Despite several new faces on the roster, the Wisconsin Women’s Rugby team continued to prove that it won’t be resting on its laurels this fall.
Wisconsin welcomed in-state rivals, the Milwaukee Scylla, to the Wisconsin Rugby Sports Complex in Cottage Grove on Saturday, September 19. The match marked the second Midwest Division 2 Women’s league match of the fall for the home team.
Matches versus the Scylla are always bruising and this was no different as Milwaukee opened up scoring first. Scrums and physicality in the forwards was expected, but Wisconsin also had to shut down the Scylla’s larger size in the backline as well. The scoring remained tight with only a 14-12 advantage for Wisconsin heading into the halftime with tries scored by No. 8 Grace Hovde and speedy wing Felicia Carlson. Former hooker and now flyhalf Elisa Becker took care of business with two perfect conversions to keep the home-field advantage.
The second half saw Wisconsin’s speed and superior fitness take its toll on the Scylla however. The women in red used their continuity and aggressive play on the fringe to retain the ball and notch tries for flanker Kris Peterson, outside center Katie Odens, prop Melissa Pohleber, Carlson, and fullback Ashley Shaw. Becker was faultless off the tee with her conversions, going seven for seven on the match to bring the final scoreline to 49-20. The win improves Wisconsin to 2-0 overall in Midwest league play.
View the official USA Rugby match report here.
View the official USA Rugby match rosters here.
In a second developmental match between the two teams, Wisconsin and the Scylla played to a scoreless tie.