DUBLIN, IRELAND (March 12, 2010) -- Rarely does a squad earn a win not having played a game of rugby in over 4 months! But the Vassar women did just that in their tour opener on Irish soil. It was a wonderful achievement and they laid to rest some of the tackling woes of the fall and prevailed in a close game.

Vassar College Women 12 v Dublin City University Women 5
Tries: Willa Conway (1) & Ami Major (1).
Cons: Kate Hancock (1).

There was nothing easy about this victory for the Brewers on a sunny but brisk day in Dublin. The hosts had a large pack and a couple of dangerous runners in the backs and took the lead 5-0 after just 10 minutes of play. In fact, DCU put the ball in behind with their flyhalf kicking deep to good effect in the first quarter of the game but once they fell behind they abandoned this tactic or executed poorly.

The scrums were a little unsteady initially but over the course of the match Vassar settled and secured decent enough possession. In the lineouts Amanda Waterhouse did well despite a few blips here and there that might have proved costly. At scumhalf Jansyn Thaw played with authority and poise in her first start for the "A" side. She still needs to improve her pass but overall she made good decisions.

It was great to see Julia Nissen back in the team after a semester abroad and the quiet center played outstandingly well at number 10 in the first half and was equally at home at scrumhalf in the second period. She distributed well and was consistent throughout.

Down 5-0 Vassar began to get some continuity and it eventually allowed Nissen to set up inside center Willa Conway for a strong burst through the middle. Kate Hancock's conversion made it 7-5 in Vassar's favor.

The teams changed ends and Vassar harried their hosts into mistakes that put them in good field position. DCU kicked deep but on 3 or 4 occasions the ball went directly into touch so Vassar was able to keep up the pressure. Then the all important go-ahead score came when second half substitute Ami Major ripped through the middle of the defense early in the second half. She was probably alarmed to see she had 35 meters to run but she scampered over to make it 12-5.

There were accolades all around for the Vassar squad as everyone shook off the rust of not having played putting in tackles, making runs, and looking for support. Mariko Yoshimura-Rank had a run near the end that said it all as she bulldozed over her opponent. Vassar would not be denied a win! Time ran out for DCU and Vassar had improved their record to 5-4-1 on the 2009-10 season.

Kudos to the referee South African Christian Stemmer (spelling?) who was strict but fair.

Team: 15 Emma Backe 14 Laura Howard 13 Morandi Hurst 12 Willa Conway 11 Kate Hancock 10 Julia Nissen 9 Jansyn Thaw 1 Krissa Wiechmann 2 Alyssa Bell 3 Nathalie duRivage 4 Kim Beaudoin 5 Dana Hart 6 Amanda Waterhouse 7 Lucy Cantwell 8 Mariko Yoshimura-Rank Subs: Hannah Bober for Jansyn Thaw, Brianna Blackwood-Mallory for Alyssa Bell, Sarah Fuentes for Kate Hancock, Patty Walton for Kim Beaudoin, Ami Major for Dana Hart. Played for DCU: Caitlin Bull, Celia Castellan, Alana Melton.

Next: Tuesday March 16, 2010 at Kinsale Women KO 6:30 p.m.
Overall record 2009-10: 5-4-1.