Women's rugby zeroes out Hiram, 30-0

Shutout in first game of their season

With a freshly lined field and the uprights swaying in the wind, Oberlin awaited the arrival of the Hiram College Women's Rugby team. This was not the first time Oberlin had faced the bumble-bee-esque Hiram team. Last spring, at the Ohio Rugby Classic, Oberlin defeated Hiram to place fifth in a field of twelve teams. Last year's match-up with Hiram was characterized by whining and crying; Hiram complained to the referee at half time that Oberlin was tackling too hard. Last weekend's defeat of Hiram 30-0, was a fine show of rugby.

Rugby football is a competitive, physical, contact game that requires tremendous commitment and enthusiasm for successful participation. It is exhilarating and exciting for both player and spectator, providing enjoyment for all concerned.

Rugby also provides a suitable outlet for the controlled release of any frustration or aggression within the structured framework of an athletically demanding sport. Each team plays with fifteen people on the field at once. This fifteen is divided further into two parts: the Scrum and the Backs . The purpose of the game is to score as many Trys (each worth five points) and then a kick through the uprights (worth two points), after advancing up the field by kicking, running and passing the ball. Each game is divided into two halves, each forty minutes in length. The clock continues to run throughout each half, even when possession is transferred, or a penalty or score is awarded.

Women's Rugby at Oberlin has existed off and on for the last five years, although it was not until two years ago when the organization really became active. Oberlin's coach, Liesel Strickler, Assistant Director of Major Gifts at Oberlin's Office of Alumni Development, joined the team three years ago, and since then the team has worked tenaciously on developing a strong program of Women's rugby at Oberlin. This fall the team had a turnout of nearly fifty women and this season the team is functioning with twenty-five active members.

Women's rugby is open to anyone, no experience necessary and all physical skills accepted. In fact, many current members of the team are first time players. Upon leaving Oberlin there is also a growing network of Women's Club teams to carry on the tradition of rugby in the United States.

Last weekend's game highlighted the skills of many of the team's new players and veterans. Oberlin scored four times in the first half. Two of those trys came from junior Dana Loeb, who plays outside center in the backline. The other trys were scored by senior Ruthlyn Sodano, who has been with the team the longest, and Becca Barnes, who is also a veteran.

Oberlin scored almost immediately in the first half, setting the tone for the rest of the match. As Hiram slowed, began to lose and began to lose character, Oberlin came back in the second half to score two more times. One of these scores, in the second half, was on a breakaway by Carrisa Bennett.

Bennett just joined the Rhino-Ruggers this spring and has proved to be quite an asset, as indicated by the haggard Hiram she left in the dust. The final score of the game came from Tina Barksdale. She is one of the team's outstanding scrummies who has played since last year.

As Hiram dragged their players off the field and headed toward what would be a long drive home, Oberlin celebrated the first game and first win of the season.

Oberlin will be in Columbus at the Ohio Rugby Classic this weekend. They will match up against the University of Illinois and Bowling Green. After the team returns victorious, they will head out to another tournament next weekend and then face Ashland on April 26.

Club corner is written by members of the club team and does not neccessarily reflect the views of the Review staff.