By Pat Clifton | www.rugbymag.com
UC-Irvine opened its Pacific Mountain West league campaign with an impressive 43-7 win over USC Saturday. Irvine led 26-0 at halftime.

The Anteaters were led by a pair of freshmen, Alan Roniss and John Cummins. Cummins scored a hat trick of tries from wing, and Roniss, scrumhalf, was solid with the boot. 

“Did really well, hit some angles on our kicks that were pretty phenomenal for the wind condition, that I’m really happy with,” Irvine coach Vince McLeod said of Roniss.

Though McLeod is pleased with the lopsided win, he says there’s no shortage of things his team can work on leading up to a big league game against UC-Santa Barbara in a week’s time. 

“We’ve got a lot of game film to analyze before Monday’s session. A lot of backs stuff we need to work on, and our forwards need to spread out a little bit and do a little better defensive sliding.”

Hey Fellow Anteater Rugby Alumni,
 
The Peter Yang Alumni Match and Banquet are quickly approaching on May 14th 2011. The Alumni Match will kick-off at 1pm so please arrive to the ARC Fields (680 California Ave. Irvine, California 92617) by 12pm to get ready and so we can select a starting team for ther alumni vs. the current 2010-2011 squad. Following the the match, we will all be heading over to Durty Nelly's (2915 Red Hill Ave # G101. Costa Mesa, CA 92626-5904) to celebrate and enjoy the banquet and awards ceremony. The players are greatly looking forward to host us both on and off the field. As Alumni, we should enjoy this opportunity to show why we are still loyal to the club that gave us so many memories and close friends!

The Anteaters had a successful first weekend of rugby in Long Beach for the annual Cal State Long Beach Tournament. The Eaters aggressively built up their numbers during the preseason to field two full side teams for the tournament. 


The A side team created a display of control over Cal Poly’s B side as they won the match 10-7. However, the same fortune did not come against UCSB Academy, knocking the Eaters out of semi-finals. 


Overall, the tournament was a learning experience for all, as it counts as the first time the team has played as a full side against opponents. The lessons learned during the weekend will definitely be applied to next week’s away match with Fresno State.

For the full gallery, please look under the ‘Media’ tab.

On the weekend of November 13th the Eaters traveled up to the heart of the Central Valley for their preseason friendly against the newly formed Fresno State Rugby Club. Sleep was lost and teammates were cursed at as many lost their way to the pitch in the middle of nowhere. 


The Bulldogs started off on a very aggressive note as their forwards pushed past a slowly formed Irvine defensive wall, scoring the first try of the game. They continued their dominance in the scrum, as the Eater’s two brand new freshman props, James Libby and Joeseph de los Santos, struggled to find their groove amidst the chaos after the engage. 

The front row, however, was redeemed as the two props  found their own rhythm by the second quarter, as backs Victor Baltazar, Sonsern Lin, Adam Ascha, and Robin Daugherty attacked and scored unanswered tries repeatedly against the Bulldogs. 

At 80 minutes, the score was a blowout 43-10. After regulation B side play netted another win for the Eaters, totalling the score to 48-27. 

Afterwards the victory aftermatch, hosted by the parents of player Andrew Gonzalez, was a great success as the Anteaters dined not on Bulldog meat, but four deep fried turkeys and ample amounts of tri tip. Central Valley Adventure successful. 

Stay tuned for next week, as UCI Rugby hosts the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a home game for the Higgins Cup!

Dear UCI Rugby Friends, Fans, Supporters, and Alumni,

For those that may have not yet heard the tragic news, we have lost a brother, former UCI President, Peter Yang (UCI '05). Peter was a dear brother, loving son, loyal friend, and dedicated medical student who not only touched our lives at the club, but those of friends, family, and strangers alike. 


On Monday, August 16th, 2010, Peter collapsed suddenly while working out during a routine visit to the gym. A gym attendant immediately came to his side and performed CPR, noting later that Peter kept a steady pulse. Paramedics arrived within minutes and defibrillated him. Peter was rushed to the hospital where a team of medical staff worked relentlessly to revive him. He passed as a result of a cardiac arrest at the age of 26.

There will be a final viewing before his cremation, both of which are this Friday, August 20th, 2010. The details have yet to be confirmed, but it is expected to happen between 10:30 and 11:30 AM, at 199 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012. Anyone who knew him is more than welcome to attend.

A memorial service is planned in his hometown in Orange County, California. The details are yet unknown but will be announced on his memorial page as soon as they are determined. The page is available at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111673555554892&ref=ts Additionally, we as a team will be organizing an event in his honor during the season. We will send out details as they become available. 

The family would like to thank everyone for their condolences, and would like to request that your photos, videos, memories, or stories about him be posted on this memorial page. If you have already posted them on his friends' tribute page (listed under the website section of this page) or his Facebook page, we will still be able to see them. Alternately, you can forward them/contact his sisters at kcyangsd@gmail.com. 

We have lost an important individual, an exquisite gentleman on and off the pitch. We hope that his memories live on in us all. Godspeed Peter, you will sorely be missed.


With Respect,

Christopher Truong
 President, UCI Rugby