I have decided to combine all the match reports into one blog post so they are below! Each week I will rotate the posts so each YSC Intern is at the top. Thanks!
YSC would like to welcome new YSC Intern Garrett Hoffman to the blog! Garrett will be covering the Amazons and their journey through the WPL. Read below for the first match report covering the Twin City Amazons and ORSU.
WPL Match Report: Twin City Amazons vs ORSU – Sep 6, 2009 By: Garrett Hoffman
With their first premiership win under their belts, the Twin Cities Amazons rejoice, celebrate and relax in the afternoon sun in Eagan, Minnesota. Their victory over ORSU, however, was anything but easy to attain. The strong and agile ORSU players hit the pitch hard, scoring their first try within the first five minutes. The Amazons answered quickly with a solid run off of a line out ending in a try scored by outside center Lynelle Kugler making the score 5-5. The Amazons came back hard after their first try. Veteran scrumhalf Rebecca Radtke fed the forwards the ball which allowed them to drive into the try zone resulting in a diving score by Radtke to make the score 10-5. ORSU answered with a solid back line run tying the game up with minutes left in the first half. The Amazons forwards would not give up and dominated the ORSU pack, driving 20 meters to the try zone. Prop Rachel Maas ended the drive with a diving try in the closing seconds of the first half making the score 15-10.
ORSU began the second half much like the first, hitting the pitch hard and scoring quickly with a run by their #6 tying the game at 15. In a brilliant substitution by Amazon Coach Roger Bruggemeyer, powerhouse Jenny “Mamma” Kruger came in at flanker. Kruger scored immediately giving the Amazons the lead once again. In the 57th minute of the match, Radtke again picked the ball out of a ruck and flew into the try zone making the score 25-15. At this point, the Amazons looked strong and energetic while the ORSU players were struggling to keep up. With 20 minutes left in the match the Amazons made another brilliant run. Radtke picked the ball out of a ruck and tossed it to Kingzett who hit Kruger screaming through a gap. After a difficult tackle by an ORSU player Kruger tossed the ball to Kingzett who got the ball to Nicole Benjamin leading to another Amazon try. Flyhalf Sylvia Braaten made the conversion making the score 32-15. With 15 minutes left in the match, ORSU picked up their speed and scored two quick tries and one conversion which left the Amazons stunned and frustrated. In the end however, the Amazons kept their heads, held back their opposition and left the pitch with a hard-earned win over ORSU 32-27.
Welcome to YSC Intern Jenny Menke! She will be bringing us coverage for the Minnesota Valkyries and their games during the WPL. See below for her first post covering the Valkyries vs Berkeley.Minnesota Valkyries Home Opener Against Berkeley All-Blues
Unable to respond to Berkeley’s speed on the outside, the Valkyries gave up three more tries and finished the game 0-38. Minnesota, never a team to give up in a game, displayed ferocious tenacity and heart during the last ten minutes of the game, stopping Berkeley’s pack from advancing over the try line. Accolades are given to the Valkyrie reserves who entered the game: Sarah Walsh and Sarah Chobot came in at half, inspiring a forward attack that put Berkeley on its back foot. Tracy Call made a number of try-saving tackles on the sideline, allowing her support time to arrive and control the attack. Meredith Mrachek and Rachel McCabe, both new to the pack, proved they will bring strength to the squad.
The Minnesota Valkyries next take on ORSU in Portland on September 13.
Minnesota Roster
1. Libby Berg
2. Laura Gill
3. Jen Triemstra
4. Jenny Menke
5. Garnet Towne
6. Gabe Fidelman
7. Kristin Zdanczewicz
8. Angie Heifort
9. Katy Hertel
1
0. Mel Kanuk
11. Dez Markovich
12. Kristy Lear
13. Lauren Felton
14. Sarah Reuter
15. Christy Ringgenberg
16. Rachel McCabe (for 3 at 76)
17. Sarah Walsh (for 8 at half)
18. Sarah Chobot (for 6 at half)
19. Sarah Roehl (for 4 at 72)
20. Tracy Call (for 14 at 28)
21. Justina DeBruzzi
22. Meredith Mrachek (for 2 at 56)
Welcome to YSC Intern Becca Fritz! She will be bringing us coverage for Beantown and their games during the WPL. See below for her first post covering Beantown vs New York.
First Women’s Premiership Game
By: Becca Fritz
It was a different kind of morning, it wasn’t just a normal Beantown, New York game, it was the first Beantown, New York Women’s Premier League match and everyone felt the difference. The excitement in the air was actually palpable covering the field with a blanket of anxious-anticipation. From the sidelines, I got the treat of being able to watch the two starting sides suit up and take the field behind Dana Teagarden, who is inarguably the best female ref in the United States. The sheer presence of the amazing talent before me left this U-19’er completely starstruck.
The game started with New York kicking off to begin a super physical game, with each advance quickly followed by breakdowns and turnovers every few yards. The first half of the game was played mostly in Beantown’s half of the field, testing their defensive skills, which up until about minute eleven held strong. It was then that New York’s crazy fast number fourteen, Vanesha McGee made her first breakaway of the game off the back of a set piece only to be taken down by Beantown Flyhalf, Kelly Seary at the 15m line.
Much to the dismay of the Beantown bench, the game remained in Beantown’s half for the rest of the first quarter. Just past the twenty minute mark, New York’s McGee made her second breakaway, dodging Beantown’s last line of defense and scoring the first try of the game. Beantown, hungry for a win, evened the game up not five minutes after the restart. Beantown’s Scrumhalf, Kittery Wagner picked up a lose ball and quickly dished it off to number two, Emily Jones who carried it a good ten meters before making a quick pass off to fullback Katie Dowty to tie the game. The rest of the half finished with breakdown after breakdown with no significant yardage gained for either side. The half ended with a yellow card given to Town’s inside-center Emilie Bydwell for holding.
At the start of the second half fresh legs were added to both sides but the intensity of the first half was beginning to take a toll on both teams with a series of minutes taken for various reasons. Beantown’s outside center, Amy Daniels capitalized on the fatigue and scored off a breakaway with the first conversion of the game made by Emily Jones. McGee followed up with her second, and NY’s final try of the game, with no conversion made. For the rest of the half, Beantown remained in New York’s half. About twenty minutes in, to bring Beantown ahead by another five points, Fullback Katie Dowty made her second try of the game which was also converted making the score 19-10.
The last try of the game was made about thirty-five minutes into the second half by Beantown’s former sin-binner, Emilie Bydwell. The fourth try of the game gave Beantown the extra point in the over all standings and the conversion brought Beantown to the final score of twenty-six, a sixteen point lead over New York.
Beantown will meet the D.C. Furies at home, next Sunday.
Photos from Beantown vs New York available here.
Thanks to YSC Intern Ashley for her continued work with this blog, this week she brings us the writeup from Keystone’s first WPL match against the DC Furies. Look for her match report each week as she reports on the Keystone rugby team.
Opener Against the DC Furies
Keystone women won their WPL season opener against the DC Furies, 38-8 Sunday. However, the score does not reflect the physical battle waged by the Furies. From the first whistle, their physicality outmatched that of Keystone. They were winning rucks and were the primary keepers of possession for the first 15 minutes of the match.
Albeit, the Furies had the ball in hand, they were not able to break the gain line. Keystone soon capitalized on this by matching and beating the Furies’ intensity and physicality with their forward pack, allowing them to win clean ball and giving their backs great opportunities to execute their pl
ays.
While the score reached into the upper 30’s, it was evident from both sides, that their team chemistry and timing had been affected by the early start of the season, missing players, team cohesion etc. Both were plagued with dropped balls, misread plays and simple mistakes.
The difference was Keystone was able to recover and make up for the mishaps and mishandles by sticking to their game plan and reading their opponents weaknesses and exploiting them.
That combined with the skill level of both their forward pack and their backs allowed them run away with the game. It is certain that both teams will be looking to clean up their play in preparation for next week’s matches. Keystone will face New York
at their home pitch on Randall’s Island.
Scored:
Ines Rodriguez
Rashida Stamps
Kim Magrini
Jen Sinkler (2)
Coversions:
Ines Rodriguez (5)
Penality Kick:
Ines Rodriguez
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