VC Rugby Club Closes Regular Season in Style
by Steven Giordano

The Valley Christian rugby club completed its 2006 season with the second-time dismantling of the Bellarmine based club, College Park. On Saturday March 25, the Warriors took the field opposing College Park wtih anticipation of repeating their preseason victory. Great pride and standing positions were up for grabs on this day, as this was the last Skyhawk Conference match. Right from the first possession, it was obvious that the contest would be intense. This carried to the point of one player from each team being sent to the sin bin, as the penalty area is officially known, for "dropping the gloves" and resorting to fighting. Valley dominated up and down the pitch, which is the traditional name for a rugby field, winning all of their own put-ins and three of College Park's. A put-in is when the teams gather in the scrum and one team rolls the ball into the circle, for their best favor, in order to win this face off. To win three of the other teams put-ins is an incredible feat. College Park had no chance behind the tries of A.J. Alvarez, Andrew Decker, and an outside of VC teammate known simply as Brooks. The final score was three tries to one.
The final week of the entire season was an out of league game versus Golden Gate. The Warriors had to travel to the Teasure Island park in San Francisco. This pitch was slop from end to end. Mud covered nearly every inch of the players after the first tackle. Decker had two tries in the Warrior effort, taking his first to the try-zone from about fifty yards out in a break away score. Chad Greer also added his first shoot-the-boot try in amazing fashion. With two Golden Gate players in their own try-zone, one attempted to kick the ball deep down field but Greer snatched the ball just inches off the opponent's foot, falling in for the score. Despite these thrilling scores, the Warriors fell five tries to three. In both the College Park game and Golden Gate, Joe Vandevir was the Man of the Match.
These might not have been the final games of the 2006 season as they may participate in an upcoming southern California tournament at the end of this month. It is yet to be determined. The Warriors have had a great season of crushing action and great matches.