This year the Grizzly Shield was particularly competitive. The Northern California Pelicans dominated the competition in the scores on Saturday, Nov 23rd but the matches were very physical and were played with tremendous pace in Tempe, Arizona.

In the first match the Pelicans touched down 8 tries for a 44 to 3 total over the Arizona select side.  Newcomers, Prop Pat Guire and Lock Paul Jennings, quickly demonstrated that they deserved to be on the squad by winning multiple possessions, tackling hard, and scoring tries. Mose Timoteo is an exceptional field general at scrumhalf and will be the principle leader of the Grizzly squad in Tampa.

In the match testing the Northwest Loggers versus the Utah select side the contest wasn't decided until the final minute.  Utah with its unorthodox style and pace gave the Loggers real problems until Coach Trevor Bracken substituted his more experienced players.  Grizzly sevens player, Skylar Pond, pulled it out for the loggers scoring three tries.

Everyone was looking for a hard final between the Pelicans and the Loggers, who had won the last two Shield competitions.  The continuous pace of this match was the best that many had seen in years.  The Pelicans scored several very good team tries after multiple phases. The support, the cover defense, the passing, the running were all top level.   The Pelicans prevailed six tries to one (score 36-7) although the final score does not indicate the truly exceptional standard of the match.

On Sunday, Nov 24th in Tempe, Arizona the "possible" Grizzlies played four 30-minute periods against the Southern California Griffins. Five key, selected Grizzly players were held out of this competition in order to give maximum playing time consideration to those still vying for a position on the team going to Tampa.  In the first period the fresh Griffins put tremendous pressure on the "Possibles" from the initial kick-off. Although the Grizzlies played the whole 30 minutes on defense, the score was luckily only two tries to one (an impressive run by Tony Ursino) with each team also having a penalty kick. In the second period the Griffins continued the pressure scoring two more converted tries. By the third period the Griffins slowed down a bit and the Possibles recovered scoring three tries to the Griffins two. 

The fourth & final period had to be shortened in order to make airline connections, but it was the last try by Neil Clasen that put a very positive crown on a very grueling weekend. Final score 34-45, 5 tries to 6 tries, 1 penalty to 1 penalty, last try wins (PCRFU GM called it).  Grizzlies win!

Here's the squad of 28 as presently selected along with 8 additional developmental players.  There has been considerable deliberation the past couple of days since the Grizzly Shield trying to sort out the balance of the squad and trying to assure that the very best players from the Pacific Coast have an opportunity to participate in the NASC.

2002 Pacific Coast Grizzly Squad

John Tyler: Head Coach & General Manager
George Marshall: Assistant Coach & Manager
Greg Stoehr: Forwards Coach
Trevor Bracken: Assistant Coach & Developmental Squad Coach