WPL Week 5 Match Reports

Keystone lost its rematch with New York, 26-0. There’s no doubt that the 40 degree temperature and rain-soaked pitch made for a very tough match. However, Keystone’s inability to sustain continuity was ultimately the cause of their loss.

From the start, both teams were off and running, trying their best to maintain possession and pressure the other team into forced errors. NY did a better job at this as Keystone wasn’t able to hold onto possession for more than a couple of phases before turning the ball over.

Penalties again plagued Keystone and just like the first time the two teams met, NY was able to use the quick tap opportunities to spread the ball and capitalize on the infringements.

Throughout the match, Keystone forwards dominated NY in the scrum and in open-field play, however NY was able to pressure and/or win many of Keystone’s lineouts, again forcing turnover ball. In the end, it was NY’s ability to maintain possession and get the ball to some key playmakers that allowed them to run away with the game.

Keystone will now get ready for their Oct. 25th rematch against Beantown in Boston.

It was a beautiful day for rugby in Minneapolis last Sunday when the Twin Cities Amazons hosted the Berkeley All Blues. The Amazons fought hard but in the end, Berkeley came out on top. The Amazons dominated possession for the first eight minutes but an intercepted Amazon pass lead to a Berkeley try in the tenth minute of the match giving them the lead right out of the gate. Amazon lock Anna Brown broke away with a great run during the next possession bringing the Amazon’s deep into Berkeley territory. Unfortunately for the Zons possession was lost and Berkeley #14 had a big run bringing the ball back within the Amazon’s 22.

In the 20th minute of the match Amazon back Amanda Kingzett broke through the All Blue’s defense and was tackled around midfield. Colleen Tjosvold picked the ball out of a ruck and ran the ball deep into Berkeley territory. This possession ended in an Amazon try by inside center Amanda Kingzett with a made conversion by flyhalf Reebok Radtke.

A series of penalties by the All Blues during the next possession allowed the Amazons to move the ball all the way up field. The Amazons did a fabulous job capitalizing on Berkeley’s mistakes and maintaining possession. Amazon Hooker Tonnie Wulff kept the possession going with a series of perfect lineout throws. By the 35th minute of the match, the Amazons had driven the ball inside the All Blue’s 22 meter mark. The forwards attempted to hammer it into the try zone and in the end, Amazon outside center Lynelle Kugler broke through the defense and make the score 12-5 at half.

The Amazons opened the second half strong with a nice back line play leading to another try by Lynelle Kugler. The All Blues answered with a break away run by #14 leading to another five points for Berkeley making the score 17-10 Amazons. The All Blues brought the ball back into Amazon
territory and scored again by a nice run by Ashley English. Berkeley was relentless and the Amazons were beginning to fall apart. Berkeley capitalized on a tired Amazon team and hammered the ball into the try zone twice taking the lead and making the score 25-17 Berkeley. The Amazons came back with amazing runs by Ashley Loosbrock and Ashley Mulford bringing the ball within the Berkeley 5 meter line. By the end, the Amazons were tired and the All Blues capitalized once more making the final score Berkeley 32, Amazons 17.

The Washington Furies continued their strong showing in the second half of the regular season with an 18-0 loss to Beantown on Sunday. The visitors struck first on the cold, blustery day, mauling up the right side in the 6th minute for the comfortable try by flanker Katy Augustyn at the back of the pack. Although the conversion kick was no good, the quick score and dominant maul could have put the Furies on their heels. Instead, Beantown would not score another try in the first half.

The sides traded fierce runs by the backs and loose forwards and ferocious punches by the tight five, but both defenses were able to contain line breaks and largely avoid mistakes handling kicks, despite the wet ball and capricious wind. In the 20th minute, the Furies’ Kelly Clerkin blocked a Beantown kick, sending the ball bouncing into the try zone, but Beantown was able to recover the ball first. The Furies would come within striking distance once more, but tough Beantown defense and an inopportune knock-on kept them from scoring. In the 34th minute, a penalty on the Furies would result in a successful penalty kick by Beantown’s Ashley Snyder, putting her team up 8-0. At the half, that’s how the score stood.

The second half started out just as fierce, with both teams playing smart, attacking rugby. Beantown worked the Furies deep into their own territory, and in the 56th minute, Beantown’s Amy Daniels outran the defense to score a dazzling try up the left side. In the 62nd minute, Beantown No. 8 Melanie Denham got her own try on the left side. Beantown failed to convert either kick for points after, but expanded their lead to 18-0.

In the 66th minute, the Furies’ Emily Miller was sin binned for 10 minutes for not rolling away, a punishment for cumulative team penalties. Despite playing a man down, the Furies were able to keep Beantown out of their try zone. In the closing minutes, the Furies would push deep into Beantown territory with quick runs, dishes and digs, but the visitors were able to clear the ball to bring the referee’s game-ending whistle.

“I was thrilled,” said Furies head coach Nancy Fitz. “I thought we played and competed really hard for 80 minutes. Just the improvement from the last time we played Beantown was remarkable. People are starting to believe that they can compete individually with these players from these other teams, and, even more so, we’re starting to believe that we’re at that same level.”

*waiting for Match Report

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