Vassar College Women
Poughkeepsie, New York
Saturday October 8th, 2017
Vassar Women Top Division
It was the battle of the two unbeaten teams in the division. It was also last year's Conference finalists facing off for the 4th time inside 12 months. After some early morning rain the sky was clear and the humidity a tad high but despite the uncomfortable conditions the Vassar Women produced enough effective rugby to take 3-0 to 4-0 and earn the number 1 seed going into the Conference playoffs.
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The University at Albany at 4-0-0 had racked up a few more points and conceded a few less than Vassar thus far this fall, so it was the visitors who stood at the top of the table in the Tri-State Rugby Conference North Division. But the Brewers had plans to spoil the party and that they did, although at the start of the second half they only led by 3 with the score at 15-12.Â
Sunday October 8, 2017
Vassar College Women 43 v 17 University at Albany Women
If there is one thing that is a certainty it's that the University at Albany Women's Rugby team will fight you tooth and nail for 80 minutes. The upstate school is always highly competitive and very physical so one had better bring an attitude or risk getting intimidated.
The Vassar pack was clearly going to be challenged and outside of those 8 the Albany backs had good speed at 10 and 12 who looked like they might pose a threat.
Vassar had a strong opening spell of about 15 minutes with good ball control and was rewarded with a try from Abby Alexander, with the winger plunging over from close range. But Albany came straight back and scored
a try of their own to make it 5-5.
Before the half was over Vassar had added a further 2 tries. The incorrigible
Jennie To getting one and
Kate Sworden the other. It was a lead but only a slender one.
Vassar had gone a little off-script for periods of play and with the University at Albany Women getting a little ball there was always the danger of the visitors scoring. Indeed the Albany backs looked dangerous in broken play and the forwards ran hard close to the fringes of the rucks.
The second half could not have had a worse start for Vassar who led 15-5. Flyhalf
Makena Emery, who had a fine day kicking from the tee and for touch out of hand, made a break but did not get enough support. The ball was stolen and the next thing the Vassar players knew they were lined up under the posts! 15-5 was suddenly 15-12 and it was game on.
Abby Alexander collected her second try and Emery's foot gave Vassar some breathing room as the lead was now 22-12. The Vassar forwards were winning good ball and
Kate Sworden scored to make it 29-12. The Vassar centers consistently got over the gain line and that put Vassar on the front foot.
But Albany fashioned another score to keep them optimistic and at 29-17 Vassar needed to keep the ball and not allow turnovers. Albany would not score again while Vassar added 2 more tries with
Michelle Urrutia outflanking the defense.
Next Friday Vassar travel to West Point to play an Army XV at 5:00 pm. The Brewers will need a strong performance as they next play in the Conference quarterfinals.
