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Welsh Club Excited By Florida Trip

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 22, 2008

For a number of years, the Pembrokeshire District Junior Rugby Association has made trips abroad to expand its players not just on the field, but also away from it.

This year, thanks to some contacts in the Tampa Bay area, the club's Under-18 team will be coming to Florida for a pair of games against local players.

"They can't wait to get away," Pembrokeshire Director of Rugby Kim Norkett said. "To get away from muddy pitches, to get away where they have total freedom of expression to play."

Pembrokeshire has a strong pedigree in Welsh junior rugby, with current Llanelli Scarlets and Wales Under-20 player Jonathan Davies among their recent alumni. They also boast in their touring party three players, Luke Williams, James Russell and Jamie Kaijacks, who have played for the Welsh Under-16 team. Norkett said tours like this and the ones the club has engaged in to Washington State and Dubai in the past has helped the club's players develop a healthy attitude toward the sport, and grow rugby in other parts of the world.

"These tours bring them on as individuals and human beings," Norkett said. "We always try to take our under-18's out because it fits in nicely with the championship we play in at this stage of the year.

"What our boys get out of it is an experience, an all-round one, having something to put back into the sport, to realize that rugby is not all about professionalism, it's about giving back as well."

Norkett himself is running a coaching clinic on Sunday, the day after Pembrokeshire's game against the Florida Thunder at the Azalea Park Sports Complex in St. Petersburg at 2:30 p.m. Playing for the Thunder team are local players Alan Gancar, Steven Gonzalez and Zane Johnson, with the team being coached by Tampa Pelicans coach Dave McFadden. Pembrokeshire also will face the Tampa Bay Area Touring Side, coached by Tampa Barbarians coach Mark Van Trees at Skyway Park on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

GTJGA Celebrating 30th Anniversary

WEEKI WACHEE - The Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, continuing to provide an outlet for junior golfers to have fun while developing their competitive experience.

The association's Co-Presidents James Stanger and Tim Glennie, who have seen membership grow to new heights over the last four years, are pleased with where the GTJGA now stands in the local golf community. Stanger said he sees the association as a bridge for those who have learned the game through programs like the First Tee, and organizations like the Florida Junior Tour.

"Right now we're kind of bridging both of them," Stanger said. "Most of them already know how to golf, and we want to have a local tournament during the school year once a month."

More than 100 players across 10 division competed at the association's third event of the year on Friday at The Dunes Golf Club in Weeki Wachee, with the next event scheduled for Nov. 16 at Countryside Golf and Country Club.

Aside from the tournaments, however, the association also has developed in recent years rules clinics for new players, where local PGA pros help younger players get acquainted with the intricacies that can't be learned on a driving range. It has also held teaching sessions to help players improve their scores, all the while making sure the players are enjoying themselves out on the course. Opportunities like this are why Glennie thinks the association's membership has grown, and why the GTJGA will have a long, successful future.

"Each year we try to do something different," Glennie said. "It's growing in leaps and bounds."

Pressure Proving Key To Newsome Success

BRANDON - Take a look at Newsome Blue's games in the Hillsborough High School Hockey League, and two things stand out.

One is the goals for, 25, by far the most in the league.

The second is the goals against; none.

The reason for this can be attributed not only to the ability the Wolves boast, but to the workthey put in to drive that advantage home. It is most evident in the Wolves' forecheck that holds the puck in their opponent's defensive zone, generating the kind of pressure that leads to goals.

"As long as we're in their zone, there's no shots on our goal," defenseman Zach Vandelagemaat said after the Wolves' 7-0 win against Plant on Saturday.

While the game was lopsided against the Panthers, it didn't mean Plant was without opportunities breaking out of its zone. But then, the Wolves' positioning, and the goaltending of James Tzilvelis, held the Panthers off the scoreboard. Vandelagemaat said defensive positioning is a major focus of the Wolves' practices.

"We spend about a third of the practice, every practice, working on our breakouts and positioning," he said. "As long as we're in the right position, we can get the puck out of the zone, we can keep the puck moving."

The Wolves likely will face opponents that will break their defense down, with a game against the second-placed Tigers on Nov. 2 appearing to be their first test. But with the control they appear to have currently, it's going to take a big effort to accomplish.

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243. Keyword: youth sports, for more news, notes and live game stories.

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