This past weekend was another big one for clubs looking to advance into the USA Club Rugby 15s post-season. The following reviews those women’s Division I, Division II and Division III teams that won playoff games on April 13-14 and the impact on the Super Regional Championships (SRCs) that begin April 20.
RELATED: Girls & Women’s Rugby Scores: April 13-14, 2024
DIVISION I
The SoCal/Southwest league held its semifinals on Saturday. San Diego scored 72 points in its win against Santa Monica. Julia Buescher, Ashley Torrecillas and Amy Verdonik were among the multi-try scorers, and Kaylee Westmoreland kicked six conversions. The Surfers will play Tempe in the April 20 title match at CSU Long Beach. The Ninjas took a forfeit win against Belmont Shore on Saturday.
There were a couple of regular-season DI games as well, but none that impacted the next stage of playoffs. Read the previous update for more information on the other regions.
DIVISION II
The ATLANTIC SUPER REGIONAL is now set. Severn River repeated as Capital champion, beating James River 66-21 in Saturday’s title bout. Tanya Gouws and Alyson McCarty for half of the Honey Badgers’ 10 tries. The Maryland team will host Empire champion New Haven this Saturday in the first round of Atlantic semifinals.
Phoenixville also repeated as Eastern Pennsylvania (EPRU) champion, defeated Harrisburg 53-14 in Saturday’s championship. Fullback Corinne Gallagher led all point-scorers with 18 on a try, five conversions and a penalty kick. Flyhalf Anna McGlade and flanker Casey Evans scored a pair of tries as well. White Horse will now face New England champion Albany in the Atlantic SRC semifinals.
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The Knicks beat Worcester 31-12 on Saturday for the NERFU title. Caitlyn Fuss (2), fullback Beth Fairall, flanker Michaela Conway and prop Ginny House scored tries, while flyhalf Amy Weils kicked three conversions. The Albany vs. Phoenixville Atlantic semifinal will take play on April 20 in Canton, Mass. All Atlantic SRC finals occur Saturday, May 4 in Wilmington, Del.
There’s one change in the GULF COAST SUPER REGION: The True South held its championship, both the semifinals and final in New Orleans. Memphis forfeited to Knoxville on day one, while Chattanooga eliminated Nashville with a 76-3 win. In Sunday’s final, the Minx sent Emma Houston (2), Olivia Mahathy, Haley Forman and Kenzie Budry away for tries, while Darcy Ayers added a conversion in the 27-14 win against Chattanooga. Sara Walter and Alyssa Corralez scored the Queens’ tries, and Bailey Chase kicked the extras.
Knoxville, the reigning national champion, is the first team to book a spot in the DII Gulf Coast SRC. Florida and Carolinas will name their champs on April 20, and Red River will follow on April 21.
In the NORTHERN region, eyes are on the Rocky Mountain berth, which will be named on standings. Salt City hosted Boulder on Saturday and banked a 66-21 win. Jessica Robinson converted all eight tries.
The Rocky Mountain champ will play the Midwest champion South Buffalo in the May 4 Northern semifinals. Midwest runner-up Grand Rapids and Mid-America champ St. Louis meet on the other side of the bracket.
Southern California held its semifinals, and now the April 20 championship is set: Los Angeles vs. Ventura. LA hosted San Luis Obispo and won 33-17. Emily Rodin (2), Jade Thomas, Frances Canales and Josephine Yep scored tries, and Ai Fujii converted four. Ventura took down Santa Monica 36-19 and spread out the six tries between six Outlaws. Desiree Leaupepe converted three. The duo will meet at CSU Long Beach for the final and berth to PACIFIC Super Regional in Vegas.
The Pacific region has not released SRC semifinal pairings, so brackets cannot be created yet.
DIVISION III
The Atlantic SRC has also sealed its women’s Division III bracket. Read the preview from last recap for some context.
On April 20, Empire champion Union County will head to Capital champion Frederick, which beat D.C. Revolution 30-17 in Saturday’s final. On the other side of the bracket, South Shore beat Amoskeag for a repeat New England championship and will host Eastern Pennsylvania champion North Bay in the Atlantic SRC semifinals. The first-year Maryland team beat Brandywine 26-10 in Saturday’s title match.
Gulf Coast does not have a Division III, but the True South holds its own championship. Louisiana Lagniappe went 2-0 on the weekend, defeating a Huntsville/Battleship team 103-0 in the semifinals, then New Orleans 68-3 in the final. The Halfmoons beat Birmingham 43-22 on Saturday. Stay tuned for more.