Last season’s photo courtesy Emerald City Mudhens •
After leading its DII club league all last season, Emerald City was the heavy favorite for the Pacific Northwest berth to regional playoffs. But in the final, the Mudhens lost 20-15 to Bend, and there the season ended for the Washington team. Approximately five months later, with the majority of its players returning to the pitch, Emerald City received some recompense Saturday, as the Mudhens defeated the Lady Roughriders 28-17.
“Although we beat Budd Bay the week before 83-5, I did not think we played a cohesive game,” Emerald City coach John Wooler confessed. “We did not push the ball wide, and our handling was sub par. At practice, we addressed these issues as we knew Bend would exploit them.”
In the opening minute of Saturday’s match, however, Bend turned a line-break into a try.
“This was exactly what happened in the championship game, which totally threw off our mental game,” Wooler reflected. “The test was about mental toughness and how we would respond.”
Flyhalf and MVP Rachel Manning kicked a penalty a few minutes later. The Mudhens stayed in Bend’s end, and then once inside the 22, kept the forwards crashing in tight. The ball moved wide to outside center Sondra Polonsky for the converted try, 10-7. After another Manning penalty, forwards captain Becky Williams went over for the second try of the half, 18-7 at the break.
“At halftime, we spoke about Bend’s ability to come back, and we needed to keep the pressure on,” the coach noted. “We know how Bend runs off the ruck and likes to loop off the player in the tackle with an offload. We implemented the umbrella defense to stop players getting on the outside, which helped to lock up the Bend backs.”
The Lady Roughriders tacked on a penalty (18-10) before Manning dotted down her own try, 23-10.
“The focus now from our backs captain and field captain for the day, Jenna Middleton, was good game management,” Wooler praised the on-field leadership. “Players were getting tired, and we wanted to keep testing their back three. Manning did a great job and was putting long kicks into their 22, which made them counter in their red zone.”
Emerald City worked its loose forwards into the back line to better spread the field, and flanker Sarie Hill took a nice offload for a score, 28-10. Still eager in the chase, Bend took advantage of a defensive lapse for a 30-meter try, 28-17 the final.
“I’m pleased we held our own after a bad start,” Wooler summarized. “Bend scored the most points against the Hens since last year, so our defense still needs polishing, especially players making open-field tackles.
“What was lost in the fire in the championship game was found in the ashes yesterday.”
Emerald City continues its season against 2-0 Portland, while Bend plays 0-2 Boise Saturday.