The Wisconsin Women opened their Fall 2012 Midwest Division II season with a dominant 40-7 victory on the road against the Will County Morrigans, Saturday, Sept. 8.
Game details are still forthcoming and will be added shortly. (Updated below, 09/20/12)
Wisconsin improves to 1-0 for the league season, 3-0 overall. The women in red have a bye this weekend, Sept. 15, before welcoming the Chicago Sirens to the Wisconsin Rugby Club Sports Complex on Saturday, Sept. 22.
In other league games, the Milwaukee Scylla defeated the Chicago Sirens, 49-0, and the new Twin Cities Amazons D-2 side defeated the Minneapolis Menagerie (score unknown).
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Game Report by Wisconsin Backs Captain, Lily Khadempour.
The WWRFC played their league season opener against the Will County Morrigans. It was a beautiful sunny day on a pitch that was slightly smaller than regulation but with healthy, soft grass, which helped to get both teams through a physical game with no serious injuries. The WWRFC kicked off to the Morrigans but quickly regained ball possession and dominated the first half of the game. Jane Sachs had an early break-through to advance the WWRFC close to the try line. A few phases later, Laura Hanks finished the job and scored the first try of the game, three minutes in.
Emily Frerichs had a long run down the sideline and would have scored a try except that she accidentally ran through the dead ball line because the try zone was shorter than usual. In response, Mary Hanks broke through the line, off-loading to veteran fly-half, Meghan Odling, who finished the play with a try.
Soon after, Kelly Mullen scored a try after three consecutive off-loads from her teammates. This play highlighted the WWRFC’s strength as a fast-moving, dynamic team and open playing style.
On the ensuing kick-off, Melissa (Helga) Polheber ran 40m to regain field position. This made it possible for winger Rebecca Stillman to score in the corner, for one more before the end of the half. Throughout the first half, the WWRFC dominated the scrums and was adjusting well to the new IRB scrummage rules. However, the Morrigans failed to engage correctly and the novice referee changed the scrums to uncontested for the majority of the game. This change affected the WWRFC’s momentum and made them frustrated and tentative going into the second half, despite their sizable lead.
In the early parts of the second half, scoring was hard to find. Both teams were plagued with penalties and the game lost the fluidity of the first half. The Morrigans picked up their game and rallied to gain good field position a number of times but were quickly pushed back to their end each time by a solid WWRFC defense. The WWRFC forwards managed to get two more tries in the second half, one by Kris Petersen and another by Melissa “Helga” Polheber.
The Morrigans’ outstanding full back, Sarah Kish, managed to get one try on the board near the end of the game. Elisa Becker made 5 of 6 conversion attempts for a final score of 40-7. The WWRFC played all 22 players on their roster and had positive contributions from all. Backs captain Lily Khadempour was not able to play due to a pulled hamstring and forwards captain Naida Reise came out in the first half because of bronchitis. The team stepped up and showed their depth which will prove useful as the team hopes to advance to Division II National Championships.
Line up:
1. Nadia Riese
2. Emily “Mouth” Mastandrea
3. Elisa Becker
4. Melissa “Helga” Polheber
5. Laura Hanks
6. Sarah Whaley
7. Amanda Stoltz
8. Steph Maule
9. Mary Hanks
10. Meghan Odling
11. Emily Frerichs
12. Jane Sachs
13. Kelly Mullen
14. Rebecca Stillman
15. Shoshana Griffith
16. Ericka Becker
17. Jenny Pederson
18. Kris Petersen
19. Michelle Blaser
20. Anne Sophie Daloz
21. Tracy Francis
22. Jess Winkler