The PSU Women’s Rugby lost their first game of the season against Trinity College this past Saturday 20-0. Due to the conditions of the field in Plymouth the team has been practicing in the HUB gym and they have also been traveling twenty miles north to practice in a horse barn. It has been working out well for the team, as the barn gave the team an opportunity to teach and work on tackling. The women on the team do not hesitate to get their hands dirty and they proved that on Saturday.
The team traveled down the night before in order to get a good nights rest. They traveled to Connecticut in heavy rain, and were all prepared to play rugby in the cold mud. When the Rugby team got to the field at 9:30 a.m. the sun was shining. This gave some more positive energy to the group. The game was at 11:00 a.m. so this gave them time to get pumped up. Since over half of the team is new there was a great amount of uncertainty, but no lack of excitement.
The PSU Women’s Rugby team had almost double the amount of girls that Trinity does. With this factor the girls on the sideline were right there to support their teammates on the field. Although the team lost they left that field with there heads held high because it was a learning experience for not only the new women but for the experienced as well. Every time Trinity scored the women on the team had to have the mentality that they could come back. They did their best and this was shown by the fact almost everyone on the filed walked of it with bruises and/or dirt all over themselves. This game showed the chemistry between players with what worked and what didn’t work. Before the game everyone established some goals for the game and each one accomplished at least one of their goals.
In rugby when one is pushed down one gets right back up. It’s going to be a great season for the Plymouth State Women’s Rugby Team. Each new member has their own mentor, someone that can talk to and ask questions. The team also spends time together outside of practice and hangout on weekends. Saundra Heimark, of the players, said, “It was probably the best game we’ve played yet because we have a lot of new girls that got a chance to play and they really pushed themselves. Our coach was extremely proud of all of us.” All in all it was a great game.