After a successful spring training trip to the Mid-Atlantic, the women's rugby team is hoping to draw new recruits at this Saturday's Rookie Clinic.
"The rookie clinic is for people to learn the game while seeing it played," said senior flanker co-captain Erica Camarena. "We will run pass lines and teach the logistics of the game. We'll also play a [inter-squad] scrimmage at the end."
The team opened with a match against the University of Mary Washington Eagles on March 24. The Polar Bears started strongly with a 22-0 halftime score led by three tries by first year winger Kerry Townsend.
"Kerry has tremendous speed and the rest of the team realizes that," said Coach MaryBeth Mathews. "The scrum half and fly-half work to suck opposing players into the middle so that they can funnel the ball outside to the winger for a try. Those tries are really team efforts."
Bowdoin also scored in the first half on a breakaway run for a try and conversion by fly-half Katie Mathews '12. Substitutions at half time gave more players valuable experience.
"The spring season is for training and teaching," said Mathews. "More touches in the spring season lead to a safer fall season."
The Polar Bears matched the Eagles score for score with two tries by senior winger Elsbeth Paige-Jeffers, two more conversions by Mathews and a fourth by Townsend for a final score of 41-22.
Bowdoin then played the American University Eagles on March 27. The team was coached by Bowdoin alum Amy Shopkorn '00, four-year player and captain of the 1999-2000 squad.
"Playing against Amy was just great," said Mathews. "We've stayed in good contact, especially as she has begun coaching."
She is also part of the Bowdoin Women's Rugby alumni network and is a member of the strategic planning committee for the team," Mathews added. "It was fantastic because she has adopted a similar coaching philosophy. Rugby should be competitive but friendly."
During the match the Polar Bears played defensively with good tackling by Dijoia Darden '12, Allison Dupont '12, Loryn Fridie '11, co-captain Hannah Larson '10, Paige-Jeffers, Mathews and was led by sophomore Nylea Bivins.
"Nylea is strong, smart and aggressive," said Mathews. "She played phenomenally this trip."
The Polar Bears used passing and speed to work the ball out to wingers Paige-Jeffers and Townsend for four evenly split tries. Mathews converted twice, including the game winner in the final minutes. Bowdoin's strong defense held off the Eagles for a 24-22 victory.
"The trip went so well," said Camarena. "The team is very cohesive even though we didn't practice before the trip. We're playing as a team and we had a lot of fun."
The two teams joined together after the match to watch a match between Maryland Stingers and the Doylestown Women's RFC.
"We asked the players to watch their positions and note speed, decision making and skill of these club players," said Mathews. "The biggest thing was listening to the match and hearing the almost non-stop communication between players on the field."
Bowdoin and American combined squads to play the Maryland Stingers B team.
"We fielded a strong team in the first half and we managed to score on them a couple of times," said Mathews. "It was a great experience and really demonstrated the camaraderie of rugby."
"Playing against the Stingers was a really good experience," said Camarena. "Every time you play against a team that knows what they are doing you learn. It was really good to see the spirit of rugby, playing hard and making friends, played out."
In the spirit of camaraderie the two teams shared a picnic after the game.
"Yes the players played well but," said Mathews, "Bob [Assistant coach Bob Mathews] and I had our expectations exceeded by everyone this trip."