This past weekend, six Elite Girls Rugby League (EGRL) teams took the field in Leesburg, Va., at the annual Gonzaga Rugby Classic. The adverse weather conditions forced teams to adjust their tactics within their otherwise well-oiled systems, providing key lessons as they prepare for the Rugby Showcase in June. These cross-divisional opportunities surely paid off in the eyes of all the coaches and players as a learning opportunity for everyone, regardless of rank. [lead photo c/o @DoylestownRugbyHSGirls]
The teams were split into two pools: Doylestown (Pa.), Aspetuck (Conn.), Wando (S.C.), and Morris (N.J.), Charlotte Cardinals (N.C.), /North Bay Motley (Md.). Saturday they swam in their own lanes, each playing two games against the other teams in their pool, and Sunday saw some consolation games and a championship matchup between the top two teams.
The biggest player on the field this weekend at the GRC was unfortunately the wind. With speeds reaching upwards of 30 mph, teams had to adjust their strategies and mindset, as kicks, lineouts and wide passes took a hit. Some teams figured it out sooner than others. This learning curve made the game margins a lot wider, especially during Saturday pool play. The Wando Wahines, for example, opted to kick to get behind the defense, but the whipping wind made accurate placement difficult. Instead, the ball found the hands of an opposing wing or fullback, and Wando got caught on its back foot multiple times.
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Errant passes and loose ball, not-straight throw-ins and many, many scrums were common.
“Steady winds and strong gusts could unexpectedly carry the ball just out of reach of intended targets, hampering attacks and lineouts as well,” noted EGRL broadcaster Stef Aliprandi, who provided commentary for multiple games over the weekend.
The wind made sure that every try itself mattered, especially the centered ones, as the tournament rules awarded an automatic seven points for dotting down between the posts. Tries in the corners meant conversion attempts gambled with the wind.
When the touch judge would raise their flag for a lineout, the wind was often either strong enough in one direction for the flag to be stiff, or swirling so violently it was invisible. In either scenario,
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The most successful moments from both Saturday and Sunday came from heads-up play and lively ball movement. Popping the ball upon contact/tackle, or a well timed pass in front of a pinned defender — these were precursors to many tries, especially from Morris and Doylestown. This style of running rugby worked well during 40-minute games, which is much shorter than a normal 15s format. Keeping that ball alive and the momentum going proved fatal to opponents. Both Morris and Doylestown were able to read the defense and communicate their support, and those assets were huge difference-makers during pool play. Both went 2-0 on Saturday, setting up the championship match against each other on Sunday. Doylestown won the tournament with a 36-0 final win over Morris.
So many talented teams and players lit the field on fire this weekend, but there were three notable change-makers. The first big name is surely Doylestown’s fullback Leah Cipollo. With multiple tries, assists, kicks and kick recoveries, she put on a clinic, most impressively because she’s such a young star. Her shifty movements for line breaks, and smart passes with support of the rest of her backline made her stand out, and she’s surely at the top of the list of shoutouts for the weekend.
The next name on the marquee is to no surprise, Aspetuck prop Sadie Hershberger. Hershberger is a picturesque tight-five player. Beyond her strong capabilities in the scrum and sealing rucks, she has the speed, tenacity and perseverance of a back. When you accumulate her size, and her ability to see holes in defensive lines and take them effortlessly, it’s no stunner when she scores on both breakaways and short picks. Undoubtedly she’ll have lots of college recruiters knocking on her door soon enough.
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Lastly, Charlotte Cardinals forward Jeinndy Rivas Ramirez made statements of her own in every game the Cardinals played. She was aggressive in every ruck on defense, causing turnover after turnover, poaching the ball like no other player at the tournament. Charlotte went 2-1 on the weekend with a 4th place finish, and Rivas Ramirez deserves a lot of love for her doggedness.
The Gonzaga Rugby Classic proved to be a worthwhile trip for each EGRL team, which had the opportunity for some inter-divisional showdowns to prepare them more for the Rugby Showcase in two months. While Doylestown, who currently ranks first in EGRL’s Central Division, came out on top of it all, neither the North or South Division leaders were in attendance at the tournament, so there is much to watch before the season culminates.
SCORES
Doylestown 42-7 Wando Wahines
Doylestown 40-0 Aspetuck
Morris 35-0 North Bay Motley
Morris 22-5 Charlotte Cardinals
Aspetuck 19-10 Wando Wahines
Aspetuck 19-7 Charlotte Cardinals
Charlotte Cardinals 19-0 North Bay Motley
Final: Doylestown 36-0 Morris