Life West scored seven tries, the first from Mele Taumoefolau. /// The Rugby Channel
For one day, Life West holds two titles: reigning DII club national champion and newly crowned DI club national champion. It’s a first for women’s club rugby – winning back-to-back trophies in different divisions – and the Gladiatrix accomplished the feat with a 39-17 win over Raleigh in Glendale, Colo.
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Raleigh flyhalf Chelsea Garber sent the opening kickoff deep into Life West’s end, and Cam Motley and Megan Foster did well to run the ball out and relieve some pressure. The ball moved to young flanker Mele Taumoefolau, who picked up speed near midfield and fended fullback Jaz Gray a couple of times to the try zone. Less than a minute had elapsed and concern arose: Would this be another Life West blowout?
No. And the game settled for the next 10 minutes. Raleigh had to play a lot of defense but was devout in that regard. The team didn’t commit many bodies – if any – to the breakdown and preferred defensive line speed and coverage out wide, for the most part. When there was an opportunity for a poach, No. 8 Cerrin Eldridge led the way.
Life West opted to keep the ball in hand, and the strategy worked. The Gladiatrix certainly have the tools for a kicking game, but with Eagle flyhalf Foster taking up at wing, it became evident that Life West wasn’t going to test Raleigh’s back three – a strength for the North Carolina side. The Venom distinguished itself on defense and also in its kicking game, but a few missteps in the chase or execution cost the team some opportunities for points.
Benson (left) and Taumoefolau (right) both scored tries.
Garber sent a high, booming kick down field, and a knock-on allowed the Venom to set up a solid attacking platform from the scrum. This set piece was far more successful than Raleigh’s lineout, several of which were not straight or picked off by championship MVP Elizabeth Cairns. On this occasion, Raleigh made good on the territory, as the scrum ball worked to Jennifer Larrimore and Sarah Rosche, who both did well to draw in the defense, opening up space for the looping Eldridge for the try. Garber’s conversion was good for the 7-5 lead.
Life West doesn’t trail often, but the Gladiatrix responded well, putting the ball through many hands before captain Jenn Sever dove over for the go-ahead points (10-7). On the restart, Eldridge stripped the ball out of Cairns’ hands and drew a penalty. Garber pointed to the posts and nailed the kick for the tying points, 10-all as the first quarter closed.
And then one of the game’s turning points occurred. Raleigh flanker Kayla Thompson incurred a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, and Life West used that one-player advantage to run in several tries. Wing Mirelle Raza scored from the quick-tap after the yellow card. A solid lineout worked wide to Foster, who dummied past her last defender for a try. A low cross-field kick found Foster, who burst down the sideline before Gray tackled her just before the tryline. The ball recycled to Mata Hingano for the team’s fifth try, which Foster converted. And then inside center Amy Naber shook out of a tackle before linking with outside center Hali Deters for the centered try. After Foster’s conversion, Life West led 34-10.
The final minutes of the half were played in Life West’s end, as the teams traded a few kicks and turned each other’s ball over, but the Gladiatrix emerged unscathed.
The game hinged on Raleigh claiming momentum in the second half, and the team eagerly pursued that goal after the break. After a couple of nice kicks for territory from scrumhalf Tonya Fletcher, Raleigh capitalized on an attacking scrum inside Life West’s 22 meter. Garber and Larrimore pinned their opposites long enough to put substitute wing Megan Gilmore into the corner. Garber’s conversion closed the gap to 34-17 at 50 minutes.
The third quarter wasn’t as silky for Life West, and after a big power run from Raleigh substitute LaShawna Gatewood, the Gladiatrix lost Foster to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. This was another turning point: Was this the momentum Raleigh needed for a big comeback?
But the Venom showed some nerves while attacking in Life West’s end, as an uncharacteristic knock-on from an eightman pickup and a kick ahead with no chasers nullified some opportunities. Life West wasn’t error free either but played good defense, and was eventually rewarded.
Substitute wing Angelina Lomu made an immediate impact and moved her team down field and out of danger. The ball worked through many hands before finding Sever on the sideline, who worked her opposite and offloaded to prop Catie Benson for the try, 39-17.
There were still 10 minutes remaining in the match but the scoreboard didn’t budge. Life West actually crossed the try line twice more, but one was recalled for having 16 players on the field and the second – which ended the game – for a knock-on. The whistle blew, and Life West was named national champion once again.
Life West is clearly one of the leading women’s rugby programs in the country and Raleigh more than deserved its place in the national final. Stay tuned for the player and coach reactions.
DI CLUB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Life West 39
Tries: Taumoefolau, Sever, Raza, Foster, Hingano, Deters, Benson
Cons: Foster 2
Raleigh 17
Tries: Eldridge, Gilmore
Cons: Garber 2
Pens: Garber