Santa Monica Lady Phins Defeat the San Diego Surfers

from Santa Monica Rugby Club:

San Diego, CA – It appears that the Santa Monica Women’s Rugby team has returned to form after a tough match-up last weekend against the hosting San Diego Surfers. After slogging it out in the rain, Santa Monica came away with a terrific victory and put the Surfers away, 22-10.

With the weather forecast proclaiming a 90% chance of thunderstorms, it looked like Saturday wasn’t going to be a rugby day after all for the Santa Monica Women’s team. But alas, the Rugby gods intervened and with a late go-ahead the women’s team headed to San Diego to play the reigning DI National Champs.

From the very first whistle, it was evident that the game was going to be tough. The late go-ahead resulted in a tardy arrival to the pitch and, consequently, the Lady Phins only had 20 minutes to shake off the siesta, stretch out their cramped legs and prepare to challenge the Surfers. The Surfers’ starting line-up was peppered with some of their more inexperienced players, but they still eagerly took advantage of the Phins’ sluggish start. They were dominant in the opening minutes, maintaining possession, keeping the ball in their territory, and finally punching through the Santa Monica defense for the first try of the game. However, in spite of the Surfers early onslaught, the Lady Phins were still able to hold the Surfers to that single trip across the try-line in the first half out of sheer determination and will power.

The Surfers’ try marked a turning point in the Lady Phins’ level of play – a wake-up call the Phins needed to get their minds and bodies into the game. Then it was the Lady Phins turn to score and it was #8, Nikki “Q” Garcea, who found the line. Q was a standout in the game, earning herself Forward-of-the-Match honors. She was everywhere she was supposed to be – hitting low and hard on defense, cleaning out rucks and taking the ball into contact like the monster that she is.

After leveling the score, 5-5, the game turned into a welterweight bout, with flashes of brilliance here and there on either side of the ball. Referee Jason Scott made sure to let the ladies know when he thought something brilliant was taking place. He chanted a mantra with every secured ball, driving maul or dashing back (“That’s some nice rugby”). But despite both sides’ commendable play, it was Santa Monica who scored again in the first half. Karie “Truck” Orendorff crossed the line in true “Truck” style – crashing over the line, out on the wing. Truck’s score put the Lady Phins up 10-5 to end the first half.

The intensity on the pitch did not let up in the second; in fact, it developed from a test of capability and athleticism into a trial of mental toughness. It was clear that the team that who refused to give up would be triumphant and that neither team was going to concede easily. Santa Monica was first to score and extend their lead off a penalty as Surfer hands were in the ruck right before the try line. Five meters out, Lock Te Awhina Ho Chee took the tap and punched through defenders to score.

With the positive energy of a lead radiating through the team, it was time for the Santa Monica backline to shine. Flyhalf Emily Birdwhistell called an inside play and no one could stop Outside Center Whitney Vance when she came flying in. Taking the ball at the tremendous pace that we have come to expect from Whit (not to mention a beautiful angle) Whit made her usual appearance over the try-line, right between the up-rights. Chipping the conversion through the posts, Whit extended the Santa Monica lead, 22-5.

Waterlogged and full of bumps and bruises, both teams played hard until the final whistle. Minutes before the end of the game, the Surfers managed to get another try in and found a hole in the Santa Monica defense. The final result was a Santa Monica victory, 22-10.

The backlines for each team were, for the most part, evenly matched. The Surfers’ backline was lead by veteran Kristin Hartos who always kept the Phins on their toes with her brilliant boot and field awareness. Coming into the game in the second half, Surfers Fullback Casey Fields brought some more firepower to their back line and made her presence immediately felt whenever she had the ball in hand. However, every time Fields got into open space, she was forced to go head to head with Andrea “Burner” Staid. Burner played a solid game in the backfield, saving territory when Hartos would put the ball to space and making deadly open-field tackles when Fields broke through exhausted defenders. In forward play, due to a combination of blustering winds and their height advantage, the Surfers owned the lineout. But, when it came to the Scrum, it was Santa Monica’s ball all day. The Lady Phins pushed San Diego off the ball, wheeled the scrum and secured possession with every put-in to get ball to the backs.

This week the Lady Phins travel to San Diego again to play in the Champagne Classic. The tournament is going to be an excellent opportunity for the women to rub shoulders with some of the elite women’s rugby players in the nation. Their first match-up is against the powerful Berkley Blues and should be a nail-biter. Stay tuned.