By Joann Groff
Staff Writer
Tom Petty sings the line, “You don’t know how it feels …” The bleachers at Tari Frahm Rokus Field were filled with curious spectators Saturday afternoon who had arrived to take in the men’s rugby match against Occidental College. And it’s a safe bet that the majority of fans had no idea how it feels to get stuck in the middle of a scrum.
Most fans had little idea exactly how the game was scored, never mind what the final score was as the game drew to a close. One thing was certain — it wasn’t much of a challenge for the home team. Pepperdine walked away with an overwhelming win, 33-0.
For those who may have been a little confused at the contest, brush up on rugby rules in the factbox.
To Occidental’s dismay, Pepperdine’s club rugby team did a lot of scoring. The Waves took an early lead with a try by senior and president of the team, Jimmy Douglass. The ensuing kick was missed, but senior Jared Goolsby picked up those two points lost quickly in a try.
Sophomore Ghavin Crutcher kicked the Waves two more points with a conversion. In the last half, two more scorers stepped up, including sophomore Christian Zouein and senior rookie Stephen Plank, with both conversions by Crutcher.
“A lot of players put out a good all around effort, especially Christian, who had a great game,” said Douglass.
The Waves were on their way to a fifth try when Occidental committed an infraction, preventing them from scoring. In this case the points are automatically awarded to the fouled team, and the Waves were left with a presumptuous win over the Tigers.
“The game on Saturday was a little sloppy when we started off, partly due to the fact the team we played was pretty inexperienced,” said senior Rajiv Butani. “We played down to their standard. We recovered later on, though, and increased the gap in our victory.”
Unfortunately, this was not a league match for the Waves, but it should give them momentum for the teams they soon face.
Evan Malcolm, who has been on the team for four years, thinks the team is playing more together than they have since he’s arrived. “For once, we have camaraderie,” he said, “We’re never had that. It’s a real sense of unity.”
Pepperdine is a member of the Southern California Rugby Football Union. The SCRFU collegiate division is divided into two groups. Pepperdine plays Cal Lutheran, Cal State Fullerton, Claremont, Loyola Marymount, and Westmont. To go to the playoffs, the squad needs to finish first or second in league play.
“Despite the initial loss we were faced with the first week of the semester, I think we have a very high chance of going to the playoffs, if we stay focused and committed,” said Butani.
The guys have a strong team this year, with a good mix of nine veterans and 16 new players. The rugby club at Pepperdine originated in the 1940s when the football program was disbanded. The club fell off, but was re-established in the 1980s.
“This team that I’m currently playing on, after my four years at Pepperdine, is the best team we’ve had,” said Butani, “Although it may not be as big and powerful as a team we had my freshman year, I believe we have a lot more potential. It is more dedicated, and we are more of a team.”
Malcolm agrees, “Now, it’s like if one of us lets down, it’s like we’re letting the guy next to us down. And no one wants to do that anymore.”
The team also gained some newcomers at the semester break.
“This semester we had some more guys come out which will help a lot. Especially freshman George Bassadone and Rocky Quesada, a transfer who previously played in Argentina — he’ll be a strong addition to our back line,” said Douglass.
The Waves fell short in their first league game against Westmont, 31-17, but are optimistic about their next against Loyola Marymount on Sunday at 1 p.m. The match should wrap up just in time for sports fans to settle in for the 3 p.m. Superbowl kickoff.
“LMU is a strong team, and always have been in the past,” said Douglas, “But I think we have the skills and the ability to beat them. Having home field advantage is a plus also.”
Tom Petty sings the line, “You don’t know how it feels …” The bleachers at Tari Frahm Rokus Field were filled with curious spectators Saturday afternoon who had arrived to take in the men’s rugby match against Occidental College. And it’s a safe bet that the majority of fans had no idea how it feels to get stuck in the middle of a scrum.
Most fans had little idea exactly how the game was scored, never mind what the final score was as the game drew to a close. One thing was certain — it wasn’t much of a challenge for the home team. Pepperdine walked away with an overwhelming win, 33-0.
For those who may have been a little confused at the contest, brush up on rugby rules in the factbox.
To Occidental’s dismay, Pepperdine’s club rugby team did a lot of scoring. The Waves took an early lead with a try by senior and president of the team, Jimmy Douglass. The ensuing kick was missed, but senior Jared Goolsby picked up those two points lost quickly in a try.
Sophomore Ghavin Crutcher kicked the Waves two more points with a conversion. In the last half, two more scorers stepped up, including sophomore Christian Zouein and senior rookie Stephen Plank, with both conversions by Crutcher.
“A lot of players put out a good all around effort, especially Christian, who had a great game,” said Douglass.
The Waves were on their way to a fifth try when Occidental committed an infraction, preventing them from scoring. In this case the points are automatically awarded to the fouled team, and the Waves were left with a presumptuous win over the Tigers.
“The game on Saturday was a little sloppy when we started off, partly due to the fact the team we played was pretty inexperienced,” said senior Rajiv Butani.
“We played down to their standard. We recovered later on, though, and increased the gap in our victory,” he continued.
Unfortunately, this was not a league match for the Waves, but it should give them momentum for the teams they soon face.
Evan Malcolm, who has been on the team for four years, thinks the team is playing more together than they have since he’s arrived. “For once, we have camaraderie,” he said, “We’re never had that. It’s a real sense of unity.”
Pepperdine is a member of the Southern California Rugby Football Union. The SCRFU collegiate division is divided into two groups. Pepperdine plays Cal Lutheran, Cal State Fullerton, Claremont, Loyola Marymount, and Westmont. To go to the playoffs, the squad needs to finish first or second in league play.
“Despite the initial loss we were faced with the first week of the semester, I think we have a very high chance of going to the playoffs, if we stay focused and committed,” said Butani.
The guys have a strong team this year, with a good mix of nine veterans and 16 new players.
The rugby club at Pepperdine originated in the 1940s when the football program was disbanded. The club fell off, but was re-established in the 1980s.
“This team that I’m currently playing on, after my four years at Pepperdine, is the best team we’ve had,” said Butani, “Although it may not be as big and powerful as a team we had my freshman year, I believe we have a lot more potential. It is more dedicated, and we are more of a team.”
Malcolm agrees, “Now, it’s like if one of us lets down, it’s like we’re letting the guy next to us down. And no one wants to do that anymore.”
The team also gained some newcomers at the semester break.
“This semester we had some more guys come out which will help a lot. Especially freshman George Bassadone and Rocky Quesada, a transfer who previously played in Argentina — he’ll be a strong addition to our back line,” said Douglass.
The Waves fell short in their first league game against Westmont, 31-17, but are optimistic about their next against Loyola Marymount on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The match should wrap up just in time for sports fans to settle in for the 3 p.m. Superbowl kickoff.
“LMU is a strong team, and always have been in the past,” said Douglas, “But I think we have the skills and the ability to beat them. Having home field advantage is a plus also.”
Caption- (5 pictures!)
Photos by Jennifer Flannery
DUCK AND COVER: An Occidental player hides his head during a scrum on top, on the left and right, respectively, Rich Doughman and Jimmy Douglas charge the field and in the center the two teams face off for a jump ball of sorts.
SIDEBAR
Rugby: Scrums, trys and rakes
THE HISTORY
Rugby originated in England in 1823. It evolved from soccer, gained popularity and eventually made its debut on America’s shores.
During the early 1900s, then President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt effectively outlawed rugby for being too violent a sport. It eventually developed into the game now called American football.
However, during the 40s rugby emerged again, including at Pepperdine, where the club began with a few ex-football players left without a sport to play. It disbanded several years later, but resurfaced in the 80s.
THE RULES
A team of rugby players is made up of 15 men, generally eight forwards and seven backs. Play consists of two 40-minute halves, however on Saturday Occidental requested four 20-minute quarters due to a lack of substitute players. There are no time-outs allowed, and half time lasts only five minutes, leaving the coach and players little time for a pep talk, let alone a breather.
When the ball touches the ground beyond the goal zone, a try, worth five points, is scored. After each try, a conversion is kicked. If it sails through the goal posts, another two points are tacked on.
While the sport may seem complex to the uninitiated, there are really only few rules to rugby.
The main rule is that players cannot pass the ball forward or move downfield ahead of the ball.
Any obstruction of a player without a ball is subject to a foul, and any minor infringement of this nature calls for a scrum.
Pepperdine fans were fascinated by these scrums, where the forwards of each team huddled together, pushing against one another with all their strength and attempting to hook the ball back with their feet to one of their teammates behind them.
The aforementioned infractions are the only way the progression of the ball stops.
A rugby player passes, kicks and gets tackled, and play does not stop until the ball passes the goal line or someone is nearly killed and a foul is finally called.
When a player is tackled they are supposed to let go of the ball, and try to hand it off to a teammate.
The opposing team is free to try kicking, grabbing, punching and “raking” the down player (where cleats are scraped across the body) all in an attempt to win the ball from him.
January 31, 2002