PAC COAST WOMEN 7S ALL STAR vs MEXICO WNT 7S

This past weekend saw a special guest team make an appreance in the women’s bracket at Palo Alto, Ca. The Mexico Women’s National 7s squad made a trip up for the weekend to test their skills against some foreign competition. After a hard fought match against a young Berkeley All-Blues side, that saw them win the game 15-12 on a last minute try, they readied themselves for a showdown with the PAC Coast 7s All-stars.

Mexico opted to kick to the Grizzlies first to start off the game and the PAC Coast wasted no time working the ball wide to speedster Victoria Folayan (Berkeley All-Blues) who turned the edge and dotted down for an opening minute try. The Grizzlies saw the next two tries come from Nathalie Marchino (Berkeley All-Blues); the first was a daring attack run through the middle of Mexico defense and the second a pick and go around the fringes of a sleeping Mexico breakdown. Both tries were converted by Jillian Whitfield (Berkeley All-Blues). The half ended with a textbook pull out by Marchino that saw the ball passed the width of the field to Folayan, who stepped her defender and zipped in for a try. Whitfield again converted the try. 26-0

Much the way the first half ended, the second half began with the Grizzlies’ Kelly Griffin (USA Rugby) taking the kick-off, attacking up field with Phoebe Boone in support (Berkeley All-Blues). Boone
recognizing that the Mexican defenders had over committed, ran a scissor line that set her free for the try, which Sarah Davis (Berkeley All-Blues) converted.The Grizzlies began to turn up the
defensive pressure, forcing Mexico into hurried passes, one of which was picked off by Marchino that sent her rumbling down field. The Mexican sweeper played the break away run perfectly tackling Marchino 10m from the goal line but newcomer Jackie Lewis (at large) was right there in support for the pop off the ground and the support try. Davis again made the conversion from a hard angle on the outside. With time running down the The Pac Coast put in two more tries one from Boone and anther from Lewis that saw her put a wicked step and go move on her defender. Davis ended the game with a conversion kick that left the final score at 52-0.

Individual standouts were San Juanita Moreno (ORSU) who contested and won over half the defensive breakdowns in the first half and captain Irene Gardner (Berkeley All-Blues) who distribution and leadership saw the Pac Coast Grizzlies play a complete game. The 7s All-stars will be in action next in Chula Vista, Ca for the 7s NASC event August 16-18.