YSC Reporter: Donna Ventura – Minnesota Valkyries @ New York Rugby Club [VIDEO]

View the complete 2011 WPL Schedule and Results here.

By Donna Ventura:

On a crisp, cool, blustery east coast fall day, the Minnesota Valkyries (0-2) traveled to the Big Apple to take on New York (0-2) in a Blue Conference battle of the WPL. One thing is for certain- one of these teams would emerge with their first win of the 2011 season.

New York would set the tone early that they weren’t going to dip to 0-3 in the Blue Conference without a fight with a try in the first 10 minutes of the match. Wing Erika Granger got the scoring started with an outside run into the try zone that she was able to center. Kaitlin Ruggiero converted. NY 7- MN 0.
New York would strike 3 more times before the half with Rebecca Brafman, Vanesha McGee and Ruggiero all adding tries to the scoreboard. Ruggiero would convert two of the four tries to give NY a 24-0 halftime lead.

Brafman benefited from NY quick taps off penalties that drove NY deep into MN territory and lead to her score (unconverted). Minnesota was on their heels for much of the drive as NY just never gave them a chance to set up defensively. Ruggiero’s try came off a similar drive. A quick tap off a penalty, a few nice runs with strong rucking lead to Ruggiero down near the try line. She just had to turn the right way and tap the ball down for the try (unconverted).

Minnesota came out on fire on the ensuing kickoff. They would get within 22 meters of scoring before NY took possession of the ball. A try by Vanesha McGee rounded out the scoring in the first half with Ruggiero converting.

The second half looked much like the first with New York’s Dana Wasserman, Lacy Higgins, Spencer Thompson, Brafman and McGee all adding points to the scoreboard. Ruggiero would convert one of six tries in the second half.

New York utilized the whole pitch with wide runs and speedy backs making one move, or using support, and off to the races went wings and fullbacks to score tries. Four of the six tries were scored this way. Lock Lacy Higgins got the forwards into the mix when the scrumhalf went into contact near the 5 meter line. The forwards used a pick and go and Higgins put another 5 on the board for NY.

Minnesota’s Sarah Chobot would score the Valkyries lone try as she timed a NY passing series perfectly and was able to intercept it and run almost 50 meters for the try. Libby Berg attempted the conversion but the wind was a factor all day in kicks, passes, and temperature and she was unsuccessful.

These two teams will meet again next Sunday in Minnesota. New York (1-2) has their final home game on October 23rd vs. the Twin City Amazons (2-1) before traveling to San Diego for a rematch with the Surfers (3-0). MN is home next weekend (vs. New York), then they have a bye weekend. Their season rounds out with a home match vs. the Surfers on the 23rd and away on the 30th against the Amazons.

Match Video

View the complete 2011 WPL Schedule and Results here.