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(Laura Bilzarian sets up a Jenna Flateman try after intercepting a pass. Ruth Bryson in pursuit. Photo Dobson Images.)
It may have taken three years to replicate, but the New York Women defeated the reigning champion Berkeley All Blues 20-10 in the Women's Premier League Championship. The All Blues may have 11 national DI titles to their credit, but New York goes down in history as the first WPL champion.
New York advanced to the final after defeating Beantown 13-10 in the semis, while Berkeley topped the Valkyries 19-5 on Friday. "We were disappointed about the way we played against 'Town," NYRC coach Ryan Dunnett said, "so we were fired up for a better performance."
Berkeley and New York took some time to reacquaint themselves, and the scoreboard saw no action for a good portion of the half.
"Berkeley tried to run a lot of pick-and-goes against us," Dunnett explained, "which was stranged, as that's where we are very strong and pride ourselves on our ruck defense."
New York flyhalf Maura Weikman (who was New York's high scorer with 10 points on a try, conversion and penalty) hit a penalty in the second quarter to get the ball rolling.
Berkeley responded immediately, and on the subsequent kick-off, fed the ball to Nathalie Marchino at outside center. She tore down the sideline and hit fullback Ashley English trailing in support. The veteran outran her defenders and dotted down in the corner, 5-3.
The final lead change of the game followed, when All Blues flyhalf Ruth Bryson high-tackled wing Jenna Flateman on a breakway down the sideline. The winger took some time getting up, and the ref sent Bryson off with less than 10 minutes remaining in the half. Weikman kicked for touch and set up a lineout, which the New York forwards drove deep into All Blues territory. The ball flowed out to Weikman, who dummied and skirted into the tryzone, 8-5.
"Hedwig [Aerts had been ruled out due to injury," Dunnett said of the former Eagle, "but Maura stepped up and played really well after a shaky start to control the game very well."
In the second half, New York gets into its second long goal-line stand. In the first half, intense Berkeley defense stiffled the perpetual punches across the zone, and eventually forced a penalty that allowed Bryson to clear the ball. Same scenario followed in the second half, and a series of penalties allowed players to catch their breath, though the ball remained inside the 10 meter.
Finally, off a wheeling scrum, New York flanker Phaidra Knight scooped up the ball as it skirted out the back and dove over the line. Weikman converted for the 15-5 lead. The try ended up being the winning points, but New York had one more score in store.
From about midfield, there was a change of possession and Berkeley scrumhalf Jossy Tseng quickly took off bringing her back line with her. A soft pass was picked off by fullback Laura Bilzarian, who raced into open field. Bryson tracked her down and just before contact, Bilzarian lobbed a pass to Flateman in support. Bryson was still on her feet and set after the New York winger, but Flateman kicked it into second gear and left Bryson behind. The conversion missed, 20-5
"Laura at fullback was a stand-out player for us at the back," Dunnett said. "She put in a number of try-saving tackles in both games. Her positional play and set-up for Flateman's try were keys to our win."
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the All Blues pulled within 10. Marchino, who switched to outside center from wing about halfway through the season, got the ball with little room to her left. She beat a couple of defenders with some amazing footwork and managed to tip-toe down the sideline for the try, 20-10.
"It's very humbling," Championship MVP Phaidra Knight said. "On the day, we played like a team, with no regard to how we had performed prior in the season. Nothing else mattered. We just played to the end."
Dunnett was particularly pleased with the work of his loose forwards. "Christina Hobson was my MVP of the day," Dunnett said. "She showed great heart coming back from a serious injury to control the back of the scrum, and her ability to read the game on attack and defence was first class. Phaidra and Katie Brethel also had strong games."
"I'm really proud of the way the girls played," Dunnett said in conclusion. "The small improvements we made each week was a key to New York winning the Premier League. The girls put in a lot of hard work and it paid off in the end."
Who knows what the final will look like next year, as all the World Cup players return from England and join their respective clubs. Whatever the case, New York will be the new team to unseat.
- Jackie Finlan
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