PORTSMOUTH, RI (April 16, 2011) --  The Vassar College women's rugby team traveled to The Beast of the East Tournament with just 22 players, they went ahead against UConn with just 5 minutes left in their first game, but failed to close the deal as the Huskies scored to make it 7-5, and captain Keri Peacock took a heavy knock to her shoulder. Tournaments are tough. You generally need to steer clear of injuries, get a couple of lucky bounces of the ball, and have a big squad.  So the weekend didn't start too well for the Brewers.

Vassar College Women 5 v 7 UConn. Women
Tries: Keri Peacock (1). 

What a mess of a game! UConn spent the entire game offloading at almost every tackle and Vassar was inept at the breakdown mainly because the referee would not enforce the offside law with any consistency or get the players to roll away!

The Beast of the East Tournament sees over 70 collegiate teams compete over two intense days of play. The best referees that New England has available should be there to help prepare the next generation of rugby players. 

In this game the players were bemused. In particular Peacock the Vassar number 9. Time and time again she attempted to pass the ball from the base of a ruck only to be obstructed by a UConn forward lying there in the way. Sometimes she even attempted to pull them aside yet still the referee did nothing! Consequently, the strong UConn forwards were able to counter-ruck and win the ball. Frustrating just doesn't come close to explaining the situation.

But for all these oversights Vassar took the lead with just five minutes remaining in the match! Peacock dived over and it seemed that justice would be served. But credit UConn for mounting a strong attack and they managed to barge over and kick the conversion to win the game 7-5.

The Vassar players were distraught at the end. They had not been good enough to overcome the breakdown and some poor scrummaging disrupted the platform up front. There had been plenty of good intention but in the end they were undone.

Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 Margaret Kwateng 13 Laura Howard 12 Julia Nissen 11 Jessica Lance 10 Hannah Bober 9 Keri Peacock 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Alyssa Bell 3 Rachel Thompson 4 Patty Walton 5 Kate Merlie 6 Maddie Zappala 7 Dana Hart 8 Dallas Robinson.

Vassar College Women 17 v 14 Yale University Women
Tries: Jessica Lance (2) & Margaret Kwateng (1).
Cons: Hannah Bober (1).

After the first game one thought it can't get any worse! But low and behold the referee in the second contest of the day for the Brewers obviously had not received the IRB guidelines regarding the tackle situation this season. Amazingly, the tackler was allowed to poach the ball without releasing the ball carrier, as was the assist tackler, and any others who happened to be in the area were able to join rucks from just about anywhere! Chaos at the breakdown for the players and it was a real bun fight for possession!

Vassar jumped ahead 5-0 when Jessica Lance ran well after the backs moved the ball down the line smartly. But Yale came back into the contest and went up 7-5 by the halftime whistle.

It was do or die time for Vassar as they were staring down the barrell of a tournament ousting! Peacock almost singlehandedly dragged the team from their slumbers. She darted through, she tackled low, and she closed down attackers space like her life depended on it. The Vassar forwards had been shocked in the morning and were still playing with little confidence, but they did enough, as first, Margaret Kwateng went over and then Jessica Lance got her second with a Hannah Bober conversion. Vassar now led 17-7 and seemed high and dry, But Yale scored to make it 17-14 and that's the way it finished.

The 3 point differential was significant as all the teams in the group finished with a 1-1 record. Vassar's point differential of plus 1 meant that they finished top of the group as UConn fell to Yale 5-7.

The semifinal match-ups on Sunday in the women's division I bracket are:
Vassar College Women v Union College Women
Cornell University Women v UConn Women

If the Vassar team can raise it's intensity they have a chance to emulate the achievement of their predecessors - Winners at the Beast! But it will take two very much improved efforts on Sunday.

Team: 15 Addie Provenzano 14 Margaret Kwateng 13 Mia Fermindoza 12 Julia Nissen 11 Jessica Lance 10 Hannah Bober 9 Keri Peacock 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Maddie Little 3 Alyssa Bell 4 Patty Walton 5 Kate Merlie 6 Maddie Zappala 7 Dana Hart 8 Dallas Robinson.

Next: Sunday April 17, 2011 at The Beast of the East Tournament in Portsmouth, R.I.
Semfinal game at 1:00 pm versus Union College.