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The Midwest Rugby Union held its women’s Division II quarterfinals last weekend, and now both DII and Division I will contest semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 7. This weekend’s victors will advance to the Midwest championships on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Lemont, Ill. [lead photo c/o Palmer College RFC]
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The playoffs got off to a stumbling start in some respects. Two of the four quarterfinals that were meant to happen did not actually occur. The Cincinnati Wolfhounds forfeited its match against Milwaukee Scylla from the outset, and then a late ruling on an eligibility issue disqualified South Buffalo (statement) from its quarterfinal against the Cleveland Iron Maidens (statement). A replacement team from the Upstate New York region could not secured in time and so the Ohio team took the bye into the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Palmer College and Circle City won their respective quarterfinals, convincingly. The Davenport, Iowa, team bested Wisconsin 85-19. Nine players scored tries, led by vice captain Rylee Blake, who dotted down three. Prop Heather Ritchie, No. 8 Kenzy Reilley and centers Kylie Kay and Amber Wennerstrom scored two tries apiece, and scrumhalf Amy Brady kicked five conversions. Riley Smith scored all of Wisconsin’s points. Palmer College will host Milwaukee Scylla in this Saturday’s DII semifinal.
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On the other side of the bracket, Circle City shut out the visiting Pittsburgh 90-0. Outside center Shaianne McGruder paced the Tempest with five tries, while No. 8 Tiara Mason (3), scrumhalf Tiffany Nguyen (2) and wing Kaylee Paino (2) crossed the whitewash multiple times. Prop Narcisse O’Neal and lock Karen Strunk scored a try apiece. Flyhalf Shayla Meinders (7) and wing Makenna Murphy (3) hit the conversions. This Saturday, Circle City will host the Cleveland Iron Maidens at Kuntz Stadium at 4 p.m. CST.
Division I was idle last weekend and this Saturday’s semifinals mark the first stage of playoffs for the top tier of the Midwest’s competition. Chicago Lions host the Columbus Squirrels for a 12 p.m. CST kickoff, and Chicago North Shore travels to Pittsburgh Forge for an 11 a.m. EST start.