In the fourth and final Empire GU qualifier, once again Old Blue met New York in the women’s final. This time New York prevailed 14-7 to secure their first tournament championship of the series. To reach the final, New York dispatched Morris II 45-0, the Village Lions 50-0, and Monmouth II 42-0 and drew Old Blue II 12-12. Pool play for Old Blue I included wins over the Village Lions II 54-0, Monmouth 42-5, New York II 33-0 and Morris 35-0.
Old Blue II also ended pool play undefeated, but their +111 point differential fell short of New York’s point differential by three scores. Old Blue II went on to claim the tournament third place with a 24-0 shutout over Morris.
Old Blue, with three prior tournament championships, claimed the trophy for the Empire GU’s Women’s Summer 7s Series. New York Women were runner’s up.
This weekend, Old Blue I & II, as well as New York I & II will join the Boston Belles in Saratoga Springs, NY for the Northeast Championship, also known as the Schuyler Cup. The top two finishers will earn a trip to the National Tournament to the newly relocated championship location Seattle.
MVP honors went to Rebecca Hall (Old Blue/ Wooden Spoons) and Rosalie MacGowan (New York).
Cup Final:
OB Black 7 NY I 14
OB Black: Ball Camous Knight Super Heavner Thomas (Johnson) Gauthraeux. Schmitt. R Cruz.
NY I will kick off. OB knocks on at the far side at our 30. NY set, NY loops wide to the corner, KG @ 1 min 0-7 NY. NY is penalized for not releasing in the tackle. OB answers immediately with tremendous individual efforts when two OBs make an 80-m jailbreak. Against only a single pursuing NY defender, the offload is too soon. OB knocks on in the LO. NY set 20 out on the near side. NY use it to again to loop and score. KG, 0-14 NY.
2nd Half
OB opens the 2nd period with an aggressive attack; and probes the corner ourselves, but inside the 20, NY this time happens to have someone just close enough to jersey tackle OB into touch. Phaidra does expert work in rucking them off the ball and it goes to Becky, who powers to center posts @ 3 mins, Hannah KG 7-14 NY. OB seems overly anxious and keeps creeping up. Off the LO, OB set at the 5. The ball goes free when the runner takes her eye off the ball and NY is off for 90-m, but they throw it forward and OB dodges a bullet. OB set, but there is a stoppage and the whistle ends play.
OB: Ball (T), Gauthreaux (C).
NY: 2T, 2C.
Pool Game Reports:
NRU Qualifier Pool B
OB Black 54 Village Lions II 0
OB Black: Ball Camous Knight Super Heavner Thomas Gauthreaux. Johnson, Tang, R Cruz, Schmitt.
Wing Hannah Gauthreaux’s kick is mishandled by the Lions at the 30. OB wastes no time, wins the opening scrum and spins wide to the far sideline to Hannah, who centers it to open the scoring at just 30 seconds, her own KG, 7-0 OB @ 1 min. VL try to distribute the restart and a hit by prop Tianna Camous, back after just 2-week recovery period for a right shoulder dislocation that popped back in on its own, lays the runner out flat on her back at the VL 20. Fellow prop Becky Ball scoops it right up and dashes in for the centered try. #10 Corinne Heavner, also back after a layoff for a knee injury, KG, 14-0 OB @ 2 mins. The restart is deep in the middle, and again is promptly mishandled into OB hands. Center Davon Thomas has it and comes left into traffic at the 10, stutter-steps through and breaks to the posts to cross the line, Hannah KG, 21-0 OB @ 3mins.
Corinne, a former HS All American coming off her freshman year at women’s collegiate power Penn State, for whom she played in both XVs and 7s, kicks off. OB quickly turns them over and counter, but spill ball to a VL set 25 out. Former perennial Eagle (in XVs & 7s), RFC veteran and World XVs Phaidra Knight joins Becky and Tianna to form a formidable front row; and they promptly take a tighthead. The Lions are penalized and Hannah quick taps. She takes a hard north-south line and switches to Heavner, who takes a few strides, and smartly sidesteps past the sweeper to score, her own KG 28-0 OB @ 6 mins.
Hannah with another deep KO. #9 Tabetha Super explodes into the runner with a well-timed tackle and lights her up. PK quick taps another Lions penalty and puts it in Hannah’s hands wide; and the winger smokes the lagging defense to earn her second try, her KG, 35-0 OB. Half.
2nd Half
Lions KO. Super has it and bursts up the field to their 30. Support is late, but OB gets ball wide to Zoe, who sprints up the line and centers, KNG 40-0 OB @ 1 min. VL spill ball, and an elusive Rosemary Cruz uses a succession of sidesteps to dot down free of contact off the posts, A very impressive effort, Tang KG @ 3 mins, OB 47-0. Super is all over the field, and OB threatens constantly. OB set 25 out, and OB gets it to Rosie, who again displays a really pretty pair of sidesteps to score back to back tries, Tang KG, 54-0 OB
Scoring:
OB: Gauthreaux (2T, 3C), R Cruz (2 T), Ball (T), Heavner (T, 2C), Thomas (T), Schmitt (T), Tang (2C).
OB Black 42 Monmouth II 5
OB Black: Ball Camous Knight (Schmitt) Super (Tang) Heavner Thomas (R Cruz) Gauthreaux (Johnson).
Deep in the end, Becky picks up spilled ball and breaks away for 80 meters and the talented prop is tackled around the neck and head as she neared the try line, and her feet come out from under her. OB goes wide but mishandle. They kick away from their set scrum to touch. Scrumhalf Super throws in to PK, who taps down back to her #9, who sends ball wide. Hannah has space and runs it in from our 45, her KG, 7-0 OB @ 4 mins.
They throw forward and Phaidra picks up ball from our scrum and outpaces them all for a 60-m line break try. Hannah KG @ the whistle, OB 14-0.
2nd Half
Right off the restart, Davon takes a gap and Monmouth is caught without a sweeper. Davon slants to the middle and beats their two speedsters to score in the middle. Corinne’s KG @ 1 min. OB 21-0. KO is not 10. They tap at the 50 and break up the sideline, but are bundled into touch. OB goes with a quick throw-in, but the hospital pass clearing from pressure leads to a penalty inside the 10. OB back up to the goal, make a big hit, are penalized again; and their big prop powers in from the 5, KNG @ 3 mins, OB 21-5.
Again Monmouth has no sweeper. They are all up off their KO to OB; after some scrambling inside the 25, Rosie gathers ball and completes our fourth long breakaway for a 75-m try. Corinne KG @ 4 mins, OB 28-5.
Rosie gets another moments later, Corinne KG OB 35-5. OB backs them up, force a free ball that Nikki scoops up at the 15, leaves a defender grasping at air with a nasty sidestep and dots down on the right post for Black’s 6th try, Corinne KG OB 42-5.
Scoring:
OB: R Cruz (2T), Knight (T), Thomas (T), Tang (T), Gauthreaux (T, 2C), Heavner (4C).
Monmouth: T
OB Black 35 NY II 0
OB Black: Schmitt (Ball) Camous Knight Heavner Tang R Cruz (Johnson) Gauthreaux. Super, Thomas.
OB finds themselves inside their own 5 from the get-go, but #9 Nikki Tang Uses her sidestep to break to the 50 and has Corinne in support, out to Hannah, who completes the 95-m movement to score, her KG, 7-0 OB @ 2mins. Fine support and nice movement of the ball through hands. Phaidra outleaps NY II for the KO and taps it back. This sets in motion another display of OB hands to move the ball away to Hannah at the 50, where she races to center posts for a try, her KG @ 4 mins, OB 14-0.
OB turns them over from the restart, and moves the ball wide to Phaidra, who smartly steps out of contact at the sideline and swings it back into the pocket. Two quick OB rucks and Nikki has it at the 35, and rushes in to score her second try, Corinne KG at the whistle, OB 21-0.
2nd Half
A quick tap and nicely through hands to Hannah, who makes them pay by bursting to the corner and bringing it to the middle to touch down for her brace of tries @ 2 mins, Corinne KG, OB 28-0.
OB forces NY back with heavy pressure and a Corinne Heavner tackle destroys a girl into touch to end things. They tap back our LO. OB pours over the ball, and Davon scoops it up at the 10 in the centers and trots in to the right post, Corinne KG 35-0 OB. No side.
Scoring:
OB: Tang (2T), Gauthreaux (2T, 2C), Thomas (T), Heavner (3C).
OB Black 40 Morris II 0
OB Black: Ball (Schmitt ) Camous Knight Super Heavner Thomas (R Cruz) Gauthreaux (Johnson).
2:30 PM. Final pool match for OB Black. Opponent is Morris II. Ref signals advantage and OB uses the ‘juice ball’ (free possession) to put ball in Hannah’s hands; and as she goes for the sideline, she is grabbed by the neck and collar. But she is able to shrug it off and fly around the corner for a 70-m to score, her KG @ 1 min. OB 7-0. OB has possession again; and move them form sideline to sideline (the proverbial ‘swinging gate’.) and finally it is #9 Tabetha on the corner. She cuts inside the last defender and scores @ 3 mins, Hannah KG OB 14-0.
At 4 mins, Morris mangles a quick tap and Becky Ball takes it to the house for try, Hannah KG, 21-0 OB. Super makes a huge sideline break into their end, and they clear to touch. They tap our LO and try again to kick clear, but Davon blocks it, recovers the ball and goes over. Try. Corinne KG, 28-0 OB. Half.
2nd Half
Becky torments them with another run through arms inside their 15. Davon comes out with it and scores at 1 min, KNG 33-0 OB. Another juice ball on advantage at the 20, but OB rushes matters and mishandle with numbers to spare, and a sure try goes begging. They spin ball off the set, but Super picks their pocket and goes 50 to score her second, Her KG, OB 40-0 Final. OB Black has swept their pool 4-0, 171 to 5 against, with 25 tries to 1 against. They are in the final.
Scoring:
OB: Super (2T, C), Thomas (2T), Gauthreaux (T, 3C), Ball (T), Heavner (C).
NRU Qualifier Pool A
OB White 26 Village Lions I 0
OB White: Cammock G Cruz (c) Pratt Verdonik Olman Robles Zambon. Filer, Terrado, Hawkins, Calcano.
VL I knock on off our early penalty: OB scrum at midfield. Our ball is kicked out and #9 Amy Verdonik is smothered; but center Shamira Robles scoops up the loose ball and bursts for 50 to center posts, Jinnie ‘JP’ Pratt KG 7-0 OB @ 2mins.
On the restart, OB misses a tackle and they’re off, but US All American Eagle Melissa Olman runs it down at out 10, then leaps right to her feet and tackles the offload too. They then knock on at our 25 and she has saved us. Shamira makes a line break. Lions intentional knock forward is not called; but they are whistled moments later at the 10. Mel alertly quick taps and dashes in for her 2nd try, JP KG 14-0 OB at the half.
2nd Half
OB trys to tap back the KO, but knock forward to a VL set. The OB front row blows them off the set and Amy buries her opposite. Payback. Nice work by Amy to clear bad ball from our set to Mel at the 35. Olman Takes a gap and breaks to the 3 before she is wrapped up; but support in the form of center Denisse Zambon is right there on her hip and takes the pop pass over the line, KNG, 19-0 OB @ 2mins.
Off the restart, the Lions have 3 on nobody off a ruck, but captain Gioanna Cruz is a blur as she closes and erases the runner before they can exploit all that space. A great defensive effort. VL turn the corner on OB again, but Domo Cammock is leading the tackling. VL set at the 10. They win clean set ball, but Amy this time plays off the scrum and smartly steps into the halfback passing lane and picks off the unsuspecting #9’s exchange and strides in for the try. Defense creates tries once again. Zambon KG @ 6 mins, OB 26-0.
Scoring:
OB: Robles (T), Olman (T), Zambon (T, C), Verdonik (T ), Pratt (2C).
OB White 12 NY I 12
OB White: Cammock G Cruz (c) Pratt Verdonik Olman Robles Zambon. Filer, Terrado, Hawkins, Calcano.
NY quickly goes to their tried and true tactic, and loops wide to shed pursuit. It works. OB have set up stacked too tightly inside them and then take late and poor angles of pursuit to present NY with exactly what they wished: space outside. And NY exploits it for a centered try, KG @ 2 mins, 0-7 NY.
At the next breakdown, OB prop Domonique Cammock vaporizes someone. She is quickly up and leads OB the other way, taking ball into contact aggressively and knocking defenders over. OB is a bit late to support with the third man in to secure ball; as NY counter rucks and turns it over and scores @ 5 mins. NY takes the score and goes up 0-12. As the half closes, OB answers with a centered try by Mel, KNG, 5-12 NY.
2nd Half
Heavy pressure forces NY to fling it away for wing Denisse Zambon to gather at their 30. She beats NY to the try line; and Jinnie Pratt is faced with a very difficult sideline attempt. She slices it over and her KG ties it at 2 mins! 12-12
In injury time, unrelenting OB tackling frees up a ball for Mel to make a brilliant run to score. But the official sees the ball pop up and from 30 yards away calls a knock on and disallows the try.
Scoring:
OB: Olman (2T), Pratt (C).
NY I: 2T, C.
OB White 47 Monmouth I 7
OB White: Filer (Cammous) G Cruz (Calcano) Pratt Verdonik (Hawkins) Olman Robles Zambon. Terrado.
OB White, who tied with NY I in a tremendous match, has waited while NY I closed out their pool play with a pair of lopsided wins; they need to win by a total of 111 points in the last two pool matches to overtake NY I by dint of tiebreakers. With just 7-minute halves, it is a daunting task.
First up is Morris I. Mel opens the scoring @ 4 mins with a sweet line break and offloads to center Shamira for a 40-m try, JP KG, 7-0 OB. OB kicks the restart deep, but have no one marking their second phase ball, and Monmouth go in unmolested for a try, tough KG, 7-7 @ 5 mins. Shamira answers with a strong break from 40 to score, JP KG @ 6 mins, OB 14-7. On the restart, Morris doesn’t even make a play on the ball and Domo is surprised when she rushes up to find a free ball that she gratefully gathers and outlegs them for a corner try, KNG OB 19-7 at the half.
2nd Half
Excellent take on an OB put in and swings ball wide to Denisse, who goes 70-m to score, after being boxed in at the 10 by the sweeper, whom she freezes with a spectacular dummy. The girl stands straight up, and Denisse blows by her to score under the posts, her KG @ 2 mins OB 26-7. OB kicks deep. Soti Calcano does a great job to hang on in a tackle with Gio Cruz conspicuous in several straight rucks. The superior rucking provides ball for Mel to use for a try @ 2 mins, Denisse KG OB 33-7. They spill the kick and Shamira picks up the mistake to score from 40, Denisse KG @ 3 mins 40-7 OB. AS time winds down, Mel gathers up another Morris passing error and streaks in from 40, Denisse KG, 47-7 OB as time expires.
Scoring:
OB: Robles (3T), Olman (2T), Cammous (T), Zambon (T, 4C), Pratt (2C).
Monmouth I: T, C.
OB White 50 Morris I 0
OB White: Cammous G Cruz Pratt (Calcano) Hawkins (Verdonik ) Olman Robles Zambon. Filer, Terrado.
OB White is intent on attempting the nearly impossible: 10 tries + to none in their final pool match. Long odds in order to overcome NY I and earn a spot in the finals. Mel does her part with a fine try just 1 min into paly, JP KG, OB 7-0. And the duo repeats again at 2 mins, 14-0 OB. But Morris is unwittingly eating up clock by working hard at the breakdowns and chewing up time. Morris makes a break and their big prop hangs on in the maul nicely, as OB is forced to play defense for the rest of the period. OB finally regains possession and Gio uses it to score, JP’s kick is true, OB 21-0. Fianlly, Mel is able to elude a tackle and score in the corner, KNG 26-0 OB. Whistle.
2nd Half
A tremendous effort, but no one wants to think about the likelihood of 7 converted tries in 7 minutes. Shamira goes off with a shoulder injury. Gio scores minutes later, Denisse KG, 33-0 OB. Denisse quickly follows with a quick try, her KG, but how much injury time is there? 40-0 OB. Soti make a big hit, then another in the ensuing ruck, Ball spun wide Amy to Soti to Alexandrea ‘A2’ Hawkins. A2 touches down in the corner @ 5 mins, KNG 45-0 OB. Morris makes a break, but OB turns them over and Mel hustles for a long try wide, KNG 50-0 OB. OB White needed a point differential of 111 in the final two matches to win the pool, but only got 90. So plays for third place.
Scoring:
OB: Olman (4T), G Cruz (2T), Hawkins (T), Zambon (T, 2C), Pratt (3C).
Cup 3rd Place:
OB White 24 Morris II 0
OB White: Filer Cammock Pratt Verdonik Olman Zambon Hawkins. G Cruz Calcano Terrado.
OB opens with immediate withering pressure, led by #9 Amy Verdonik, who smothers her opposite off the set. Morris is overwhelmed by a tidal wave of white jerseys as they struggle to regather ball and are backed up toward their goal. OB makes a massive line break on the far side line and are off to the races; but OB tosses a blind pass that is mishandled into touch to stop the sure try. The heavy pressure continues from the LO, as everyone pours through to force play inside the ten. The hosts try desperately to clear wide from pressure, and are forced into a poor pass that Mel steps into and dashes in for the easy centered try. JP KG 7-0 OB @ 2 mins.
OB tackles off the restart and on 2nd phase ball center Denisse Zambon drifts wide and switches inside to Olman at pace. Mel is through the over-pursuit and dots down center posts, JP KG 14-0 OB at the half.
2nd Half
OB swings ball across the pitch to Gio who goes into contact hard. OB support is first to the ruck and gets quick ball to Mel, who has space to race in from 10 for her third consecutive try. KNG 19-0 OB @ 2 mins. Morris set on their own five after an OB knock on going in. Verdonik continues to make life miserable for the Morris attack and for their #9 in particular. The ball is kicked out and Amy buries her and the ball pops away. They try to distribute, but toss it in goal with Amy, quickly to her feet, one step behind to easily touch it down for a try. Once more, determined defense creates tries. KNG 24-0 OB @ 5 mins. Play remains the same for the remainder of the match, as OB White completes the shutout with a surge of white jerseys that are on the ball a split second after it reaches any Morris player.
OB White finishes undefeated, 4-0-1, clinches 3rd Place in the Morris 7s, and a spot in the NRU Women’s Championships.
Scoring:
OB: Olman (3T), Pratt (2C), Verdonik (T)
Find out more about the upcoming USA Rugby #Club7s Championships here.
