There was nothing like an 8AM kickoff time to challenge both the All Blues and NYRC to bring their A-game to Sunday’s match in Vallejo. Both teams began warming up before the sun came up, beginning the match in a cliche layer of San Francisco Fog. The damp conditions caused both teams a high number of knock-ons and penalties. While New York made a strong effort to utilize both their pack and back line throughout the game, Berkeley came out on top with dominating scrums, well-utilized kicking, and solid defensive pressure. With two consecutive yellow cards awarded to Berkeley players in the 39th and 49th minute, Berkeley was still able to shut out New York with a 48-0 victory.
The first points were put on the board by Berkeley’s eight-man Liz Terry with a successful conversion by Fly Half Ruth Bryson, putting Berkeley up 7-0 early in the game. A second try for Berkeley followed shortly after when Lock Sarah Walsh took advantage of the scrum that Berkeley won at NY’s 5m. Bryson’s conversion put Berkeley ahead 14-0. An excellent effort by scrumhalf Jossy Tseng continued to spin play wide, allowing Berkeley’s back line to challenge New York, eventually resulting in a try by Berkeley’s back Ardia Kelker, with a successful conversion by Bryson to take the game into half time with a score of 21-0 Berkeley.
New York kicked off in the second half as both teams kept the score stagnant for the first 20 minutes. After several subs by both sides and a good amount of kicking by both sides, Berkeley’s successfully drove in a try, completed by loose-forward Phoebe Boone, putting Berkeley ahead 26-0. While the conversion was unsuccessful, Bryson opted to kick for points only minutes later, successfully upping the score to 29-0 Berkeley. With the help of the back line to advance the ball down the pitch, Berkeley’s Phoebe Boone and the forward pack used a scrum at NY’s 5m to punch in another try. Bryson’s successful conversion put Berkeley ahead 36-0.
Berkeley center Lucy Croy, who recently returned from an injury, took advantage of NY’s kick, breaking through the NY defensive line and scoring a 50m try. Bryson’s successful conversion put Berkeley ahead 41-0. While New York successfully held up a try with minutes to go in the game, they were soon given a penalty within their 5m for hands-in, which Berkeley pounced on and converted into one last try by center Lucy Croy and conversion by Ruth Bryson, finishing the game at a decisive 48-0 Berkeley victory.
View more photos from the match here.
Match Video
All Blues vs New York Part 2 from Women's Premier League Rugby on Vimeo.
View the complete 2012 WPL Schedule and Results here.
View all of the match reports from this season here.