Rugby, Cal vs St Mary's, 20 Mar 2010
This is the last game on this field for quite a while. It's to be torn out while Memorial Stadium is renovated. It's to be restored to its real grass splendor right after.
So, if I've got this right, this is a line-out, which occurs when the ball has gone into touch (out of bounds). The ball is thrown back in by the team that did not send it out. Lifting is allowed, as long as the lifted player is supported. There is a player called a fly-half, but he is generally the one calling the set-pieces (plays that restart the game after a stoppage) & is frequently a goal kicker, not the guy being lifted. And, no, it's no okay to tackle the guy while he's in the air.
I love the feeling at these games. We were crowded right up to the line at the back of the in-goal area, sitting on the grass chatting as if it was a family picnic. For the first half, we felt pretty safe because our own guys were defending us. Well, the goal, but also us.
These girls with the braids spent most of the game wrestling into & out of the field of play, giggling gleefully.
For the second half, we felt a little less safe from being bowled over by our own guys, but I knew I'd have much better chances to get action shots. I've never been much afraid of putting myself in harm's way for a picture, & my reflexes are real good.
The stands were packed. Some of the legs wouldn't even fit!
I got a little giddy when we scored this try, & I checked my camera & confirmed that I got this shot. To get a try, he has to have possession of the ball & touch it to the ground over the line, & that's just what he's done.
Here's the conversion. If my information is correct, the guy who kicked it might just be the fly-half... so much more to learn.
I figured I'd gotten my one pretty amazing shot of the day when, a few trys later, this guy came in & hit the ground right in front of me. The guy next to me asked if I got it & I showed him. He was impressed. So was I. I used to shoot college football games, but that was ages ago & I figured I'd've lost my timing. Nope!
Final score, 56-5.