Oct. 26, 2008: NRU
Posted on Monday March 23rd, 2009 @ 03:19:14 pm

Lions defend their Northeast Rugby Union title (hell yeah!) by defeating Portland 41-8 Saturday and then Providence 43-15 on Sunday. The Lions head to Florida with the #5 seed, pitting them against Miami RFC in the opening round.

The weekend saw many fierce performances, especially considering the evolving lineups, which is a true testament to the Lions’ depth and talent. Captain Meg Collins was at the heart of the charge. The Woman of the Match read the games beautifully and had four tries on the weekend. After the match Sunday, she said: This just goes to show that you have no position in rugby; you just play.

Flyhalf Marne Sussman put in a gritty performance and nabbed Silent Force, and fullback Hinke led all scorers with 29 points on three tries and seven conversions.

Lions 41, Portland 8

The word on the street was that first-year Portland was a scrappy, dirty team when push came to shove. The gossip proved true and Portland took control early on, spending the first five minutes in the Lions’ half. However, 10 minutes in, their #7 was red carded for attempting to stomp Ais’s pretty face – an action that confused everyone … well, except Marne, who clocked the #7 one.

The momentum shifted then and there, and after having two tries held up, the Lions started dotting down with consistency. Collins got it started off a 5m scrum, picking up and stiff-arming into the try zone (5-0). Portland tied it up shortly afterward, but Lions answered on the subsequent restart. The forwards put in a series of hard punches, committing the defense inside – at which point the ball went wide to Hinke, who somehow beat a 3-1 and centered/converted the try (12-5).

The final score of the half began on Portland’s 40 meter. Three phases in, Collins set up weak, and Hinke followed in support as Becca hit the charging 8 man. Collins dummy passed to get past the winger, then dished to Hinke after pinning the fullback. Alli crossed for five, 17-5.

Throughout the match, the forwards absolutely dominated the scrum, stealing/wheeling like crazy. So much so that the referee eventually asked Becca to ask her forwards to back off, because they were too overpowering. “Can you imagine,” Becca marveled, “that someone would say that WE were too big?!?!?”

Of course the forwards ignored the request. Off a stolen scrum on Portland’s five meter, the fowards crashed inside a couple phases before sending it wide, where flanker Emma Fisher was loading outside the wing. She took the corner for the five-pointer (22-5).

Cris “The Little Engine That Could” Maisano accounted for the subsequent try, which evolved after some more inside punches from Sari Warren and Jess Houser. Collins set up weak again and dummied her way past the first line of defense before dishing to Cris, who drove and spun her way over the line (27-5).

Marne made it 32-5 after Houser stole a 10m lineout. The flyhalf reigned in a tricky pass the barreled into the try zone. Alli converted (34-5). Final Lions score originated from a 5m scrum. Emma just keeps the ball in as it nearly skirts out the side; Collins picks and drives over. Alli converted the try, 41-5.

Portland tacked on a penalty before the whistle, 41-8. Lions go to Disney!

Coach Mary Holmes commended her girls for the job well done. “You guys did a great job of keeping your head up and seeing what the defense was giving you.” Everyone played well, but the forwards looked especially synced.

Scorers: Collins 2T, Hinke 2T, 3C, Fisher T, Maisano T, Sussman T.

Roster: 1. Sari Warren (Kelly Rogers), 2. Meredith Harmon, 3. Meg O’Connell, 4. Kim Siciliano, 5. Jess Houser, 6. Emma Fisher, 7. Susan Pellecchia, 8. Meg Collins, 9. Becca Asser, 10. Marne Sussman, 11. Emily Butterworth, 12. Ais Smith, 13. Rosie Rough (Maggie McNicholas), 14. Cris Maisano (Taylor Dunham), 15. Alli Hinke

Lions 43, Providence 15

The Lions posted 36 points in the first half, and “bent but didn’t break,” according to Mary, in the second half. The effort was strong enough for the NRU Championship.

Dancing through the tries…

5-0: From a 15 meter lineout, Houser reigns it in and pushes through the meat of the opposition. She dishes to Sari and from the ruck, the ball goes to the backs, who switch in back in. Ais runs it in from 8 meters out.

12-0: From a 10m lineout, Marne crashes to the line and Rosie sets the backs. Ball goes from Alli and then Butters, who offloads to the looping fullback just before impact. Al takes the corner for the try and later conversion.

19-0: Collins busts out another dummy pass from the flyhalf slot and goes 30 meters untouched. Centers the try for Alli’s conversion.

26-0: Houser sets it up with a punch as forwards fans out behind backs. Collins calls for another weak side ball, shakes the wing and goes a long 80 meters for the try. Alli converts.

31-0: A scrum to Providence on their 10m. Fullback attempts to clear, but Becca chases her down and blocks it. Ball trickles into the try zone and Kelly Rogers fall on it for the try.

Third time’s a charm for Kelly, who had two tries disallowed – one that knocked forward in the try zone, and another for diving over the ruck. Before today’s game, the team demonstrated how to score a try during warm-ups for the prop. It obviously worked.

36-0: Ais hits the 1/2 switch at pace and powers 20 meters downfield. From the ruck, it’s spun out to Alli, then Rosie, who splits the defense at the 50 meter for the unopposed lane to the try zone.

HALFTIME – notes: Alli’s kicks are on today, nice spiraling punts downfield. The girls have been on their front foot all half, reflected in the score. Mary: You can’t lose any momentum.

But the girls relax a little bit, while Providence scraps together some pride. The second half belongs to Providence who puts up three unconverted tries. Their striker, the fullback, is inserting Alli Hinke style, and the backline (which is changing every 10 minutes due to subs and injuries) is adjusting slowly.

43-15: However, the Lions have the last word, spending the last 10 minutes around Providence’s 22. A simple bingo play with Alli loading creates the overload that Cris needs on the wing, and she dots down in the corner. Alli slots the difficult conversion.

Cheers to everyone in attendance and those players who filled every gap wonderfully – including Taylor at flanker and Butters at center!

Great weekend, ladies! Let’s tune it up at Lancaster!!

Scorers: Smith T, Hinke T, 4C, Collins 2T, Rogers T, Rough T, Maisano T.

**Roster: 1. Meg O’Connell, 2. Meredith Harmon, 3. Sari Warren (Rogers), 4. Kim Siciliano (Ali Hagerty), 5. Jess Houser, 6. Kelly Rogers (Taylor Dunham), 7. Emma Fisher, 8. Meg Collins (Houser), 9. Becca Asser, 10. Marne Sussman (Collins), 11. Emily Butterworth (Sarah Landry), 12. Ais Smith (Marne), 13. Rosie Rough (Butterworth), 14. Cris Maisano, 15. Alli Hinke