On what seemed to be a partially cloudy, windy day, the New York Women set out on a mini adventure to a place originally named Staaten Eyelandt (in honor of the Dutch Parliament). With their team back together they would be competing against Maryland and Providence in a place that Wu-Tang Clan, Martin Sheen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Christina Aguilera have all once called home.

NY Senior Side vs Maryland Stingers A

The New York Senior team started warming up at 1pm, shortly after Head Coach, Drew Fautley, started to spread an April fool’s rumor that he had had a minor heart attack. However, the tables were turned and, one by one, women went up to Drew asking how his gangrene toe, his trip to the mental unit or his latest pregnancy had turned out. And he thought he could trust his captains…

As the backs and forwards split, the heavens opened upon this lovely island and a downpour ensued. The team found it hard to maintain their mental focus with rain and small hail coming in at, what seemed like, a 30 degree angle, and a concern that the hard work of the field lining crew had been destroyed.

But the rain softened and the NY women donned fresh jerseys, a Scotch Ref and took the field against the Maryland Stingers. However, NY came out less than stellar to begin, with communication issues abound and what happened to last seasons penalty plays? While the artificial turf yielded no mud, moisture was still a problem and many knock-ons led to the pack having their work cut out for them. But they dominated in the scrummaging and while the lineouts left a lot to be desired, NY maintained possession and pressure and Heidi “I’ll mess with your lineout ball all day” Rubenstein took it in for the first try of the day.

The pack was called for a technical offsides, when they rolled a maul into no opposition, but honestly can they really be blamed for the fact that the other team didn’t see where they’d gone?
It was slow and they made it more difficult for themselves than they needed to but slowly and surely they brought it again and again and by half time NY had scored 26 unanswered points.

With a sunny second half, the Senior side came alive and left their April’s fools behind. Cleaner ball and communication allowed for the backs to spin it wide often, and with great support, they sent Jenna Flateman in for FOUR tries in 16 minutes (that has to be a club record) which in turn allowed for Kristin Baja to have lots of Conversions from the left side of the field. Hedwig Aerts made her famously evasive runs and despite an audible knock to the head Maura Weikman stayed in the game to slip through the defense numerous times. Lisa Lake took a weak side run after a kick off and passed it off, which she will gloat about all week ;-), to Katie MacCallum who proceeded to play “Slap me if you can” with a potential tackler. Lara “Choo choo” Vivolo’s hard running game was cut short due to injury but thankfully nothing serious.

By the end of the half NY seniors had registered another 50 points to their total to bring them on top 76 - 0.

Click HERE for some pictures of the match care of Mr. "Harley" Bruce (aka, Brucie's Dad)

NY Development Side vs Providence A

The NY Developmental team took the field against the recently born (2004) Providence Women for the second match of the day. Before the match the Ref called both packs together to assess the scrums, as Providence had a fair amount of newbies. He ruled that a High School engage would be allowed, where you must touch before you engage, the ball may only be one with a hook and you can only drive the opposing team a meter.

Apart from the Ref, Heidi Rubenstein, Michelle Bruce, and Rebecca Brafman would all pull double starts as they moved from flankers and center to scrumhalf, prop, and flyhalf, respectively. Rachel “Fatty” Flynn, wearing a jersey for the first time since May ’05, started as 8-man, and showed she hadn’t missed a beat with her 8-9 pass, defensive tackles and heads up phase play. She relentlessly disrupted Providence’s lineout ball and at one point bounced a ball off her nose to Kate “Audie” Audage who took it in for a corner try.

The pack, led by field captain Katie “Kill” Hill, made penetrating runs and gave good ball to the backs. Jenny Kuchar went over the line and had plenty of opportunity for conversion kicks. Nice Kuch! Tyshawn Henry styled her strong and fast running as she ran around and through people, and took a great angle at one point to take two tacklers with her as she set rookie, Lisa Goodberry, free for a try.

Carrie “Banger” Dubray came in late in the game to stiff arm a few high tacklers as she ran, or should I say barraged, her way down the field. Fordham scrumhalf Laura?? made her NY debut for the final 5 minutes of game, during which, the developmental side, stepped up the intensity and tallied in a few more tries.
By the time the final conversion kick was made and the final whistle blown, NY development had scored five points more than the senior squad for a tally of 81 unanswered points.

Click HERE for some pictures of the match care of Mr. "Harley" Bruce (aka, Brucie's Dad)

Wrap-Up

A good day for all, and a solid platform to move on to next week’s game against the furies, where NY hopes to have four fourth’s of intense rugby.

*note: my apologies for incomplete stats…it’s a lot of tries and plays to keep in ones head, and I’m sure Drew will update us with that stuff.

After the field was picked up, the plastic trash bags dumped out of missing property, New York and Providence (anyone see where Maryland went?), headed to The Brazen Head, in Brooklyn, for pizza and beer for all. The real identity of Miss April 1st was revealed when Kelly McMahon admitted she really did think she was Princess Leia and a boat race was organized. NY vs. Providence were pitted against each other and at the start it appeared to be neck and neck. But by the third racer it was clear NY was pulling ahead and they were finished with sprint while there were still two remaining racers for Rhode Island. Another victory for the Boat Racing Team.

So, as some went to watch a men’s match, some went home for R and R and some went out for more fun, yet another successful weekend was completed for the women’s team.

Join us next week when we take on DC and discover who Miss April 8th really is…