UMaine Rugby Rumble

On Sunday April 18 the University of Maine Women’s Rugby Team took on the Portland Women’s Rugby Football Club, at the Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland, Maine; the kick off began at 1p.m. Outfitted in blue and white jerseys, the girls do not wear any form of safety equipment despite a plastic mouth guard; the UMaine team took to the field to face their considerably older opponents. The Portland Women’s Rugby Football Club consists of women varying in ages from their twenties to their forties, but there was no way that age was a handicap. The Ladies of the Portland club played a fierce and brutal first half; by halftime they had their younger counter parts beat 7 to 0.

As the second half of the game was underway UMaine rallied all their physical and technical skill to try and pull off the victory. It proved not to be the easiest of tasks, injuries were frequent and some of the most severe of the season.

Caitlin Losi of UMaine experienced a broken nose along with teammate Alex Snowe, who also endured a deviated septum and a concussion. Snowe was rushed to Maine Medical Center, where surgery was recommended to correct her septum. Teammate Krystal Amy also received a concussion during game play. The Portland Women’s Rugby Football Club experienced the worst injury of the game when a player’s arm was broken after a strong tackle by one of UMaine’s most aggressive player’s, Emily Bennett.

Despite the high number of injuries and intense physical exertion, UMaine managed to utilize the second half, scoring two try’s and two kicks, bringing the final score to 14 – 7; securing their victory. UMaine will no doubt ride on their victory when they face Colby College on Saturday April 24, at the Colby campus. Looking further ahead into the future, UMaine is preparing for their return to the Maine Cup, a tournament in which UMaine has claimed the top spot for the last two years. UMaine is and could very well be, Maine’s best Women’s Rugby Team.