USA Club Rugby has concluded its Super Regional Championships (SRCs) and now the national semifinalists are known for women’s Division I and Division II, and men’s DI, DII and DIII. All teams will meet at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis for the final two rounds of the play, which occur Friday-Sunday, May 16-18. [lead photo: Nicole Moriarity @momedia_designs]

RELATED: Women’s DI Semifinalists

ATLANTIC: Phoenixville Repeats

Phoenixville began its weekend in Portsmouth, R.I., with a 34-19 win against New England champion Worcester. The Eastern Pennsylvania champ went 24-0 in the first half, as Susi Espinoza, Kelsi Beahm, Casey Evans and Corinne Gallagher scored tries. Jessica Rodearmel and Kimberly Esposito dotted down in the second half, and with Gallagher’s two conversions, White Horse was able to keep the lead while the Shamrocks rallied in the second half. Rachel Colter, Samantha Dickie and Laura Hetherman, who also kicked two conversions, dotted down for the Massachusetts squad.

Meanwhile, a thriller evolved between Empire champion New Haven and Capital champion Severn River. The Honey Badgers went up 15-7 in the first half, putting Ann Lee, Kristina Schafer and Kayla Carter away for scores. New Haven actually scored the first try of the match through Kerry Conlin, and then added the only try of the second half courtesy of Carolyn Roach. Captain Margaret Aydlett’s foot was the difference on the score board. The flyhalf converted both tries and then added a penalty goal in the 67th minute. The defense prevailed and New Haven banked the 17-15 win.

In the final, White Horse went up 18-0 after 40 minutes, getting tries from Lindsey Allebach and Gallagher, plus two conversions and a penalty goal from Claudia Norton. New Haven was the first to score in the second half, with Matja Saarenheimo-Vanderhorst doing the honors, and Abigail Smith capped the scoring on the day. Aydlett converted both. Gallagher and Averie Brittin scored back-to-back as the fourth quarter neared, and with a second Norton penalty kick, Phoenixville claimed its repeat Atlantic SRC title 30-14.

GULF COAST: Krewe Continues On

Both semifinals were pictures of peak playoff rugby. Reigning champion Tampa Bay had all it could handle with Red River champion Little Rock. Captain Robyn Oliveri was perfect off the tee, converting all five tries from Jessie Premet, McKenzie Koval (2), Bethany Golatt and Victoria Jarrett. Abby Vestal went 3/4 on conversions and also added a penalty goal in the first half. The inside center was one of three try scorers, with Adrienne Yoder (2) and Laura Edmondson accounting for the other five-pointers: 35-29 the final to the Floridians.

True South champion held off Carolinas champion Charleston 20-17 on the other side of the bracket. The Minx scored four tries through Catherine Murphree, Regina Durkan, Jessica Jennings and Emma Houston. Delaney Moyer and LeAnne Hudson scored for the Hurricanes, and the latter also kicked two conversions and a penalty to lead with 12 points. Charleston held a 17-15 lead until the 78th minute, when Houston scored the game winner.

But Sunday’s final was all Tampa Bay. Lock Lauren Surick had a four-try day, and Premet, Jarrett and Laurell Cuza also added five points apiece. Oliveri kicked a conversion and penalty goal. Knoxville prevented the shutout in minute 56, when Chelsea Robl crossed the whitewash and Morse converted. The Krewe returns to the national semifinals after the 40-7 win — a result that nearly mirrored last year’s Gulf Coast final, 41-8.

NORTHERN: Growlers Advance

Mid-America champion St. Louis and Midwest runner-up Rochester duked it out in the semifinals. Both teams scored five tries apiece. The Renegades got their scores from Soraia Parr (3), Layla Melozzi and Zoe Romanowski, and Lizzy Standera added two conversions. The Sabres got their tries from Marissa Munoz-Ruiz (3), Caroline Basler and Jessi Wilcox, but crucially, Barbara Dreyer Rentz Ribeiro was more successful off the tee. The flyhalf kicked three conversions and also added a penalty in the first half. St. Louis advanced to the final with a 34-29 win.

Grand Rapids had an easier time with Boulder, eliminating the Rocky Mountain champion 64-14 on Saturday. Emma Shimek led 24 points, scoring two tries and going 7/10 on conversions. The Babes got their points from Caroline Miskill (T, C), Karissa Barnes (T) and Hannah Juul (C).

Grand Rapids and St. Louis met in last year’s Northern semifinals, and the Growlers won by two points. Eager to reverse its fortune, St. Louis scored 26 first-half points. Dreyer Rentz Ribeiro, Wilcox (2) and Mandy Smith scored tries, and the No. 10 kicked three conversions.

The Growlers had put Shimek and Salter-Sheridan away for first-half tries and then the Sabres out of the try zone for the entire second half. Meanwhile the Michigan team sent Shimek, Lauren Peeler and Lyndsey Bensel into St. Louis’ try zone, and two Shimek conversions provided a 29-26 win. Growlers return to nationals and do so with another excellent test from the Sabres.

NATIONALS: 2 New Faces

Women’s Division II plays a Saturday semifinal / Sunday final format at nationals (by contrast, DI is Friday semifinal / Sunday final). Reigning national champion Tampa Bay will face Pacific SRC champion Las Vegas — which beat Pasadena 49-7 and Portland 17-14 in late April for the title — in the national semifinals. Kickoff is at 11:45 a.m. Eastern on field 1. An hour later, the second semifinal between Phoenixville and nationals first-timer Grand Rapids will kick off on field 2. Sunday’s national championship will be at 10:30 a.m. on field 2.