Registration Day Wrap Up

The Dolphins closed their match account for the 2011 calendar year, in anticipation of the clubs 40th anniversary celebration in 2012.

After helping the Santa Monica youth rugby teams with their annual recruitment day/clinic, the senior squad played two games.  The day’s opening match was to be the annual Toilet Bowl tussle with the Huntington Beach Unicorns.  Unfortunately, we were forced to play an intra-squad scrimmage after HB canceled on us at the last minute, but were able to use the time wisely in building toward the season.

The two sides were pretty evenly matched and several players put their hands up for more playing time during the match. The try of the day though came when Aaron Blatt, yes you read that correctly, took a pass 10 meters out from the line at full pace and bulled his into the try zone just before the end of one of the periods.

In the day’s second match the clubs third side featuring lots of players playing in their first season of rugby, played the Orange County Bucks.  The Bucks jumped out to a first half lead with a long range try from their massive #8.  At the half the boys got their marching orders and then went out and followed the game-plan to the letter scoring three second half tries.  Flyhalf Alex Rylance, returning to the club after a 4 year sabbatical converted all three kicks, which turned out to be the difference in the game as the Bucks were able to squeeze in two late scores to bring the final score to 21-17.

The team will train on Monday and Wednesday before taking a break for the holidays.