YSC Reporter Donna Ventura – San Diego Surfers vs New York Match Report & VIDEO [WPL]

View the 2011 WPL Schedule and Results here.

Match Video

2nd Half

By Donna Ventura:

You can’t win if you don’t score and you can’t score if you don’t have the ball. I believe this sums up almost every team sport played. It definitely defines yesterday’s WPL match between visiting San Diego Surfers and the New York Rugby Club. San Diego has something to prove as the “new kid on block” in the WPL and they certainly played with a vengeance from first whistle to last. They took an early 15-3 lead in the match and never looked back.

As I approached the field, I could see the hard hitting action from even 100 meters away. As I walked up, there was a loose ball that Surfers center Kiki Hartos kicked down the field. She gathered the ball, passed to support as she was tackled inside the 22. This leads to a try held up and scrum to SD. Surfers retain possession, ball goes to the backs. They used an overload situation to their advantage and wing Casey Fields ran it in to make the score 15-3. Try was unconverted.

I asked a bystander what the score was and she said 15-3. I said, “San Diego?!?!” She replied “Yeah” and the look of astonishment on her face was unmistakable.

New York was definitely fired up on the kick off. San Diego was unable to cleanly field the kick and NY was quick to recover and drive down the field into Surfer territory. New York pounded their way towards a try but were unable to punch the ball in and on a ruck San Diego took possession with a kick for a New York line out. New York was unable to make anything happen off of the line out and the hard hitting, center of the field, loose play continued.

Towards the end of the first half, San Diego won a scrum and the ball went out to the backs. Surfer Marea Blue made a nice run down field, passed to forward in support Cara Nocero who continued the run into contact. Ball was again sent out to the backs and they put another 5 points on the scoreboard.

San Diego scored many of their tries near the corners and combined with the New York friendly breeze, made every kick a challenge for Hartos. Half time score was SD 20 – NY 3.

The second half started out with a Surfer’s kick not 10 and a scrum center. New York takes possession of the ball but just didn’t seem to be able to find a rhythm. Defense played a big role in San Diego’s victory as they were able to interrupt the NY back line repeatedly.

Key counter rucks by both teams also created turnovers. Unfortunately for New York, they were not able to capitalize on these turnovers.

The scoring for the second half was all San Diego. Off of loose play the ball goes out to the backs and Blue makes a few moves and into the try zone she goes. Hartos converts. SD 27- NY 3. The final try happened in the same way with a Surfers center making a nice run to score. Hartos converts. SD 34- NY 3.

New York had a few nice drives towards the end of full time, one leading to a try held up near the final whistle. You could see the frustration on several of the NY players’ faces as the game continued.
Much of this match was played in New York’s territory as San Diego maintained a high intensity attacking style of play. San Diego forwards and backs worked as one solid unit in loose play that lead to several tries from the backs. The Surfers also benefited from incredible defense that just wouldn’t relent to allow even one try from NY.

The Surfers definitely made a statement that they are ready for the WPL with their 34-3 victory over New York.

View the 2011 WPL Schedule and Results here.