(San Francisco) Fittingly Dan La Prevotte was a key figure in San Francisco Golden Gate's 79-12 pasting of Santa Monica, a one-way match between two of California's more forward-looking clubs.
Both have built up notable youth programs. But while Santa Monica's first generations are just reaching college, lock-cum-flanker LaPrevotte contributed 2 scores in Saturday's 13-try romp.
Since Santa Monica joined the Super League in 2007, Golden Gate has won all 3 matchups -- by an average of 52 points. The development gap is one way to understand the present disparity.
More interesting than Saturday's Rocca Field scoreline is the prospect that the two Super League clubs could soon field high school XVs against one another. SFGG runs age-group sides down to junior high levels, while Santa Monica sponsors a network of charter school teams.
Though the models appear to differ, in fact in both cases the senior team has tapped into established municipal outlets: SFGG with the city's Treasure Island facility, and Santa Monica through a group of Los Angeles charter schools.
Many if not most of the better or bigger school-age teams are unaffiliated with senior clubs. Conversely, most senior clubs struggle to field high school sides.
Those who have made effective connections essentially have at minimum acquired insurance against the American boom-bust recruiting cycle that has seen even proud national standouts such as BATS or Old Blues collapse within a few seasons. In the early 1990s, once-powerful Santa Monica too was in dire straights, but a decade later the Dolphins rebounded to capture a pair of Division 1 titles.
Just 23, Golden Gate's LaPrevotte is an aerial ballwinner and effective openfield runner with two North American 4 seasons to his credit. Although the IRB-mandated competition increasingly looks tenuous, with the preliminary Eagle pool due this week, it will be interesting to see whether Scott Johnson's departure has triggered an end to trolling foreign competitions for 'America eligible' players and more emphasis on domestic products like the promising San Franciscan.
San Francisco Golden Gate
Tries: Daryl Lamborn 2, Jason Lamborn 2, Dan La Prevotte 2, Milemoto Pulu 2, Seta Palamo 2, Saimone Lauaupaleau, Samuela Monoa, Mose Timoteo
Conversions: Volney Rouse 7
Santa Monica
Tries: Grant Thorn, Taylor Manavian
Conversions: Padraig Cremin
Referee: Paul Bretz (Pacific Coast and United States)
Attendance: 125 (estimated)
It is good to see that many top clubs have ties to youth and teen rugby. DLP will get capped this season unless EOS owes some favors. I think we all saw that SJ and NM's trolling showed how silly that policy was. It is likely that we will see more of it, unless the "new" staff actually has a larger role than fetching cones and handing out pinnies
Posted by: Wales 44, USA 8 | 20 April 2009 at 11:00
It'd be pretty cool if Danny becomes an Eagle soon. The guy is a great athlete, a tremendous worker who's not afraid to get his hands dirty, and a very smart rugby player. He was a Super League regular at age 18 for the best SFGG team before this season, and he's really been knocking on the door for selection for a while.
Posted by: Flynn Hagerty | 21 April 2009 at 03:39
Good for Danny and let's be honest, he was good before the "Super erugby comment poster/coach" showed up at Golden Gate from NYC.
I can only assume he will post several under several different handles how "he made Danny what he is today", and that it will be a tragedy on par with his own being looked over by O'Sullivan if Danny is not selected.
Posted by: Gerald Taylor | 21 April 2009 at 06:00
Good to see it took only two posts to get negative! Did this article or any other for that matter indicate the coach you reference is taking credit for his development? Give it a rest.
Back on the topic at hand, in addition to the NA4 and Eagle Pool, Danny was also a member of the USA Select XV last year.
Best of luck to him and all other home grown players for selection to the Eagle pool this week.
Posted by: Mike Walker | 21 April 2009 at 09:31
Once he anon recommended himself for the Eagles coaching position, I'm afraid "the coach referenced" sank to levels so low, that yes Mike, I think he would attempt to take credit.
Posted by: GGRFC press corps | 21 April 2009 at 11:30
I've posted some game photos I took from Saturday here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dsronline/SFGGVsSantaMonicaApril2009?feat=directlink
The jerseys are a bit confusing (matching team colors), but SFGG is in green and Santa Monica in white.
Posted by: Dan Ransom | 22 April 2009 at 17:46
Great photos - especially the two of Thretton Palamo burning past the defender. That was a nice day for rugby on the Bay.
Posted by: Leksan | 23 April 2009 at 10:33