PSU Wins Post Season Game Over Tufts 27-10

Plymouth N.H.-Saturday October 30 the Plymouth State Women’s Rugby Club overcame their first game of the postseason with a 27-10 win over Tufts University. Tufts came to the pitch with a lot of enthusiasm and aggression and proved to be, as of yet, Plymouth’s toughest competition. From kickoff, Plymouth struggled with their aggression and flow. Unlike all previous games where they immediately scored, Plymouth settled for a penalty kick which yielded three points instead of going for a try worth five points. It was a perfectly placed kick by Meaghan Callahan to get the game rolling. The next try proved to be more difficult as Tufts pushed Plymouth harder and harder. Tackles were missed and penalties were given as Plymouth was driven back. Soon enough, Plymouth’s tenacity began to build and they started to mount an offense. Slowly but surely they marched down the field. The ball was spun out and Jamie Howard careened her way across the line. Once again Tufts came out strong. Their intensity proved to be too much for Plymouth to handle and Tufts put five points of there own on the scoreboard. Plymouth’s focus was off and they had to get into the game or else there postseason dreams were over, but things kept going wrong and Tufts scored again. Plymouth was getting agitated and anxious. All they needed to do was take it down a notch. After the second try new players were subbed in and the flow of the game changed drastically. Rucks were lower and tackles were made as the team began to settle into a rhythm. Soon enough Jenny Larochelle made a break towards the line and Plymouth had five more points. Then with Callahan’s extra points it left the score 15-10 as the halftime whistle was blown. Many harsh words were exchanged at halftime between both teams urging there players to keep playing hard for forty more minutes. Plymouth came out and did just that, but it was not easy. Muscles were strained and bruises were formed as Plymouth kept driving Tufts back into their own zone. After some hard rucking and quick decisions, Kate Fuller was across the line with five more points. Once again Callahan expertly kicked the ball through the uprights to push Plymouth ahead just a little bit more. However, the game was not over not by a long shot. Tufts was not happy with the scoreboard. Time and time again Tufts tried to score and every time Plymouth stopped them. Then with time running out the PSU ruggers rallied one last offensive drive which ended with Larochelle crossing the line and sealing Tufts fate with a final score of 27-10. Tufts was only the first of many teams the Plymouth State Women’s Rugby Club will face in the postseason. With their win over Tufts they have qualified for the Division-II playoffs at Bowdoin College. This Saturday at noon they will take on Bates College, which should prove to be a very good test of the team’s mental and physical strength.