MADRID, SPAIN (March 16, 2013) - The Vassar Women met a strong physical team in the Hortaleza Women. But this was a seesaw affair with each team battling to open the margin for certain victory. Close games are often defined by controversial calls and Vassar was on the wrong end of just such a call with only 10 minutes remaining. A kick ahead by the Hortaleza flyhalf bounced into the in-goal and was touched down by Vassar however, the referee decided that the ball had been carried in-goal by the Vassar player! From the resultant 5-meter scrummage the Hortaleza number 8 bashed her way over.

Vassar College Women 20 v 22 Hortaleza Rugby Club Women
Tries: Patty Walton (1), Nichelle Jackson (1), Dallas Robinson (1), & Meg Slattery (1).

The opening exchanges were fast and furious with the big Hortaleza forwards making inroads through the Vassar defense. In addition Vassar conceded penalties and the Spanish were quick to tap and go. But Vassar held on and made the stops when they had to do so. It was Vassar's Patty Walton who scored the first try and she has played well this tour. The Vassar lock forward spun out of a driving maul and went over to give Vassar a 5-0 lead. That try was followed by Nichelle Jackson using her stiff-arm to good effect and Vassar led 10-0.

Hortaleza responded and after a series of quick penalties they put away their very fast left wing who scored under the posts and with the conversion it was Vassar 10 and Hortaleza 7. Horteleza scored again but the kick drifted wide and at the half it was 12-10 to the home team.

Vassar had been stretched a number of times in the first half so the decision was made to compete at the rucks to limit the Spanish possession.ought immediate results as Vassar scored to go up 15-12 when Dallas Robinson scored. But the rucks were very messy and it seemed that a good deal of leeway was given to the Spanish as they lay on the ball preventing a competition for possession. When they did get the ball out Vassar was struggling for numbers. And so the game of cat and mouse continued with Hortaleza going up 17-15 with the controversial 5-meter scrummage try. Vassar came right back and marched into the 22 with Meg Slattery scoring to put the Brewers ahead 20-17. Then in the dying minutes Hortaleza burst through 2 Vassar tackles and scored in the corner.

A tough loss for the Vassar Women and a stark reminder that one has to make one on one tackles or pay the price.

Team: 15 Hannah Fink 14 Marissa Davis 13 Nora Kaye 12 Chelsea Boccagno 11 Leigh Yakubowski 10 Hannah Bober 9 Yael Schwartz 1 Nichelle Jackson 2 Anna Carias 3 Rachel Thompson 4 Patty Walton 5 Sophia Rutkin 6 Dallas Robinson 7 Meg Slattery 8 Nicole Guerrero. Subs: Wanda Noonan & Meera Chatterjee.

Next: Saturday  23 March, 2013 v Molloy College Women at Vassar, kickoff 11:00 a.m.