Women Club Update

Below is a snapshot of the women’s senior clubs competing in USA Rugby’s divisions I-III. League headings link to that competition’s CMS for schedule, results and standings.

The exception is the BC Premier, home to Seattle. The Saracens are currently 0-3 in the Canadian division but aren’t getting crushed: 24-22 L to Vancouver Thunderbirds, 36-32 L v Capilano, 38-21 L v Westshore.

DIVISION I

EAST: Idle until March 23

FRONTIER: This three-team league still has time before playing its second half of the season, but 2-0 Utah Vipers warmed up with a two-win weekend in southern California. The Vipers beat DI Pacific South’s Santa Monica and Belmont Shore by a combined 116-12. Read more.

GOLD CUP: Idle until March 30

MIDWEST: Idle. Champion Detroit and runner-up Minnesota Valkyries have secured their seeds to the DI Eastern Championship (aka, national quarterfinals) and will face the top-two East teams.

PACIFIC SOUTH: Only one league game so far: Santa Monica’s 50-33 win over Tempe. All four teams in motion this weekend.

RED RIVER: Houston Athletic is undefeated and has two confidence-boosting wins against Austin Valkyries. Read more.

DIVISION II

ATLANTIC NORTH

• Empire GU idle until April 6 quarterfinals:

#8 Monmouth @ #1 Danbury

#5 Brooklyn @ #4 Village Lions

#7 Uticuse @ #2 Rochester

#6 Long Island @ #3 Morris

• New England GU is idle until May 4-5 crossover playoffs vs. Empire (Providence and Worcester finished 1, 2)

MID-AMERICA: Idle until March 16

MID-ATLANTIC: Idle until March 23

• North: Harrisburg is 6-0 and Doylestown gave the Harlots its closest matches in the fall (21-5, 19-5)

• South: Severn River is 5-0 and it’s outscored opponent 310-34

MIDWEST: Buffalo won the championship in the fall and has secured its berth to the DII Eastern Championship, aka, national quarterfinals

PACIFIC NORTH

• NorCal

Big game between league-leaders Sacramento and Berkeley went down last weekend, and saw the Amazons race out to a 39-7 halftime lead. The All Blues then methodically worked the second half to pull within eight (39-31) with about five minutes to go, and then a crucial try from outside center Ofolangi Mailangi (her fifth of the day) provided some cushio in the waning minutes. Berkeley had the final say with a Jazmyne Spear try and Olivia Bernadel-Huey conversion, 44-38 to Sacramento. • Additionally San Jose shocked San Francisco Golden Gate in a 41-12 decision. • These five teams play home-and-away through March 30, and then playoffs commence.

• Pacific Northwest

Idle until March 2. Emerald City currently leads at 4-0

PACIFIC SOUTH: Last weekend saw Pasadena (Ramos T, Shamieh T, Nakada 2C) and Las Vegas (Griffin T, Holsclaw T, Schumacher C) play to a 14-14 draw. The teams had scored all of their points by the end of the 56th minute, producing a tense fourth quarter between two stubborn squads that did not break their lines. Pasadena beat Old Pueblo 19-14 at home, and the Lightning beat Las Vegas 36-19 in the teams’ season-opener, so there’s a nice race happening in this four-team league.

RED RIVER: Austin is 3-0 thus far and gets a month break before resuming league. The Valkyries played its closest game last weekend against Little Rock, leading 10-5 until the 60th minute. Fullback Francine Penikis, wing Chelsey Arambula and lock Tessa Dennis dotted down for the 25-5 win.

SOUTH

• Carolinas-Georgia: Idle until Feb. 23

• Florida: Fort Miami is 4-0 and the 22-12 win over Orlando was the best test so far, per usual. Fort Miami scored three tries to Orlando’s two, but flyhalf Marie Zeoli added a penalty kick in addition to her conversions for a little extra breathing room. The rematch occurs in Miami on March 9. • Additionally, Tampa Krewe gave Orlando a scare, going up 15-0 in the first half thanks to three tries from inside center Ruth Black. Lis Gallant added a fourth and bonus point in the 80th minute, but in between, Orlando fullback Jessica Warner scored three tries in 10 minutes, and Lindsey Perkins and Shontavia House scored in the final 10 minutes: 27-20 to Orlando.

• True South: Idle until March 2

DIVISION III

MID-ATLANTIC: Idle until March 16

• North: South Jersey is 4-0 and has allowed one try against so far

• South: Maryland Stingers are 5-0 they’ve outscored opponents 198-34

PACIFIC SOUTH: Some forfeits and inconsistencies here but Fullerton is looking like the team to beat after a 36-5 win over Northern Arizona and 86-19 victory over Santa Barbara. The Wolfpack plays its first away game this weekend against the Mermaids.

RED RIVER: This league reworked its schedule once removing San Marcos Sirens and Tyler Hoplites from the competition. The league will kick off Feb. 23.