Recovering from NASCs

Back at work early this morning after a great weekend in Little Rock for NASCs! I was able to tape a portion of all the games and will be working hard this week to get the videos up for your viewing soon!

Photos from the event will also be available at ShootingTheGap.com soon and also from Todd Lowe here.

In case you missed it via Twitter, Facebook or on the blog, here are the scores from the weekend (thanks to The Girl for updating the blog!):

Friday, May 29
Match 1 10:00 am SoCal vs Collegiate All-Americans 12 – 42
Match 2 12:00 pm West vs South 0-39
Match 3 2:00 pm Midwest vs Pacific 0 – 30
Match 4 3:30 pm Northeast vs Mid-Atlantic 32 – 23

Sunday, May 31
Match 5 8:30 am Loser # 1 – SoCal vs Loser # 2 – West 0 – 3
Match 6 10:00 am Winner # 1 – Collegiate All-Americans vs Winner # 2 – South 32 – 5
Match 7 11:30 pm Loser # 3 – Midwest vs Loser # 4 – Mid-Atlantic 22 – 5
Match 8 1:00 pm Winner # 3 – Pacific vs Winner # 4 – Northeast 36 – 5

I had a great time and met a lot of great ruggers this weekend, thanks for your support of YSC! Have a great week everyone!

Go here to read Ashley’s preview of the weekend!

from USA Rugby:

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (report from Match Commissioner, Martin Gardner) – The Pacific Coast stole the title from defending champions the Northeast when the USA Rugby Women’s All-Star 15s Championships wrapped up at the Little Rock Rugby Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Playing before a large crowd, both teams looked set to make this a grand final and with just 6 minutes into the game Pacific #7 (Beckett Royce) was over for a try out wide to the right, to take an early 5-0 lead. Following the restart, the Northeast forced a turnover and mounted an attack. With eight minutes played, the game was tied 5-5 following a try by Northeast #14 (Vanesha McGee)

This seemed to energize the Pacific team, who took the game to the Northeast with further tries in the 13th and 25th minutes to lead 17 – 5 at the half.

In the second half both teams made some adjustments, but the Pacific team enjoyed the better chances and finished with tries in the 51st, 57th and 74th minute to round out the game as the ultimate winners with a final score of 36 – 5.

MVP of the tournament was the Pacific #15 Ashley English, who had a storming weekend of defending and entering the line on attack with great effect.

Earlier was the Tier A relegation match between Mid-Atlantic (MARFU) and the Midwest. Both teams were ready for this one and it took 20 minutes for MARFU to open the scoring and take a 5 -0 lead, another 16 minutes of back and forth play until the Midwest created an opening and pushed in a try, converted to lead at the half 7 – 5.

From the kick off again both teams defense dominated until the Midwest got a penalty in front of the posts to extend their lead to 10-5, even with two players in the Sin Bin. With one player back and just three minutes played from the restart, the Midwest got in for a try, and extended their lead to go ahead 15-5 in the 61st minute.

From the restart the MW fielded the ball and set up a flowing play combining forwards and backs to score again to make the score MW 22 – MARFU 5, which remained the final score.

TIER B

Sunday saw the start of the finals with the Tier B consolation match kicking off under clear blue skies at the Little Rock Rugby Complex. The field had been cut on the off day and had dried from Friday so a faster, surer surface promised some flowing rugby.

Cal kicked off against the West team, and at the half the West lead by a 28th minute penalty, 3-0. In the second half both sides mounted attacks but both defenses were resolute and the final score, despite So Cal’s final drive ended at 3-0 to the West.

Next up the South took on the USA All-American Collegiate team, and both teams looked motivated as they took the field. The All American’s came out attacking from the whistle, a strong South defense resulted in a turn over and the South put together a flowing move to score in the 8th minute to lead 5 – 0. The score remained 5-0 at the half with both sides creating chances but failing to score due to some great tackling by both teams.

From the second half whistle the All Americans unleashed a running attack and with just one minute played, led 7-5. The South team was not going to take that and immediately upped their game and mounted attack after attack interspersed with great defense.

The All-American squad was equally resolute and 20 minutes passed before the South created the chance, a break by the #10 sliced through the centers and they looked certain to score in the corner, but the final pass was bobbled and recovered by the AA wing who took it 99 meters to score under the posts and the lead was 14 – 5. This broke the South’s hearts if not their backs and the final score was All Americans 31 to the South 5, with the All American squad winning Tier B.

TIER A
1st/2nd – Pacific 36, Northeast 5
3rd/4th – Midwest 22, Mid-Atlantic 5

TIER 2
5th/6th – USA Collegiate All-Americans 31, South 5
7th/8th – West 3, So Cal 0