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Photos: Ryan Carpenter
As previously mentioned, New England (NERFU) fields two senior women’s club competitions in the fall – Tier A and Tier B. Hartford is currently 4-0 in Tier B, which is the all-DII league that will later merge with Tier A’s DII teams in the Geographic Union (GU) playoffs. That post-season begins in early November.
RELATED: Providence Leads NERFU Tier A • NERFU Tier B Schedule & Standings • Women’s Rugby Fixtures: Oct. 6-8
Last season, Hartford finished third in Tier B – by one standings point – and thus saw the top-two teams, Worcester and Portland, promoted into Tier A for the fall 2017 season. They joined DII Providence and Burlington, returners to Tier A with the two DI teams.
“Initially we were a little disappointed. The games weren’t going to be as competitive as last year, but we just decided to come out as hard as we could,” said Marinda Reynolds, a Roses alumna who’s been head coach since January 2017. “Then we had 10-12 new players join, so half of the club turned over, and those easier games in the beginning of the season were nice prep. The team now is a really good mix of experience, athleticism and youth, and they’re really coming together and playing as a club.”
Reynolds is working with approximately 30 players, and they began the gelling process with a 62-5 win over North Shore and 90-point shutout over new club Upper Valley. In the second half of September, the always tough Amoskeag and Charles River tested the Roses, but Hartford emerged with 34-13 and 28-10 victories, respectively.
Directing play on the pitch are captains Kerri Freer at flanker and Drew McClintock in the back three. President and No. 8 Megan Hann is also a constant source of leadership. Wing/fullback Elyse Quadrozzi has been Hartford’s best finisher and leads the team with 12 tries across four games. Fifteen players have scored tries thus far, with Hann (5), Annmarie Johnson (3), Allison Rand (2), Rachel Nashett (2), McClintock (2) and Tierney Morton (2) making multiple trips into the try zone.
Off the tee, flyhalf Sarah Coppola has kicked 10 conversions, while center Kelly Anne Pearce has 24 points on a try, eight conversions and a penalty.
Hartford enters an unexpected bye week (Springfield folded) before playing North Shore and Upper Valley to round out the regular season. Playoffs then commence against NERFU Tier A’s DII teams.
“Absolutely, it is definitely a goal to make playoffs this season. It’s always our goal,” Reynolds said. “Two [seasons] ago, we did make playoffs for [DII Atlantic North] and lost to Providence. Ever since then, we’ve known where our capabilities can take us. I was playing then, and we’re just trying to continue those successes. It’s exciting to come together and push together, and hopefully we can get to nationals.”
Although a national champion won’t be named until June 2018, the first steps toward setting up that final will be taken in early November:
Nov. 4 & 11: NERFU & Empire GU playoffs
April 28, 2018: Atlantic North semifinals: NERFU vs. Empire
May 5, 2018: Atlantic North championship
May 19-20, 2018: USA Rugby DII national quarterfinals & semifinals
June 2, 2018: DII national championship
#Hartford #NERFU