Pasadena in the double tackle / Photo: Greg Smookler
The Division II clubs in Florida, NorCal, Pacific South and Red River are all active and contesting league games, while another set of competitions will resume play in the next week or so. The remainder of the DII leagues – the ones that primarily play in the fall – will be back on the pitch in March.
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The PACIFIC SOUTH has contested two weeks of play but this is certainly a league that needs the full seven rounds to land on a victor. OP Lightning (2-0) is out in front, outscoring Fullerton and San Luis Obispo 125-17. Kristina Aprahamiam (5 tries), Em Bowen (3) and Jess Szakacs (3) have been influential on the scoreboard, while Alex Rath has kicked 35 points on 16 conversions and a penalty.
Pasadena is also 2-0, beating Ventura 29-24 and Fullerton 45-5. Prop Molly Shamieh and wing Vanessa Gardner have combined for nine tries already.
Las Vegas and Ventura sit in third and fourth, respectively, in the standings, and battled to a thrilling two-point decision that went the Outlaws’ way. The teams traded tries – with scrumhalf Desiree Leaupepe (2) and Julie Gould scoring for Ventura, and No. 8 Vaimalama Nawaqa (2) and scrumhalf Tyler Malcolm for Las Vegas. The Slots scored their third try in the 78th minute but the conversion fell short, 17-15.
The remainder of the field is still looking for a first win, and that could happen this weekend:
Ventura @ OP Lightning
Santa Barbara @ Fullerton
San Fernando Valley @ Las Vegas
Pasadena @ San Luis Obispo
RED RIVER’s Division II has followed the same scheduling cadence as Pacific South, contesting two weeks of league play before taking a break. Austin’s DII side is the only one with two wins, defeating Dallas Reds 69-17 and Dallas Athletic 58-0. The scoring has spread around nicely, but prop Meekyoung Lee has impressed thus far, dotting down five tries.
The Valkyries might be building some separation from the field, but there have been some good games throughout the rest of league, including Tulsa’s 29-28 win over Little Rock, and San Antonio’s 33-32 win over the Dallas Reds. In the latter, Dallas held a 22-0 lead after 25 minutes, and then the Riveters steadily chipped away as Erica Billoni and Annaliese Zlogar scored two tries apiece. The teams traded tries at the turn of the fourth quarter, and No. 8 Rebekkah Portlock’s score gave San Antonio a 33-32 lead. The Riveters held on for 20 minutes.
FEB 10
Tulsa @ Dallas Reds
Austin @ San Antonio
Dallas Athletic @ Little Rock
Like Austin, Life West also fields a DII side in the local league, NORCAL. The Gladiatrix are 2-0 and spent last Saturday defeating SFGG (1-1) 29-12. Life West’s roster did include many new names, but also some familiar ones, like Mele Taumoefolau (3), Angelina Lomu (2) and Ally Day, all of whom scored points.
Life West’s DI side played a non-league game against Sacramento (2-0) last Saturday, and that’s where many of the players who’ve featured in national championship games got their rugby in. The Amazons lost 70-5, but they’ll have a shot at the DII side this coming Saturday in the Bay Area.
Additionally, Berkeley (1-2) got its first win of the season with a 45-29 victory over Santa Rosa (0-3).
FEB 10
Sacramento @ Life West DII
Life West @ Life West (dev)
FLORIDA drew attention when the traditional rivalry between Ft. Miami (2-0) and Orlando (1-2) expanded to include Jacksonville (3-0). READ MORE. The Sinners get a break this weekend, while Indian River (0-2) plays Orlando and Tampa Krewe (0-2) takes on Ft. Miami.