WPL – Week 6 Match Reports

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span class=”Apple-style-span” style=”border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;font-family:’Times New Roman’;font-size:medium;” > This past Sunday the New York Women took the pitch with one thing on their minds: winning. With that plan in mind, boots tied tight, and freshly washed uniforms tucked in, the women charged at the visiting Furies team from first whistle to the three whistle finish.

Only 39 seconds into the game the silence of the score board was broken by NYRC’s Vanesha McGee with her first of two tries for the half. Following her tries Jenna Flateman touched one down, and Maura Weikman (The Maura Weikman) knocked in two conversions for the NY squad. The Furies undoubtedly fought back hard with a try scored in the 37 minute of the first half. The half ended with NY’s Christina Hobson pushing a try pasted the Furies defense. Hobson having spent most of the season injured came back to start and score in her first game of the season. The score was 29-5 at half.
Following the brief half-time the New York women put in three more tries, while the furies put two pasted the New York defense. The game finished with a score of 48 – 15, both teams leaving the pitch exhausted.

The New York Women are now back to the grind on the turf of Pier 40 getting ready for their trip to nationals. They are set to play Beantown in the semi-final round of the tournament. East coast rivals meet again.

Points Scored:

NY
McGee (3)
Flateman (3)
Hobson (1)
Henry (1)
Weikman (4 conversions)

Furies
Berger (1)
Miller (1)

The final WPL game for both Beantown and Keystone raised the amount of pre-game tension to an entirely new level. The outcome of this game decided finaly four for the cup championship taking place in two weeks in San Francisco, California.

The game got off to a late start due to some equipment issues- but at least it was a beautiful day for Rugby with the miserable weather from Saturday giving way to a warm, sunny, Sunday. Once the game began, the energy was almost palpable on both sides of the field making this easily, the fastest paced game I’ve seen all season. For the most part, Keystone dominated the scrums forcing Beantown to take advantage of their speedy back line.

There were some really nice connections throughout the game. Jamie Burke, who played second row and prop, had a nice 20m carry popping off to Emilie Bydwell who passed to Amy Daniels for the try. Beantown’s second try came about ten minutes later off of a Keystone lineout gone-wrong and after a couple of phases, Flyhalf, Kelly Seary passed to an on-running Fullback Katie Dowty who dished it off to #14, Yancy Graf.

The first twenty-five minutes of the second half was played entirely within Beantown’s 22m allowing Keystone’s #14 Jen Sinkler to break through a gap at the 5m line and score Keystone’s try of the day. That try scared Beantown into playing better defense, and the remaining time was spent mostly on attack for the women in Red and Blue.

Overall, the game between Keystone and Beantown was one that endorsed the strengths of each team and conversely, exposed their weaknesses. Each team came back from the early morning stress with a desire to win. Beantown took the loss to Keystone earlier in the season as even more or a reason to want to win. The tenacity that Beantown brings to each and every game they play, is unmatched by any other in the league.

The game ended with the final score of 12-7, Beantown.

The Keystone and Beantown rematch was as tough and hard fought as expected. This time, Keystone was on the losing end. In a hotly-contested match, which saw multiple turnovers and mishandles forced by both squads, Beantown emerged as winners with a score of 12-7.

After having the game delayed by 45 minutes due to missing goal post pads, it took both teams about 15 minutes to regain their focus from warm-ups and find any sort of rhythm.

Beantown played their usual game of utilizing their forwards to create go forward and suck in the defense in the hopes of creating holes out wide. Their efforts paid off around the 16th minute when Amy Daniels broke through for the unconverted try. Yancy Graf put them up by 12 with a converted try at the 25th minute of the match.

Keystone knew it had opportunities to run the ball wide and in 29th minute of the second half, capitalized on one such shot. Wing Jen Sinkler broke through Beantown’s defensive wall and dotted the try down in the middle of the try zone. Flyhalf Ines Rodriguez converted, pulling Keystone within five.

Keystone had the momentum and held onto possession for most of the remaining minutes even getting great breaks down field, however they’re weren’t able to turn those breaks into trys.

Beantown had another chance to score from a scrum five meters out, but Keystone’s defensive stance wouldn’t allow it. In the waning minutes of the match, Keystone again looked poised to score another try to either tie the match or win it all. Unfortunately the ball was turned over and kicked out of touch by Beantown to end the match.

Keystone will use the bye week to prepare for the first-ever WPL National Championship series being held in San Francisco, November 6-8.

The Twin Cities Amazons fought hard in Sunday’s match against the Minnesota Valkyries but unfortunately it ended in a shut out. The match opened with a strong push by the Valkyries ending in a try by their scrumhalf and a made conversion in the 5th minute of the match. The Valkyries scored again on a back line play and again, made the conversion.

The Amazons put up a tough defense but the Valkyries were able to score again in the 25th minute making the score 19-0. During the next possession the Amazons were looking to be in great shape to set up a try but a cheap shot by a Valkyries player took out Amazon scrumhalf Colleen Tjosvold which left them at a disadvantage. The Valkyries drove through the Amazon defense again scoring a dry and a penalty kick on their next two possessions. At the end of the half, the Amazons capitalized on a series of penalties by the Valkyries and drove the ball down to within the 5 meter line. Unfortunately, the half was over before the Amazons could earn any points. The Valkyries led 27-0 after the first half.

The Amazons came out strong in the second half, holding the Valkyries back with some solid defense for the first 15 minutes. The Valkyries picked up three quick tries in the last quarter of the match and made two conversion kicks. In the end the Amazons almost scored, holding possession within the Valkyries 5 meter line for the closing minutes of the match but they were unable to capitalize on their opportunity. In the end, the Valkyries shut out the Amazons 46-0.

The game ended with the final score of 12-7, Beantown.

Following last Sunday’s victory against ORSU, the Minnesota Valkyries again left their opponents scoreless. With efforts from every teammate, the Valkyries pulled together a team win, leaving little room for the Amazons to attack, punching holes in their defense. Phase play after kick off led the Valkyries into their green zo
ne and set up a five-meter attacking scrum. From the base, it was Katy Hertel who looked up and saw the opening, touching down for the Valkyries’ first try at 4:46 into the game. A successful conversion by Dez Markovich put the Valkyries in the lead, 7-0. It was Markovich who touched down the next three tries, but it was certain that this was no one-man show. The try at 14 minutes came off of a dish from Jillion Potter who was able to control the ball off of another five-meter scrum and set up her teammate. The two following tries came through the hands of the backs. Halfway through the first half, Christy Ringgenberg and Sarah Reuter were able to assist Markovich for a try just in from touch. Ten minutes later, the ball passed through the hands of Hannah Stolba, Mel Kanuk, and Ringgenberg and was touched down by Markovich for her third try. Kicking at a penalty, Markovich split the posts and added three to the Valkyries’ first half score, bringing it to 27-0. A tough fight on the try line just before half showed the efforts of the Amazon forwards, who worked to push in a five-meter lineout. They could not find the ground, however, with Kristy Lear fighting to keep the ball up and leaving the Zons without a score.

Patience was the key as maroon found themselves in the green zone without a score after 14 minutes. With the Valkyrie pack scrumming down yet again, the forwards were able to create a steady platform and set up Kristin Zdanczewicz for the try. A successful conversion by Markovich put the Valks on the board again. Christy Ringgenberg’s 60-meter run had her swerving past defenders and using half-gaps without hesitation just minutes later. Teammates ran in support of Ringgenberg, but her aggressive attack placed her cleanly between the posts. Markovich converted and it was soon Ringgenberg again with her second try, taking the kick pass from Stolba and running it down the sideline for a try that left the spectators gasping. Showing that no one works harder than the Valkyries, both forwards and backs dug deep at the end of the game to hold up multiple Amazon attacks from both scrums and rucks. The final score finished the game with the Valkyries winning, 46-0.

The Valkyries will face Berkeley at Nationals on November 9.

1. Sarah Chobot
2. Libby Berg
3. Jen Triemstra
4. Jenny Menke
5. Sarah Walsh
6. Garnet Towne
7. Kristin Zdanczewicz
8. Jillion Potter
9. Katy Hertel
10. Hannah Stolba
11. Kristy Lear
12. Mel Kanuk
13. Christy Ringgenberg
14. Sarah Reuter
15. Dez Markovich
16. Amanda Douglas
17. Angie Heifort (for 5 at 50:00)
18. Meredith Mrachek (for 2 at 75:00)
19. Laura Gill (for 1 at half)
20. Gabe Fidelman (for 12 at 63:00)
21. Kat Vater
22. Justina Debruzzi

For more coverage of the Women’s Premier League, please visit the master page!