HALF-CENTURY OF RUGBY SPOTLIGHTED SATURDAY.Byline: Brad Melsby Special to the Daily News In 60 years of existence, the Eagle Rock Athletic Club has fielded teams in football, volleyball and numerous other sports. However, the only squad to remain intact for those 60 years has been the rugby team. On Saturday, the club will celebrate the sport when it hosts the 16th annual Eagle Rock 7-a-side Rugby Championship tournament at the John Ferraro John Ferraro (May 14 1924—April 17 2001) served as a Los Angeles City Councilman from 1966 until his death. Early life Ferraro was born in the working class suburb of Cudahy, California, just south of Los Angeles. Athletic Fields in Griffith Park Griffith Park is a large public park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is situated in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers 4,210 acres (17 km²) of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America. . The tournament will bring out some 50 rugby squads. The teams will compete in four divisions, with the winner and second-place teams in the top division qualifying for the National 7-a-side championship in Philadelphia. The tournament will feature a variation of the usual 15-a-side rugby game, with seven players per team playing two seven-minute halves. Though the club has hosted the event for 16 years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time 7-a-side game has the look of the '90s: fast-paced, wide open and full of action. Tournament coordinator Tony Spinella urges fans unfamiliar with the 7-a-side game to come and check it out. ``It's the Showtime show·time or show time n. 1. The time at which an entertainment, such as the showing of a movie, is scheduled to start. 2. Slang The time at which an activity is to begin. Noun 1. of rugby,'' Spinella said. ``You have guys (the likes of) Michael Jordan This article is about the former basketball player. For other uses, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. and Magic Johnson “Earvin Johnson” redirects here. For the Milwaukee Bucks center, see Ervin Johnson. Earvin Effay Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan), nicknamed Magic out there playing rugby.'' It's no wonder the 7-a-side version attracts the more athletic players. The game is played on a normal-size rugby field - 100 yards long and 75 yards wide. ``Each player has to cover a lot of space and is almost a world-class sprinter,'' Spinella said. While the 7-a-side version is no threat to overtake the 15-a-side game, the club hopes the faster, more exciting style will help introduce youngsters to the sport. ``It's a great game to learn,'' Spinella said. It takes just one look at the history of rugby in the Eagle Rock Athletic Club to see how much members love the sport. Through more than a half-century of economic hardship, assorted club presidents and sporting trends, rugby has continued to be one of the more popular teams. Spinella isn't sure himself why rugby has been the only sport in the club to persevere per·se·vere intr.v. per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing, per·se·veres To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement. . However, he does offer one explanation: ``The orneriness or·ner·y adj. or·ner·i·er, or·ner·i·est Mean-spirited, disagreeable, and contrary in disposition; cantankerous. [Alteration of ordinary. of the people involved, I guess.'' A DAY OF RUGBY What: Eagle Rock 7-a-side Rugby Championship. When: Saturday at 9 a.m. Where:John Ferraro Athletic Fields in Griffith Park. Tickets: Admission is free. BOX: A DAY OF RUGBY (see text) CAPTION(S): Box |
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