Sunday, September 12, 2009

Match Report: All Blues vs. Twin City Amazons

By: Phoebe Boone

It was perfect rugby weather on Treasure Island, San Francisco as the Berkeley All Blues stormed to victory over the Twin City Amazons. The game kicked off rather sloppily as both sides fought ferociously for the ball in every breakdown, both turning over the ball after just a few phases of play. But the All Blues soon found their way to the scoreboard in the 10^th minute when fly half and Captain Steph Bruce burst through the middle off a scrum for a try under the posts. Two minutes later wing Nathalie Marchino found space up the weak side off a kick-off return. But the Amazons weren’t going to let the All Blues run rampant. Just after the 15 minute mark inside center Sylvia Braaten cut through the All Blues line and juked her way into the try zone. But the All Blues found their rhythm and scored 3 more tries before the end of the half (one from 8-man Blair Groefsema, one from outside center Kelly Griffin, and another from Steph Bruce), bringing the score to 35-7.

The All Blues exploded in the second half, starting off with a pair of forward tries from flanker Phoebe Boone and hooker Lisa ‘Cheeks’ Butts followed by a pair of tries each from wings Nathalie Marchino and Elaine Gardner. Within a minute of getting into the game wing Victoria ‘Vix’ Folayan put 5 on the board, followed by fullback Ashley English. Elaine Gardner completed her hat trick at the 75 minute mark, followed by inside center Ruth Bryson. Phoebe Boone touched down her second try as the last play of the game, making the final score 100-7.

Scoring Report

All Blues 100 – Amazons 7 (35-7 at half)

Amazons

Tries (1): Braaten

Conversions: Braaten

All Blues

Tries (16): Marchino (3), Gardner (3), Bruce (2), Boone (2), Groefsema, Griffin, Butts, Folayan, English, Bryson.

Conversions: Bruce (6), Bryson (4).