WPL Match Summary & Video – Glendale Raptors vs San Diego Surfers by Mark Bullock

Raptors Defeat Surfers in Round Two

With highs in the mid-thirties, and a cool breeze, the Glendale Raptors played to a 24 – 23 decision over the San Diego Surfers at Infinity Park.

The Raptors struck first when flyhalf Hannah Stolba kicked an early penalty kick to go up 3 – 0 in the third minute. The Surfers would strike back to take the lead on a long-range sprint from outside center Emilie Bydwell, 5 – 3. Off a short lineout the Raptors would regain the lead as prop Sara Chabot would pop over for a converted try, 12 – 5.

Glendale continued to pressure the Surfers territorially as the Surfers were having a difficult time with the referee, allowing Stolba to punt the ball deep into Surfer territory. It was from such pressure that Stolba kicked two drop goals in the twenty-eighth and thirty-fifth minute to build on the Raptor lead. The Surfers would respond with a late penalty kick by center Kirsten Hartos to go into half down 16 – 8.

The Raptors would score within four minutes of the start of the half as wing Kandis Ruiz finished a fine attack with a precision pass to fullback Tonya Ansel. Stolba would close out the Raptor scoring in the fifty-ninth minute with a thirty-eight meter penalty goal, 24 – 8.

The Surfers would come back with a consolation try in the sixty=seventh minute on a smart try by flanker Emily Ortega, but were unable to build on that final try.

Next up for the Raptors will be a trip to the New York RFC while the Surfers take on the Berkeley All Blues in San Diego.

Match Video

Round 4 San Diego v Glendale 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.