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By Regina Shiroma

Geckos’ Maricia Mariano jukes her way through multiple defenders for the try. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Girls tackle, the newest addition to high school rugby kicked off its second year in the IIAAG, and its defending champions, the GW Geckos continue to defend their title after they ousted the AOLG Cougars 27-10 in their second game of the day.

The Cougars looked to have the upper hand before the half, after Reianna Mendiola ripped the ball out of GW’s possession and ran in for a try to put them ahead 10-5.

The second half saw the Geckos strike back with a vengeance, going on a scoring spree and never allowing the Cougars another try. The Geckos began to counter-ruck in the second, giving the Cougars little opportunity to score, as possession was mostly in the hands of the purple and gold.

McDonald’s player of the game: Geckos’ Maricia Mariano

In the second-half kickoff, Rayonna Quitugua returned the kickoff into the try zone to tie the game at 10-all. A minute later, Maricia Mariano, using her speed to her advantage, broke away from the AOLG defense and placed the ball down for her first try of the game. Gecko’s Zea Nauta followed after with another try, clearing the way by stiff-arming three defenders out of the way. Mariano came up with another try after the ball was passed out all the way to her at the wing, and again, booked it to the try zone.

Joyce Borja put the geckos ahead early, scoring the first try of the game. The Cougars tied the game at 5-all when Isabel Flores ran almost the whole length of the field, only to be taken down a few feet from the try zone. Thanks to the close support of teammate Tana Ramos, Flores quickly popped the ball up to Ramos and followed through with a try.

The Geckos now improve to 10-1, with their only loss coming from the ND Royals, however, in their first game of the day, the Geckos defeated the Royals 27-0.

JFK 43 AOLG 26 Girls Varsity FLAG
ND 17 St. Johns 38 Girls Varsity FLAG
JFK 19 Southern 0 Girls Varsity TACKLE
ND 0 GW 27 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Okkodo 10 Guam High 5 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Okkodo 10 Sanchez 0 Girls Varsity TACKLE
GW 34 Guam High 0 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Sanchez 10 AOLG 17 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Okkodo 25 Southern 0 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Sanchez 7 JFK 22 Girls Varsity TACKLE
ND 5 Guam High 5 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Guam High 10 Southern 5 Girls Varsity TACKLE
ND 12 JFK 12 Girls Varsity TACKLE
AOLG 10 GW 27 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Southern 0 AOLG 24 Girls Varsity TACKLE
FD 7 St. Pauls 14 Boys JV
GW 5 Okkodo 5 Boys JV
Okkodo 36 FD 0 Boys JV
St. Pauls 7 Sanchez 7 Boys JV
GW 31 Southern 0 Girls Varsity TACKLE
AOLG 19 JFK 7 Girls Varsity TACKLE
Southern 7 FD 0 Boys Varsity
Guam High 7 Okkodo 21 Boys Varsity
Sanchez  24 JFK 5 Boys Varsity

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Cougars’ Isabel Flores nearly scored after outrunning most of the Geckos’ defenders. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Geckos’ Zea Nauta stiff arms a Cougars defender as she sprints for the try. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Geckos’ Cencera Matanona passes the ball to her teammate before being taken down by multiple Cougar defenders. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Geckos’ Zea Nauta loses the ball after getting tackled. (photo by Kevin Wang)

The Cougars and Geckos fight for the ball in a scrum during the first half of the rugby game at Ramsey field. (photo by Kevin Wang)

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