The Charles River Women’s Rugby Football Club secured an upset single-score victory over new D-III rivals Worcester this Saturday on the Shamrocks’ home turf. On an extremely humid day at the foot of Mount Saint James, the Rats’ Amanda Martin took the final carry of a long string of River possessions over the try line in injury time. The score, the only one of the match for either team, catapulted River to a 3-0 record and first place in their division, under the tutelage of head coach Jessica Balogh and assistant coach and master statistician Hal Baker.
On an overcast day in The Woo, the stage was set for an epic defensive battle between the reigning NERFU DIII champion Rats, and the Shamrocks, down from DII for the first time. Both teams traded ineffective blows in the first half. Play teetered through the middle of the field as forwards punched through the middle without large gains. Back play was largely stifled on either side. River had trouble getting the ball out to the wing. The Shamrocks attempted to run tight loops with the Flyhalf, but the Charles River defense kept a nearly impenetrable line. The play remained evenly matched through the majority of the first half. Flankers Linda Morris and Danielle “Dollar” McDonagh, for their part, pressured Shamrock ball carriers without hesitation. By the end of the half, though, both teams began to tire. Pressed back inside their 22-meter mark, Charles River wavered. The well-placed kicks of veteran Flyhalf Alex Schmidt, though, relieved the pressure on multiple occasions in the last minutes. Both teams retired at the sound of referee Neil Foley’s whistle for the break, scoreless.
The second half was a different story for Charles River. The Lady Rats dominated nearly the entirety of play, knocking on Worcester's doorstep several times while maintaining the vast majority of ball possession through the second forty minutes. The Ratpack continued the outstanding play that would later pay off for the green and orange; they were perfect in scrum play on the afternoon. The Rat forwards retained all 21 of their scrums while stealing two from Worcester as well. They lost the ball only after being wheeled by the Shamrock pack. In loose play, too, the Ratpack impressed: in the second half River retained 26 of 34 rucks, while winning or poaching the ball 8 times from Worcester. 8-man Lane Standige was outstanding in lineouts, stealing every Worcester through in the second half. Defensively, River's back line continued its impenetrable ways. The Rat backs attempted several switches and crashes though Worcester's line with little success, but helped push play steadily back into the Worcester end. Where Worcester countered, Alex Schmidt relieved the pressure, lacing big gains for River from penalty kicks up the sidelines and loose play. Wings Cassie Cox and Katy Wilks swallowed up the outside, and the Shamrocks were unable to use the sideline for substantial gains.
Regulation ticked away, and the teams battled into injury time. Charles River would not be denied by the DIII newbies, though. In the eighty-fourth minute, well into injury time, Prop Chrissy “C” Andronico picked the ball from a well-formed loose ruck from Kara McAuliffe and Jehanne “Juggs” Junguenet. Scrumhalf Captain Jenn “JVK” VanKuren popped the ball out to Flyhalf Alex Schmidt, who pivoted out to Inside Center Amanda Martin. Martin punched the ball through traffic before dishing to Outside Center Sarah Wetherbee. Wetherbee carried through several Worcester players until being tackled, rising and re-scooping the ball, and passing out to Wing Cassie Cox. Martin, recovering, looped in support of Cox, who popped the ball under pressure. Martin punched over the try line, already on borrowed time, and River celebrated wildly. Alex Schmidt, continuing her impressive afternoon, threaded the uprights for the conversion. Worcester kicked back to River, who steadied play for the remaining time. It was Schmidt, again, who would alertly kick the ball into touch as the extra time expired, sealing the victory for Charles River.
The inspirational last-second victory boosted Charles River to a 3-0 division record, against a difficult opponent in Worcester. River players of the game were Alex Schmidt from the backs and Danielle “Dollar” McDonagh from the forwards. Worcester selected Wing Katy Wilks as their visitor's choice. River would like to congratulate these ladies, as well as thanking Worcester for hosting them at Crompton park, and for another creative “Canadian Tuxedo”-themed social. The Rats look forward to coming matches against North Shore, Burlington, and Amoskeag.
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