WPL Match Summary & Video – San Diego Surfers vs Berkeley All Blues by Marea Blue

Cali rivals the San Diego Surfers and the Berkeley All-Blues met for the second time this season on Saturday in San Diego.

San Diego and Berkeley battled back and forth in a scoreless game until midway through the first half when the All-Blues kicked for touch to set themselves up deep in Surfers’ territory. The All-Blues got a hand on the Surfers’ throw-in, and Berkeley hooker Katy Augustyn scooped up the loose ball and muscled her way through a few defenders and into the try zone. (San Diego 0, Berkley 5)

Ten minutes later, San Diego 8-man Julia Anderson broke a tackle following a Surfers’ line-out and took off on a twenty meter breakaway. Support runners rucked over Anderson, the ball spun to the backs and then to strike runner Amy Naber who broke the line again to put the Surfers within inches of the goal line. The ball shot out the back of the ensuing Berkeley scrum and flanker Lauren Daly pounced on it to score San Diego’s first try of the game. Fullback Val Griffeth converted. (San Diego 7, Berkeley 5)

Berkeley had a chance to go up on the Surfers before the close of the half but their penalty kick attempt was just short of the posts.

The All-Blues got another opportunity five minutes into the second half when a San Diego knock-on gave them the ball on the Surfers’ twenty-two meter line. The Surfers’ defensive push off the scrum was too slow to catch looping Berkeley backs and winger Ardia Kelker who took the left corner for the try. (San Diego 7, Berkeley 10)

The Surfers tightened up their defense and kept the All-Blues out of the try zone for the next twenty minutes but also struggled to get into scoring position. Flanker Cara Nocero and scrumhalf Liz Strohecker each had breakaways that could have turned into San Diego tries, but not enough support to finish and cut into Berkeley’s lead.

Two minutes before the end of the match, a series of picks and tight crashes by the All-Blues off the back of the breakdown sucked in defenders and created holes in the Surfers’ line. All-Blue Phoebe Boone found a gap on the right side of a goal line ruck, picked the ball and launched into the try zone for Berkeley’s final score. Flyhalf Ruth Bryson converted. (San Diego 7, Berkeley 17)

San Diego kept the ball in play as long as possible for a long final possession, but Berkeley was able to keep them out of the try zone.

Final Score: San Diego 7, Berkeley 17

Match Video

2012 Week 5 San Diego v Berkeley 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.