Sevens, Shoes

We had a great time down in Columbia over last weekend playing sevens as a combined student/alumni Guilford side known unofficially as the "Bag of Dicks." Maxwell's family was kind enough to host us all again at his house for dinner after the day and feed us meatballs and beer for our efforts. Byron fell asleep on the couch, Slater fell asleep on the chair, and I fell asleep in the car.

We were the lowest seeded team in the tournament, as South Carolina doesn't even have Division 3 rugby clubs. The way seeding works, the lowest ranked teams immediately play the highest ranked teams in pool play, so that the championship brackets can be set up with teams of equivalent performance. Our first two games, then, were against Heartwood (a superleague-affiliate side led by Max's uncle, P.G. and named after the man's tree-service company) and the hosts, Columbia Olde Grey. Our pool play matches ended up like this:

L, Guilford 12-39 Heartwood, [G12-15H at the half.]
L, Guilford 21-22 Columbia A, [G15-5C at the half.]

We brought down several players who'd never done sevens before or were in their first year of rugby altogether, and in spectacular Guilford tradition we played everyone we brought, win or lose. Max and I both scored tries in the Heartwood game and put our side ahead, which prompted the Charlotte team to calmly turn their switch to "on" and smack the game right out of our hands. After the two pool matches we were placed in the lower men's championship bracket and played two more matches that turned out well:

W, Guilford 45-5 Sumter
W, Guilford 48-5 Columbia B

Our team received a nutcracker trophy for our efforts and learned a lot on the day. Advice was doled out from Heartwood flyers Mike and Jacko, and Maxwell was invited to play for those boys in the summer on account of his busy feet. He should do this.

I got my new cleats to take to New Zealand today. They are wide fit and clad in America colors, just to be somewhat ridiculous. They fit my feet like some sort of foot-glove and are named and monogrammed "Stampy."

I also have weightlifting shoes coming that will help me develop much more healthy movement patterns and muscle development by compensating a bit for the foot ankle flexibility that I have. I am also taking a couple weightlifting classes to learn form and technique.