RUGBY: GECKOS, ISLANDERS DOMINATE WEEKEND

By Jose Terlaje

It was scorching hot at the George Washington field as the final weekend of regular season rugby action got underway. Every team was working hard this weekend in order to secure better seed placement for the playoffs scheduled to take place next week.

Islanders 22, Academy 0

In our first featured match-up, the AOLG Cougars were dominated by a rising JFK Islanders squad 22-0.

At the start of the match, the Cougars kicked the ball off to the Islanders who made use of the possession immediately, finding themselves in front of the AOLG try-line just moments upon receiving the ball with big runs by Amberlynn Carter. A penalty was then called on the Islanders, giving awarding a scrum to the Cougars.

After winning the scrum, AOLG got down the field quickly with a 15 yard run by Demi Cerrillo who then handed the ball off to teammate Uriyah Tobiason adding more yardage to the play. AOLG’s Ha’ani San Nicolas then took the ball and tried to get her team good field position but the Islanders picked up their defense and stopped all attempts by the Cougars to get in position to score.

Patricia Manlulu of JFK gets hammered by a cougar for a short gain. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

A lineout was then won by the Islanders who executed perfect passes that found Patrisha Manlulu wide open. Manlulu broke away and ran the ball a good 20 yards to score the first try of the game as the half came to an end. The conversion was good and the islanders went up 7-0.

In the second half, JFK continued to run on the momentum they created as the first half ended. After kicking ball off to the Cougars, the Islanders were able to recover the ball but were then caught out of bounds, awarding a lineout to AOLG but a penalty was called shortly after.

JFK was then given a tap-and-go and the Islanders passed the ball down the line to Erleena Bascon who was able to shake off the defense and run into the open space to pick up a try for the Islanders. A no good conversion only boosted JFK’s lead to 12-0.

On the next kickoff, the Cougars looked to answer with a new set of substitutions which seemed to work with Morgan Leon Guerrero running the ball well but the Islanders continued to make big tackles and win the ball back in the ruck. JFK’s Marea Masnayon ran the ball a 30 yards down the field, breaking a few tackles before being stopped.

An Islanders is about to get a pass off before being brought down by a serious hit from a Cougar. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

The ball was then given to Bascon who once again was able to run through the open spaces and score another try for JFK. Another no good conversion put the islanders up 17-0.

With time running down, AOLG looked to get something going but the good JFK defense stopped all attempts. The Islanders got the ball back and used the speed of Marissa Aguon move the ball down the field within scoring range before a penalty was called that resulted in a JFK tap-and-go.

JFK’s Kalei Pereda quickly took the tap-and-go and weaved through the defense before running the ball into the try-zone for the final try of the match as time in the game expired. The conversion after was no good and the Islanders picked up a 22-0 victory.

Geckos 26, Dolphins 0

In the second featured match of the week, the GW Lady Geckos looked in perfect form and showed the spectators why they are the reigning champions and are still undefeated.

Right off the bat, the Geckos applied the pressure and got their offense going. Immediately after kicking off the ball, GW was able to get a lineout deep in Dolphin territory. The Geckos almost made it into pay dirt but a penalty for an illegal tackle was called on Southern.

GW was given a tap-and-go and another penalty called right on the try-line ended with the Geckos getting a penalty try from Heather Garrido. GW’s Erlissa Delfin came through with the conversion after, giving them a 7-0 lead.

Kim Malalis of Southern maneuvers her way through Geckos down the field. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Just moments later, the Geckos received the ball and a perfectly executed hands call found Jalana Garcia wide open for a long run down the sideline for over 25 yards, getting the try for her team. Delfin was not so lucky on the conversion after and the Geckos only extended their lead 12-0.

For the remainder of the half, the Dolphins were smothered on their side of the field by the high pressure defense and good tackles made by the Geckos. A yellow card was given to a Dolphin player right as time ran out in the half.

In the second half, the Dolphins came in with more energy, unwilling to go down without a fight. Southern utilized their forwards and started inching their way down the field but the Gecko defense did not allow them to pick up big yards. A line out was then given to the Dolphins but a penalty was called that resulted in a scrum.

After a large gain, Kim Malalis of Southern gets tripped up by a Gecko and is forced to pass. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

GW won the scrum and passed the ball down to Garrido who zipped by every Southern player untouched, making her way back to pay dirt. Delfin’s conversion after was good and the Geckos picked up a 19-0 lead.

The Dolphins were never able to get offense going, being stopped in place by the Geckos time and time again. After a number of traded possessions, the Geckos finally got back into rhythm, finding Leticia Blas open on the outside, eventually running it all the way back to the Dolphin’s try-zone. Delfin hit another conversion and the Geckos increased their lead to 26-0.

That would be the last try of the game as the time expired while the Geckos were working on one last scoring drive to end the half.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Geckos swarm Erika Eber of Southern before she breaks away. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Marea Mashayon of the Islanders wraps up Morgan Leon Guerrero in the air. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Cougars make there way down the field with swift passing avoiding the Islanders. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

A Cougar gets a pass off to her teammate while getting wrapped up by an Islander. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

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