Volume CXXXIII, Number 3 September 21, 2001 f

Women's ruggers split at CBB tourney
LINDSEY MORRIS
Staff Writer

With the sun on their backs and the sidelines packed with cheering fans, the Women's Rugby Team learned together, won two of four games, and had a lot of fun at the Maine Round-Robin Tournament last Saturday.

It was a full day of rugby, with the men's team playing in the morning and the women playing games from noon on. Due to the team's large numbers, Bowdoin was able to put together formidable A ,B, and C squads, while both Colby and Bates struggled to recycle players for two sides.

In the first match-up between Colby and Bowdoin's A sides, the White Mules scored once early in the game. The Bears came back more even more determined, however. Bowdoin dominated the second half on the offensive, and most of the action took place on Colby's end of the field.

During the second half of this first game, three different players came very close to scoring. Karen Finnegan '03, Julie Thompson'02, and Camilla Yamada '03 each came within inches of the try-zone. Senior captain Katherine Buckspan said that the team was a little rusty in the first game, but she felt confident about the level of performance in the second half.

In the second A-side match, Bowdoin played Bates, and the Bears would come on strong to win the game. Junior Ellie Doig helped secure the victory with several clutch tackles and intelligent play in both offense and defense. "During the game against Bates, we dominated throughout," Buckspan said. "We drove all over them in scrums and rucks, and the backs had some great plays as well. Physically and technically, we dominated the game."

Interspersed between the A-side games were two equally intense B-side matches. With the leadership of returning players, two entirely rookie back lines and several new forwards got some game experience. The B-side team also split the day, losing the first game to Bates and then beating Colby in the second. Senior Tiffany Mok and freshman Melissa Hayden both scored for the Polar Bears.

Bates and Colby choose not to play each other in the tournament, comprised of scrimmages intended to give both veterans and rookies alike more experience in a game setting.

At the end of the day, players, captains, and coaches alike were pleased with the effort set forth. The women ruggers face Bridgewater tomorrow at 1:00 PM in a home matchup.