once during the weekend.