0
0
The Midwest Rugby Union is multiple rounds into its USA Club Rugby Division II season, but Division I played its first round during Labor Day Weekend. Both the Eastern and Western conferences include four teams, and all eight teams were in motion last Saturday. [lead photo: Mel Paz @melpazphotos34]
In the Western league, the Chicago Lions upset the pre-season rankings with a 10-7 win against top-ranked Chicago North Shore, the reigning DI Midwest champion. Fullback Cienna Jordon scored in the 11th minute to give the Lions a brief 5-0 lead, and then North Shore responded when prop Colleen Murphy crossed for five and outside Barbara Dreyer Rentz Ribeiro kicked the conversion. That 7-5 scoreline held until the 73rd minute, when Lions #13 Jayla Twitty crossed for the game winner. North Shore picks up the bonus point for the close loss.
“It’s obviously a major change from a year ago,” David Fee said of his first 15s win as Chicago Lions head coach. “It’s an early-season win, and winning has to become a habit, so we’ll take it, but we were far from our best. We also know that’s the same for North Shore. We’ll have to be better and have a rough road trip to Metro this weekend.”
In contrast, Twin Cities and Metropolis engaged a higher-scoring affair. The teams, both of which field teams in the Midwest’s DII, each earned bonus points for scoring four-plus tries, but the Valkyries got the full five standings points in the 41-31 win.
View this post on Instagram
Metropolis rocketed out of the gate and scored its all 41 points in 43 minutes. Wing Maggie Kleyer led with three tries, while fullback Megan Ahnen (2) and lock Abbey Jacobs also dotted down. Inside center Owen Reoch kicked three conversions. No. 8 Halle Hill scored 16 points on two tries and three conversions for the Amazons. Inside center Emma Hamilton, outside center Josephine Harris and vice captain Brooke Doescher also dotted down.
In the Eastern Conference, Grand Rapids downed Detroit 38-12 and spread the scoring across six Growlers. Captain and flyhalf Emma Shimek led all point scorers with 13 on a try and four conversions. Hooker Carpenter Valk-Feeney, lock Haleigh Ketler, inside center Lauren Peeler, and wings Samantha Walquist and Audrey Everett also dotted down tries. For Detroit, flanker Britt McKenzie, scrumhalf Jules Loera-Wiggins and reserve Lydia Honbarger earned players of the match.
View this post on Instagram
The Pittsburgh Forge beat the Columbus Squirrels 39-19. Prop Rebecca Lotito (2), Captain and hooker Amy Nguyen, prop Sarah Scott, flanker Natalie Jackson, wing Olivia Redshaw and reserve Ellen Resek scored tries. Fullback Ciara Pettinos and scrumhalf Katherine Lebrun kicked a conversion apiece. Fullback Kayla Saikaly accounted for nine of Columbus’ points on a try and two conversions. Captain and scrumhalf Zoe Kimura and lock Amanda Morgan scored a try apiece.
For round two this Saturday, Columbus plays Detroit, and Pittsburgh will see Grand Rapids on Sept. 19 in the Eastern league. The Chicago Lions head to Metropolis in Minnesota, and Twin Cities travels to Chicago North Shore on Sept. 12.