SCRIBE NOTES

Williams Shuts Out Bennington

Written by: Carol Tsoi

On Saturday morning, the Williams Womens Rugby Football Club arrived in Bennington to play against Bennington Women’s Club, only to be alarmed by both the frigid weather and children running amuck on the pitch. The team quickly bundled up as their long awaited jerseys arrived from 20 minutes away.

The game began with a beautiful kick from co-captain Hannah Rosenthal ’10 which soared down the pitch. Taking Rosenthal’s ’10 lead, the entire team barreled down to the opponent’s 5-meter line. Met with slight resistance, Colleen Fitzpatrick ’12 and Bethany Baker ’10 proceeded to charge and tackle Bennington’s forward players. Rosenthal ’10 quickly took possession of the ball and landed the White Dawg’s first try of the spring season. Sarah Franklin ’10 quickly made the conversion with an impressive kick through the uprights.

Halfway through the game, a fantastic maul was set up by the White Dawg scrummies. After a long and successful drive past Bennington’s 22-meter line, Xiomara Pinto ’12 stripped the ball and popped it to Rosenthal ’10. This excellent assist ensured the White Dawgs’ second try of the game. After another successful conversion by flyhalf Franklin ’10, the score was 14-0.

The second-half of the game featured the debut of several impressive substitutes. Rookie Sarah Plunkett ’10 demonstrated an incredible zeal for the sport with her zippy sprints up the side of the pitch. Mai Okimoto ’13 took charge as strong wing, consistently supporting her teammates on the side of the pitch. As prop, Dilia Ortega ’13 quickly learned that no one could take her down. Though having never played the position of flanker, Aubree Stephens ’12 proved that she could in fact fit in anywhere. A sudden skirmish at the very end of the game resulted in Rosenthal ’10 third try of the day, bringing the final score White Dawgs 21, unknown Bennington team 0. In the words of Head Coach Gina Coleman, “We could not have asked for a better game to start our spring season. I have nothing to say but good things”.

The WWRFC will be away, tackling Western Connecticut State next Saturday. The White Dawgs look forward to the cleared rookies’ first game of rugby. High hopes are in the air for a victorious spring season. 

Posted 4/11/10

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WWRFC Beats Western Conn State - 22 to 0

Written by: Carol Tsoi

Torrential rain and misleading backroads only kept 20% of the Women’s Rugby team from arriving on time to the pitch to face their most crafty opponents yet, Western Connecticut State.

Just two minutes after kick-off, co-captain Hannah Rosenthal ’10 gained possession of the ball. With a quick burst through West Conn’s flimsy defense line, Rosenthal ’10 charged to the try zone and landed the White Dawg’s first try of the game. The scrum continued to make incredible distance up the field, with exceptional play seen from Tracey Vitchers ’10 at second-row and Adena Hernandez ’12 at flanker.

Midway through the first half of the game, the linies demonstrated great continuity in their passes. Quick passes from fly-half Sarah Franklin ’10 got the ball to Sara Plunkett ’10 on the wing. As the barbarous defenders stumbled to gain a hold of Plunkett’s ’10 jersey, she zipped past them in the try zone. This marked both the team’s second try of the game and more importantly, this rookie’s first try of her rugby career. The first half of the game ended with some questionable officiating, fueling the White Dawgs’ hunger for more tries.

West Conn instigated a kicking competition in the second half of the game, with fullback Ariana Erminy ’13 matching tit for tat. A slight breakdown in West Conn’s social dynamic allowed Williams a light reprieve as they inched ever closer to the try zone. Once the ball traveled out of the scrum, a quick cut by inside Meagan Braun ’12 scored the White Dawg’s third try of the game. Franklin’s ’10 successful conversion brought the score to 17 – 0.

The aforementioned kicking match was only resolved by West Conn’s kick deep into center field. Plunkett ’10 caught it clean in the air and ran it up the touch-line into the try zone unassisted. Her lone 70-meter dash left more than a few West Conn ruggers wheezing to catch up to the blur before them. Plunkett’s ’10 second try of the game brought the match’s final score, Williams 22 and Western Connecticut State 0. In the words of the club’s Presitant, Stephanie Brooks, “I painted this victory last night by candlelight, I envision many more for this season”.

Come join the White Dawgs’ first home game and watch them face their most beloved Keene State opponents next Saturday at 11 am on the pitch!

Posted 4/19/10

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WWRFC Trumps Keene State - 59 to 5

Written by: Carol Tsoi

On this fine and glorious Saturday, the jubilant White Dawgs played the third match of their spring season against the Keene State Owls at their home pitch in Cole Fields. Despite the guarantee of an exciting match ahead, as per tradition, every member of the WWRFC eagerly anticipated the events to come after the game.

The match began with a beautiful kick by co-captain Hannah Rosenthal ’10, who did not know her own strength. Since the ball had sailed beyond the delineated try-zone boundaries, the referee awarded a scrumdown to Keene State at the 50. This would only prove to be the first of many whistles from the too-tight referee from Virginia. Rosenthal ’10 quickly proved that no whistle could stop her and quickly planted the White Dawgs’ first try of the game with a resounding “thunk!”

Unparalleled continuity in the line produced the exceptional number of linie tries. After a quick adjustment to her hairband, fly-half Sarah Franklin ’10 began the series of quick passes down the line that reached left wing, Brittni Boss Micham ’10. Aided by her gazelle-like form, Micham ’10 had no problems brushing past the Keene State defenders, who were left in a whirlwind of her dust. Micham ’10 promptly secured the White Dawgs’ second try of the game. Inspired by the linies’ performance, Leah Landsdowne ’11 and Dilia Ortega ’13 made runs up the field, uncharacteristic of their formal pack training. Prop Xio Pinto ’12 also wanted to join in on the fun. But the referee felt that she had jumped the gun and sent her to the sin bin, the first occurrence of its type in the White Dawgs’ spring season.

The White Dawgs maintained possession of the ball for most of the match, despite the many frivolous whistles blown and embittered 10-meter retreats. Once the ball made its way to right wing Sara Plunkett ’10, she zipped right up the side line and landed a try, with many Owls hopping hot on her trail. Franklin ’10 pulled the tee out in a straight line from where the try was scored and made the most impressive, successful conversion, given the incredibly steep angle of the kick. At half time, the score was 17-0.

The second half of the game continued with a quick skirmish down in the White Dawgs’ 22. Though the White Dawgs’ set up the most robust wall of defense, the wily Keene State Owls were able to dive through the barriers and score a single try on the White Dawgs. This mild victory only inflamed the White Dawgs’ fervor for more tries. The match concluded with the White Dawgs scoring nine tries, of which Rosenthal ’10 performed a hat trick plus one and Franklin ’10 made seven conversions. In the words of Presitant Stephanie Brooks ’10, “Like our fathers, some people are uptight. But amidst the whistles, we played our game. The only question that remains is, when’s the next time?”

The B-side game featured an almost entirely full roster of rookies. Tracey Vitchers ’10 punched up the field, helping the Killer Bees gain advantageous distance. Impressive play was seen by the second row, Claudia Corona ’13 and Soraya Membreno ’12. In the line, fantastic continuity and pop passes were made between Emily Maclary ’10 and Ayesha Shahid ’11. Seasoned player Cat Vielma ’10 helped coached the fledgling team from the backfield. This game also marks Corona’s ’13 rookie try of the season! The match ended 5-5.

The WWRFC will be facing their rivals Amherst this Saturday at Amherst College, 11am. The White Dawgs will be wearing a daily announcement for this match, look out for the white jerseys this week!

Posted 4/26/10

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WWRFC Annihilates Amherst - 17 to 0

Written by: Carol Tsoi

On this blistering, scorching Saturday, the Williams Womens Rugby Football Club arrived in Amherst to battle, in the most anticipated match of their spring season, against the intolerable Lord Jeffs. Six hours later, Amherst rued the day they chose to secede from the mother institution. The White Dawgs took revenge for their lost library books in the form of decimating the Purps in Black, 17 – 0.

The warfare began with a kick from the unassailable foot of co-captain Hannah Rosenthal ’10. Eight-man Bethany Baker ’10 was on fire as she pummeled four Lord Jeffs to the ground, all of who should have known better than to keep the ball from her. Fierce play was seen from second-row Colleen Fitzpatrick ’12, who charged up the field, barreling through the flimsy defense line. Hooker Clair Embry’s ’11 right foot helped the White pack plow through their opponents and win several scrumdowns. Yet, it was a ruck involving Leah Landsdowne ’11 and Aubree Stephens ’12 that allowed the White Dawgs to gain possession of the ball. Baker ’10 punched left, broke through the girls clinging to her thighs and planted the White Dawgs’ first try of the match. Within the first ten minutes of the match, the score stood at 5-0.

Taking advantage of their several talented kickers, the Lord Jeffs quickly transformed the rugby match into a kicking competition between their full back and the White Dawgs’ fly-half, Sarah Franklin ’10. One particularly far-reaching kick bounced into the arms of full-back, Sara Plunkett ’10. The gals clad in black did not know what was in store for them as Plunkett ’10 zipped up the middle and cut to the sidelines 30 meters from where she caught the ball. Scrumhalf Rosenthal ’10 picked up the ball and fantastic continuity was seen down the line. Franklin ’10 and inside-center Meagan Braun ’12 executed a flawless scissors play, with Mai Okimoto ’13 and Emily Maclary ‘10 supporting from behind. Eventually, the ball made its way back into Rosenthal’s ’10 hands and she slammed the ball into the tryzone. Franklin ’10 made a successful conversion, bringing the score at halftime to 12 – 0.

In the second half of the match, the White Dawgs inched ever further up the pitch with great continuity seen between the scrum support in rucks and quick passes out to the line. Within 10 meters of the tryzone, Braun ’12 was taken down, but not before she passed it off to right-wing Brittni Micham ’10. Micham ’10 bursted with three quick strides but was taken down as well. Suddenly, coming out of the woodwork, flanker Cat Vielma ’10 dashed to Micham’s ’10 aid with unprecedented speed. With three defenders ready to hold her back, Vielma ’10 aimed low with her good shoulder and rammed in the White Dawgs’ final try of the game. The spectators had tears in their eyes as the seniors peeled off their rank white jerseys to don their hard-earned black jerseys with pride. Remarking on the class of 2010’s last game against Amherst, Presitant Stephanie Brooks had these words to say, “Roses are red. Violets are blue. I love playing rugby, with all of you.”

Come down to the pitch on Saturday to watch the WWRFC play in their final game of the season against Bennington’s Women Rugby Club at 11am!