This past weekend, the Dartmouth Women's Rugby Club fought through mud, frost and a relatively small number of players to beat three opponents by a combined score of 131-0.
The Big Green began the weekend with a sound 85-0 beating of the University of Pennsylvania. The match featured six tries from outside center Bridget Waitkus '02 and two each from wings Elisse Gaynor '03 and Nina Markey '02. Inside center Carrie Hildreth '04, hooker Jen Obiapi '04, flyhalf Abby Berniker '03, scrumhalf Catherine Dale '04 and second row Karin Ljungquist '02 each added a try to Dartmouth's total. Although conditions were hardly conducive to kicking, Berniker and 8 man Betsy Super managed to punt a few through the uprights.
On Saturday afternoon, the A-side took on Radcliffe in the semi-final. A ruck near the center of the pitch led to an opening try for Super. A bit later, Waitkus took a pass from flyhalf Berniker off a 1-3 switch and ran through and over much of the Radcliffe back line to score the second try. Super converted the kick.
The DWRC showcased more backline skills when a ball from a ruck skipped out to Markey, who passed to Hildreth, looping in great support, and finally to flanker/second row Molly Johnson '02. More great support led to a Markey try just before the end of the half. Berniker converted the kick and the DWRC led 24-0 heading into the break. The second half was only more of the same as Gaynor grabbed a try of her own and Hildreth scored off a set scrum center five meters out. Dartmouth finished up the romp with a score of 36-0.
Although the DWRC again scored the only points in the championship, the match against the Brown Bears was much more tightly contested. As in the fall, Brown favored a mauling game, but Johnson and the rest of the forward pack stepped up to help the Big Green retain possession.
Good possession work off of a ruck by flanker Kate Simon '04 led to the first Big Green try as the ball sailed through the backline and into the hands of a looping Waitkus, who waded through the mud to the tryline. The windy conditions, which were both "ouchy" and "chappy" according to flanker Sara Carpenter '03, prevented a conversion. Reliable tackling by Ljungquist and Hildreth prevented the Bears from evening the score.
As the field conditions grew worse, the second half grew tougher. But the Big Green women, aided by freshman subs Emily Battle and Jackie Johnson stepped up their level of energy.
The lone second-half try was a result of a good offensive charge by the Big Green and heads up rugby from Simon. The Big Green advanced to within a few meters of the Brown tryzone, but was forced out of bounds. Pressure in the backline off of the ensuing lineout caused the Brown flyhalf to drop the ball. Flanker Simon, hurrying out of her position at the back of the lineout fell on the loose ball for a try. The Big Green earned the Ivy League title with a final score of 10-0.
Great play from outside center Cameron Nienaber '04 and 8-man Marina Thompson '05 allowed the B-side to capture the Ivy Title as well, winning 5-0 games against Radcliffe and then Cornell.
Tomorrow, the DWRC takes on Middlebury at home in its last chance to prepare for the Sweet Sixteen Tournament, held April 20-21 in Orlando, Fla..
Anne Snider is a sophomore winger for the Dartmouth Women's Rugby Football Club.
