A barnstorming Charles River squad rolled out a 27-0 win on Saturday against Middlesex, taking their undefeated stretch to four games on the season. Despite organizational struggle from the Lady Rats, they banded together, forging the shutout on a waterlogged pitch alongside South Boston’s William J. Day Boulevard. A wide pitch played to the speed game of the orange and green, and, backed by a spine of individual efforts and an overpowering pack in scrum play, the River ladies had enough to take the match.
River came out with pistons firing. Early, they displayed a crisp passing game, elastically drawing Middlesex defenders and popping timely offloads for short gains. Before fifteen minutes had elapsed, a relentless River pack had already stolen three Middlesex scrums. Veteran Hooker Lisa Natalicchio led the charge, pulling the ball back to an immovable Ratpack. Vet Prop Jehanne Junguenet started the scoring for Charles River, touching down the ball after a series of gains made from a penalty. From the penalty spot, power Lock Kara McAuliffe received the ball and broke through the middle. Junguenet, running in support, finished the carry to take the Lady Rats up 5-0. It would be the winning try. Veteran Flyhalf and kicker Alex Schmidt split the uprights for the conversion, and the Rats gathered a seven point lead. River would strike again when Maegan Hoover, as part of a morning performance that would later merit an opponents’ choice for Player of the Game award, broke down the sideline. Hoover evaded all Middlesex tacklers with a combination of quick footwork and speed to the outside. She successfully entered the try zone, cutting to the middle for a 12-0 River touch down.
Bright spots were prevalent but disjointed for the Charles River ladies at the end of the half. Jess Ingram-Bee, starting at Flanker, and Kara McAuliffe, at Lock, set a pedestal-esque standard in the ruck and tackle game. McAuliffe would earn a Player of the Game pick for her efforts, while Ingram-Bee would continue the style of play that earned her a similar nod against North Shore last week. Fullback Lizzie Chapman, also coming off an impressive performance last week, would keep her successful pace against Middlesex, and also earn a Woman of the Match award. Chapman and Wing Katy Wilks would connect several times for long gains down the sidelines. Punishing tackler Amanda Bernasconi, fortifying her brick wall reputation, repeatedly stunned Middlesex ball carriers through the middle. A stolen lineout near the end of the half, orchestrated by the veteran front row trio of Junguenet, Natalicchio, and Alicia Evangelista, resulted in a bid for a second try from Junguenet. She was stopped short, however, and Middlesex managed to push the Rats back.
As time dwindled, plays disconnected for River. The Rat ladies had trouble maintaining ball possession, a situation that found them kicking out of trouble frequently to end the half. Chapman backed the Lady Rats brilliantly, though, trading kicks and chases with Middlesex. She and Schmidt kept Middlesex from scoring, despite a consistent encroachment on River’s try line. The Ratpack, solid through set play all morning, stole a fourth scrum and wheeled another before the half ended. Scrumhalf Erin Gillespie maintained excellent pressure on the opposing #9, leaving little room for Middlesex to set up. McAuliffe and Whitney McCoy powered the pack from the second row. River failed to capitalize on the stalwart scrum play, however, and the 12-0 score was maintained through the half.
Middlesex brought the intensity to start the second half. They immediately pushed River back into their own end, where the Lady Rats held up two consecutive try attempts. Nina Romá Agvanian, in for Junguenet at Prop, relieved some of the pressure when she made a short gain from River’s end before rolling the ball out to speedy Wing Julia Messing. Both sides battled in the early minutes of the half, an advantage stalemate broken by Katy Wilks’s score from around the outside. Forward play began with Rookie Lane Standige, in for Chrissy Andronico at 8-man. Standige made a solid gain before dishing the ball to Amanda Bernasconi, who powered through Middlesex with aggressive running and rucking. Displaying a fine set of support runs, Standige carried for River, as did Chapman. After a series of short gains, the Rats cycled the ball down the back, through Molly Desmond, Hoover, and out to Wilks who covered the remaining distance to put Charles River up 17-0. Minutes later, Standige and Bernasconi again led the way for River among some discord. Bernasconi pressured Middlesex, disrupting any continuity that the opposition might mount. After being tied up in a maul, Standige broke the ball loose for Charles River. Bernasconi was there for a gain. She rolled the ball out to Messing, who unleashed her trademark speed, erupting over Middlesex ground and into the try zone. Despite some missed connections, the River ladies had collected a comfortable 22-0 lead.
New talent proliferated late in the match for the Ladies in the Orange. Newcomers Sarah Franklin and Krystyna Koz both made carries for Charles River, creating opportunities for the home squad. Rookie Kate Etcheverry stepped in at Hooker, while Lane Standige rucked and ran well from the #8 spot, pushing River back into the Middlesex end late. Veteran Kara McAuliffe, capping a noteworthy performance, touched down River’s final try after a few short punches through the middle. By the game’s close, the Rats had earned a 27-0 shutout, and a 4-0 record. McAuliffe and Chapman were recognized by their captains Alicia Evangelista and Jenn VanKuren; Maegan Hoover earned Middlesex’s Player of the Game nod.
The Ladies of Charles River, engaging an epic intra-Boston battle that will prove their toughest to date, will take on Beantown’s second side on Friday under the lights at Moakley Park. Kickoff will be at 8:30PM.
No comments:
Post a Comment