Vassar 39, Village Lions 0

Vassar College Rugby
Saturday October 5, 2002
Poughkeepsie, NY

The fact that former Vassar players Jessica Houser, Allison Sparks, and Christine Pon played for the New York based Village Lions was not enough to stop the 2002 Brewers. Vassar controlled the set pieces and although there were a few bumps in the road they still arrived on time and in style!

Saturday October 5, 2002
Vassar College Women 39 v Village Lions Women 0
Tries: Jessica Fyles (1), Julie Half (1), Sarah Turbett (1), Larkin Sealy (1), Sari Warren (1), Dana Wasserman (1), & Hannah Van Winkle (1).
Cons: Valerie Griffeth (2).

You can't win the game if you don't have the ball! Vassar starved the Lions of possession and as expected the visitors were angry but faded as a result. The first 20 minutes of this match suggested that it was going to be a real humdinger of a contest. Vassar went through phase after phase to open the match up and the Lions defended tenaciously. Then it was Vassar on the back foot making tackles with a matching defensive stance.

This game was scheduled to give the Vassar women a hard physical opponent and that they got in spades. It was only after some concerted forward drives that Jessica Fyles drove over and with just 15 minutes left in the first half VC led 5-0. The Vassar forwards weren't quite able to hit their passes at pace and subsequently made only small penetrating runs which turned into tough yards pushing against the opposition. It was right on the stroke of halftime that co-captain Julie Half scored a similar try from close range and Vassar had the cushion for which they were looking, 10-0. They certainly were deserving of the lead as they continually pinched the opposition ball and had the Lions share of the possession!

A five try bonanza in the second half was the final tally and this team must now surely realize that they have the potential to win all their games this fall. There is much work to be done and one hopes that the fiery commitment shown last spring after the Australia Tour will return to give them an even sharper edge.

Flanker Killian Dykes had a good day in the lineouts with co-jumper Emerald Garvey enjoying similar success. Dykes used her height to good effect in another capacity as she charged down a clearing kick which allowed the ever alert Sarah Turbett to pounce on the ball for the try. Three's a charm and Val Griffeth obliged by kicking the conversion to take the Vassar lead to 17-0.

Then came a moment to savor as left wing Larkin Sealy was put away after the backline had taken good quality ball from a lineout drive. Sealy had oceans of space and duly used it with style as she ran around her opposite number to score untouched near the posts. Next the forwards got in on the act as they drove the ball from the base of a scrum from just 5 meters out. Second row come prop, come flanker Sari Warren was the scorer and Vassar were now firing on all cylinders. Menawhile on the right wing Dana Wasserman took a leaf out of Sealy's book and impertinently stood up her opposite number and then zipped past going down the right sideline. A wag on the sideline was heard saying "Beep, beep" and Vassar led 32-0.

The Lions continued to tackle their hearts out and regrouped after each assault but it's a long day when you don't get out of your own half and are continually defending. The last try was a 20 yard burst from senior Hannah Van Winkle. Her first try for Vassar but not likely her last nor the last for this talented squad.

Team: 15 Valerie Griffeth 14 Dana Wasserman 13 Sarah Turbett 12 Sarah Griffin 11 Larkin Sealy 10 Julia Rosen 9 Julie Half 1 Jessica Fyles 2 Vanessa Chang 3 Nora Weiss 4 Sari Warren 5 Kirsten Naito 6 Killian Dykes 7 Emerald Garvey 8 Darcy Nelson Subs: Jessica Johnson for Sarah Griffin, Hannah Van Winkle for Nora Weiss, Emily Dorman for Julie Half, Mollie Warren for Julia Rosen, Cristy Shumaker for Jessica Fyles, and Amy Rubin for Kirsten Naito.



	Lions Tamed at the Farm Vassar College Rugby Saturday October 5, 2002 Poughkeepsie, NY The fact that former Vassar players Jessica Houser, Allison Sparks, and Christine Pon played for the New York based Village Lions was not enough to stop the 2002 Brewers. Vassar controlled the set pieces and although there were a few bumps in the road they still arrived on time and in style! Saturday October 5, 2002 Vassar College Women 39 v Village Lions Women 0 Tries: Jessica Fyles (1), Julie Half (1), Sarah Turbett (1), Larkin Sealy (1), Sari Warren (1), Dana Wasserman (1), & Hannah Van Winkle (1). Cons: Valerie Griffeth (2). You can't win the game if you don't have the ball! Vassar starved the Lions of possession and as expected the visitors were angry but faded as a result. The first 20 minutes of this match suggested that it was going to be a real humdinger of a contest. Vassar went through phase after phase to open the match up and the Lions defended tenaciously. Then it was Vassar on the back foot making tackles with a matching defensive stance. This game was scheduled to give the Vassar women a hard physical opponent and that they got in spades. It was only after some concerted forward drives that Jessica Fyles drove over and with just 15 minutes left in the first half VC led 5-0. The Vassar forwards weren't quite able to hit their passes at pace and subsequently made only small penetrating runs which turned into tough yards pushing against the opposition. It was right on the stroke of halftime that co-captain Julie Half scored a similar try from close range and Vassar had the cushion for which they were looking, 10-0. They certainly were deserving of the lead as they continually pinched the opposition ball and had the Lions share of the possession! A five try bonanza in the second half was the final tally and this team must now surely realize that they have the potential to win all their games this fall. There is much work to be done and one hopes that the fiery commitment shown last spring after the Australia Tour will return to give them an even sharper edge. Flanker Killian Dykes had a good day in the lineouts with co-jumper Emerald Garvey enjoying similar success. Dykes used her height to good effect in another capacity as she charged down a clearing kick which allowed the ever alert Sarah Turbett to pounce on the ball for the try. Three's a charm and Val Griffeth obliged by kicking the conversion to take the Vassar lead to 17-0. Then came a moment to savor as left wing Larkin Sealy was put away after the backline had taken good quality ball from a lineout drive. Sealy had oceans of space and duly used it with style as she ran around her opposite number to score untouched near the posts. Next the forwards got in on the act as they drove the ball from the base of a scrum from just 5 meters out. Second row come prop, come flanker Sari Warren was the scorer and Vassar were now firing on all cylinders. Menawhile on the right wing Dana Wasserman took a leaf out of Sealy's book and impertinently stood up her opposite number and then zipped past going down the right sideline. A wag on the sideline was heard saying "Beep, beep" and Vassar led 32-0. The Lions continued to tackle their hearts out and regrouped after each assault but it's a long day when you don't get out of your own half and are continually defending. The last try was a 20 yard burst from senior Hannah Van Winkle. Her first try for Vassar but not likely her last nor the last for this talented squad. Team: 15 Valerie Griffeth 14 Dana Wasserman 13 Sarah Turbett 12 Sarah Griffin 11 Larkin Sealy 10 Julia Rosen 9 Julie Half 1 Jessica Fyles 2 Vanessa Chang 3 Nora Weiss 4 Sari Warren 5 Kirsten Naito 6 Killian Dykes 7 Emerald Garvey 8 Darcy Nelson Subs: Jessica Johnson for Sarah Griffin, Hannah Van Winkle for Nora Weiss, Emily Dorman for Julie Half, Mollie Warren for Julia Rosen, Cristy Shumaker for Jessica Fyles, and Amy Rubin for Kirsten Naito.