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Written by Jackie Finlan
Sunday, 11 September 2011 20:03 |
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Keystone Outlast Beantown for WPL Win |
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Clubs -
Women's Clubs
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Keystone and Beantown contested the first game of the Women's Premier League, and if the result is any indication of what's to come this season, then we're in for an interesting couple of months. 
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In what many would consider an upset, Keystone beat Beantown 19-5 in Boston.
"I wouldn't say it was a surprising day," Keystone captain Devin Keller said. "We had a rough start to our season with all of this rain. We've have limited outdoor time and have been practicing indoors so far. we came out with the mentality that we had to dig deep for 80 minutes, and while there were some portions of the game when we are on, it was a strong finish and end that allowed us to win."
Keystone dominated possession during the first 20 minutes of play, and that allowed the visitors to take a 12-0 lead on tries from outside center Rachel Sachs and front row Rachel Hammond. Stacy Baker added the conversion.
"It felt like the quickest rugby of my life," Keller said. "When you're on attack, it's more fun and you have momentum. Both times we scored, we were able to turn a half-linebreak into a quick ruck, then pass the ball out wide."
The next 40 minutes remained scoreless, as some mental lapses slowed Keystone's forward progress. Beantown had the edge skill wise in the backs, who were smaller and quicker, but Keystone's size proved troubling for the hosts. Scrumhalf Kim Magrini kept the defense guessing by attacking off the base, and flyhalf Frankie Male did well to put her backs into space.
The set pieces were pretty even, and Keystone was able to disrupt some of Beantown's ball. Keller was particularly pleased with the front row's work, and praised the work of Jess Myron, who was fit, better than consistent, and a work horse around the pitch.
With about 65 minutes gone, Keystone received a yellow card and Beantown worked the man-advantage to their favor. Wing Ali Pappas scored for the home team.
"It was a scary point, as we were only up 12-5," Keller said. "I could see fatigue starting to set in and support was slow. Momentum could have changed right then."
During the last 10 minutes, Keystone decided to keep the ball in tight for some close forward phases. With a minute left, Keystone received a penalty, and instead of going for the lineout, the team opted to launch a sustained pick-and-go series that produced a final try from No. 8 Michele Kirk. Baker slotted the conversion, the whistle blew, and Beantown missed out on opportunity to bank a bonus point loss.
"That game was all about the first 20 minutes and the last 10," Keller said. "We had a lot of desire, and that was the game changer.
"Beantown is typically a tough game, and over the course of our history, they've ended up on top more often," Keller added. "If we had lost this game, not that it would be expected, but we wouldn't have felt defeated. They're a good team, and we've struggled with practice time. It all came down to who showed up on the day."
A win is a win, but Keller knows that the team has a lot to work on before getting too excited about the team's early success. Heading into this week's practices, players will focus on what needs to happen in contact, moving forward in the scrum, ruck and maul. Additionally, the team wants to be more proactive on defense, making positive tackles that prevent players from reaching the goalline.
"Everyone realized we escaped with a win, but we have a lot to do," Keller finished. "No one is thinking that we'll walk over Beantown when they come to us."
Keystone travels to Berkeley next weekend, while Beantown hosts the DC Furies.
Keystone 19
Tries: Sachs, Hammond, Kirk
Conversions: Baker 2
Beantown 5
Tries: Pappas
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STANDINGS
Red
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W
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L
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T
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Pf
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Pa
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Pd
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BT
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BL
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Pts
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Twin Cities
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1
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0
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0
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62
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10
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52
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1
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0
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5
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San Diego
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1
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0
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0
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34
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3
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31
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1
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0
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5
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|
Minnesota
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0
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1
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0
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10
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62
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-52
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0
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0
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0
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New York
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0
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1
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0
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3
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34
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-31
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0
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0
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0
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Blue
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W
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L
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T
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Pf
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Pa
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Pd
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BT
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BL
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Pts
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Berkeley
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1
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0
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0
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52
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12
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40
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1
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0
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5
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Keystone
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1
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0
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0
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19
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5
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14
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0
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0
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4
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DC Furies
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0
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1
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0
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12
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52
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-40
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0
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0
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0
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Beantown
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0
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1
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0
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5
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19
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-14
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0
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0
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0
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Written by Jackie Finlan
Sunday, 11 September 2011 18:15 |
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All Blues Pull Away in 2nd Half |
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Clubs -
Women's Clubs
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The Women's Premier League began with all kinds of surprises. Suspicions that historically dominating teams were rebuilding this season appeared true after this weekend's results. WPL rookie San Diego downed defending champion New York 34-3; Twin Cities Amazons demolished the Minnesota Valkyries 64-10; and Keystone beat Beantown 19-5 for the first time during the WPL's existence. 
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Every match went to the underdog, except for the Berkeley vs DC Furies game. The All Blues were the favorite heading into weekend - and the season - and didn't disappoint the odds with a 52-12 win. But it wasn't the run-away that the final scoreline suggests.
Berkeley's Lucy Croy, Kelly Griffin and Jill Whitfield all dotted down tries, and Whitfield converted them all for 21 first-half points. DC did well to keep it close and saw captain Beth Noto and Julie Hogan dot down tries, the latter of which Jess Shipley converted for the 21-12 halftime score.
"We played a great first half," DC Furies coach Nancy Fitz said. "We felt we were competing well, moving the ball up and down the field. And twice when Berkeley scored, we came right back and scored. We were right there."
"DC denied us ball at the breakdown," Berkeley coach Kathy Flores said. "At halftime we talked about cleaning out the fringe better, so the scrumhalf had good ball to pass out to the backs. But we didn't adjust until the second half. In the WPL, you can't wait that long."
Flores was looking toward captains Ashley English and Hilary Hegener to enact those changes earlier on, as the majority of the team has only been playing with the All Blues for a couple of years at most.
Berkeley made the necessary tweaks to its play, and was able to poach some ball while DC attempted to mount an attack. The intensity that DC brought to the pitch in the first half was no longer there, and that allowed the All Blues to open up the game.
"I'm not entirely sure what it was," Fitz reflected on what might have instigated the flat second half. "Berkeley definitely picked up their game in the second half, and that was certainly a factor."
Griffin linked up well with Nathalie Marchino and added two more tries to her tally for the hat trick. The relationship worked well both ways, and Marchino also crossed the try line. Phoebe Boone and Hillary Hegener accounted for the forward tries, and Jamie Schukle handled the extras.
It was a comprehensive win for Berkeley, which saw some pretty rugby unfold in the second half in particular. For DC, building off of their first half of play keeps the team optimistic.
"People now have a taste and know we can play like that," Fitz said of the team's first 40 minutes. "It's a matter of putting the two halves together. We haven't had the preparation that we'd like, but it's just a matter of working with each other. The more practice we get, the more we'll be able to play a full 80 minutes."
The All Blues have a lot of work to do in Flores' estimation as well. This week will be spent testing the players' adaptability based off of what opponents throw at the starting 15.
The All Blues will host Keystone next weekend, while DC heads to Beantown.
Berkeley 52
Tries: Griffin 3, Boone, Croy, Hegener, Marchino, Whitfield
Conversions: Whitfield 3, Schukle 3 DC Furies 12
Tries: Noto, Hogan
Conversions: Shipley
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Red
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W
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L
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T
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Pf
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Pa
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Pd
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BT
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BL
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Pts
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Twin Cities
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1
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0
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0
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62
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10
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52
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1
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0
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5
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San Diego
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1
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0
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0
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34
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3
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31
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1
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0
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5
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Minnesota
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0
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1
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0
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10
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62
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-52
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0
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0
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0
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New York
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0
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1
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0
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3
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34
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-31
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0
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0
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0
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Blue
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W
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L
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T
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Pf
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Pa
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Pd
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BT
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BL
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Pts
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Berkeley
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1
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0
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0
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52
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12
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40
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1
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0
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5
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Keystone
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1
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0
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0
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19
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5
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14
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0
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0
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4
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DC Furies
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0
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1
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0
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12
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52
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-40
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0
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0
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0
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Beantown
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0
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1
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0
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5
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19
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-14
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0
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0
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0
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Written by RUGBYMag.com News Release
Sunday, 11 September 2011 18:30 |
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Russia Eager to Play USA |
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International -
Rugby World Cup
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 BLENHEIM, 11 Sept. - Russia's players can hardly wait for their Pool C match match against USA at New Plymouth’s Stadium Taranaki on Thursday when they will be the last team at Rugby World Cup 2011 to open their campaign.
“Watching the first games of the Rugby World Cup 2011 made me look forward to our match,” said Russian second row Andrey Ostrikov.
“I don’t like it that we are the last to start in the tournament. Anyway, we know that we will have to keep up the high level of play that the other teams have showed so far.”
Ostrikov’s fellow-second row Denis Antonov said the impatience to get started was shared by the whole team.
“I wish we began as soon as possible," he added. "If the game against the States could take place tomorrow I would be really glad.”
Something special
Ostrikov, one of the few Russian players with experience of playing abroad after moving to English Premiership side Sale Sharks in June, is looking forward to his team's RWC debut with confidence.
“I am used to playing at big stadiums after five years spent in France," the 24-year-old said. "I understand that international games at the Rugby World Cup are something special but any nervousness we might feel should disappear once we touch the pitch at Taranaki.
“We began to prepare for the opener in New Zealand immediately after qualifying.
“I can’t say if it is really good or bad that we have the lowest-ranked team as the first opponent. Maybe starting against a top seed could be better. In any case we will throw all our energy on the States who are our principal rivals here.”
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Written by RUGBYMag.com News Release
Sunday, 11 September 2011 18:46 |
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Dartmouth Sweeps Granite Cup |
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Colleges -
Men's DI College
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Dartmouth welcomed some of the top sides from around New Hampshire and Vermont to Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse in Hanover Saturday as part of the annual Granite Cup. Although they had their fair share of struggles on the day, both of the Dartmouth sides that took part proved victorious.
The Big Green’s third XV side mounted a seconnd half comeback to beat Plymouth State’s first team 19-12 for the men’s tier II championship, while the second Dartmouth side gritted out a 17-5 win over the University of New Hampshire to take the men’s tier I championship, despite not having the services of several top players, including all four captains.
Dartmouth's thirds kicked the one-day tournament off with a match-up against the seconds from St. Michael’s College in the tier II semifinals. Hooker Danny Driscoll started off the scoring after only a few minutes with a try. The Big Green added two more tries before the half to give them a 17-0 lead heading into the break. Center John Descalzi scored another try right before full-time to make the final score 24-0.
Up next was a rematch of sorts between Dartmouth's seconnds and St. Mike’s in the tier I semifinals. Big Green scrumhalf Quinn Connell got the try five minutes into the game to take an early 7-0 lead. The offense went dormant for the next 10 minutes before wing Kevin Clark put in another try to increase the lead to 12-0.
His counterpart on the outside, wing Justin Ciambella, added another minutes later to make it 19-0. From there, Clark stepped to the fore again, adding a try both before and after the half to complete the hat trick on the way to a 36-0 victory.
Then Dartmouth's third side retook the pitch to face Plymouth State’s in the tier II final. This time it would be the Big Green who found themselves on the back heel, as they conceded two tries in the first half to go down 12-0 heading into intermission.
However, after picking up some fresh legs from the bench their fortunes began to change. Perhaps no sub was bigger than wing James Sharpe, who scored two tries along with setting up wing Tyler Morange for another. As a result, Dartmouth turned their deficit into a 19-12 lead, which they held onto for the win.
Dartmouth's seconds also had a tough time in the tier I finals against UNH. Unlike against St. Mike’s, where they more or less had their way, The Big Green had a much tougher go of it against the tough and physical Wildcat defense. Without the on-field leadership of some of their best players, the Dartmouth attack was stifled early on, leading to a scoreless stalemate for the first 15 minutes.
Then Ciambella broke the tie, scoring the only points of the first-half with a try to put the home team up 7-0. After halftime Clarke and prop Matt Robinson added tries of their own, which along with Dartmouth’s sturdy defense, helped put the game away.
“The UNH game was a great benchmark as to where we are as a team right now,” Dartmouth flanker Will Mueller said after the match. “Dartmouth was consistently challenged at the gain line throughout the day by the disciplined forward pack of UNH, and I think it showed that we still have a lot of work to do in many different aspects of the game.”
Dartmouth has one final preseason tune-up before entering Ivy play, as they hit the road to take on traditional Northeast rivals Army. The friendly match kicks off in West Point 5pm Friday, Sept 16th. From there, they’ll start the Ivy season Sept 24th at Cornell.
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Written by Alex Goff
Sunday, 11 September 2011 13:48 |
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New Defensive Ploy Effective |
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National Teams -
USA Men
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The USA team unveiled a defensive wrinkle against Ireland on Sunday in their World Cup opener at Stadium Taranaki in New Plymouth, NZ.
 On lineouts, they put Todd Clever in the backline, especially on defense. It was a risky move, but it paid off in several ways. Clever had, in coach Eddie O’Sullivan’s words, “a colossal game. We needed someone to step up in a game like this and he led from the front.”
Clever totaled 15 tackles, including a couple of earth-shakers and one or two that saved tries. More than that, the Eagles midfield defense benefited.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney praised O’Sullivan and his coaching staff for that decision.
“It caused us some trouble because he was able to stop our midfield attack quite a bit,” Kidney said.
Clever wasn't the only forward to help out in the backline defense (witness our photo), but he was the most prominent. There was a tradeoff, though. The Eagles were not able to contest the Ireland lineout as well as they might, and with Clever in the backline, there was one less body to defend the maul. Ireland scored from one maul, but the Americans fought and scraped to keep the others under control.
“The key thing is, now we have that defensive alignment in our arsenal we know we can use it,” said forwards coach Dave Hodges. “We can put it in against Russia or change it up. So from that standpoint it was good for us.”
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Page 1136 of 1448 |
