On Saturday, the Dartmouth women's rugby club rose to the occasion of Homecoming to defeat Boston University by a score of 60-5.
It was the team's fifth convincing win in as many games this season. The Big Green's other victories came against Radcliffe (72-0), Brown (19-7), Yale (70-0) and Boston College (59-10).
Eight-man Betsy Super '02 got the DWRC started off early when she followed a teammate into a tackle, picked up a loose ball in a crowd of BU forwards, and passed it to flanker Joyce Fu '03. Fu took it back the other way and passed to a bursting Bridget Waitkus '02 for the try.
Waitkus' try was a preview of things to come. Strong execution soon after led to almost consecutive tries for outside center Cate Macomber '04, 2nd row Karin Ljungquist '02, Macomber again, and flyhalf Kathy Grayson '02.
Next, the DWRC didn't slow down, instead maintaining its high intensity as the team moved the ball down near the tryline. After threatening for nearly five minutes, Fu touched it down in the tryzone.
Almost directly off the next kickoff, Grayson found a huge hole in the BU backline and touched down another one.
At halftime, the score stood at 40-0, Dartmouth.
Scrumhalf Catherine Dale '04 had been on top of the other scrumhalf the whole game, and it finally paid off in points after the break. An alert smother tackle caused a BU player to lose the ball in the backline, where it was pounced on by the DWRC. Soon, Waitkus broke through for the try. The inside center repeated the effort a few minutes later for her third try of the day.
A little after that, Fu made another long run down the field, and passed to Waitkus. Waitkus ran into the tryzone, then dished to wing Sonia Tarantolo '04 for the score.
Soon after, a nice tackle by Tarantolo and some terrific teamwork by the forwards led to the final Dartmouth try of the day, scored by Willer.
Shortly before the final whistle, a terrific tryline stand by the Big Green gave way and a BU prop broke through for the lone BU try of the game.
Although it spoiled the shutout, it took little away from an extremely well-played game for the DWRC. The team is confident heading into next week's game with Massachusetts.
B-, C-Sides: The B and C-sides combined to play a long, competitive game in which BU prevailed, 15-5.
Anne Snider, a winger, is secretary of the Dartmouth Women's Rugby Club.
