GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Emory & Henry University Women's Rugby Team (3-2) kicked off the sevens portion of its schedule this past Saturday at the Elite Rugby 7's hosted by Guilford College. The Wasps went a perfect 3-0 in pool play, before coming up just short in the Championship Match to UNC Chapel Hill.
The Basics
FINAL SCORES - Emory & Henry 22, UNC Chapel Hill 15
Emory & Henry 22, Newberry 10
Emory & Henry 22, Warren Wilson 17
UNC Chapel Hill 22, Emory & Henry 17
LOCATION - Greensboro, North Carolina
VENUE - Bryan Park
RECORD - Emory & Henry (3-2)
The UNC Chapel Hill Match
- The Wasps got off to a strong start on the afternoon as they took on the Tar Heels of UNC Chapel Hill in match one of pool play. UNC was first on the board as they tallied an early try to make it 5-0. The Wasps responded immediately when freshman Anna Branch (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) broke through the line for a try to tie things up at 5-5. Freshman Alana Walker (Clayton, N.C.) put E&H in the lead moments later as she ran past the defense for another score and senior Meredith Inge (Ashland, Va.) added the conversion kick to make it 12-5.
- A quick answer from UNC closed the gap, but E&H held the lead at 12-10. Walker added her second try of the match on the next possession to increase the margin back out to 17-10. Walker could not be stopped as she completed her trio of scores to push the Wasps' advantage back out to 22-10. UNC would add a score late, but it was not enough as E&H took the match 22-15.
The Newberry Match
- Newberry broke through first in the second match of the day as they took the early 5-0 advantage. Their lead would not last long as the Wasps answered back when they executed a line-out play that led to Walker's fourth try of the day and freshman Emerson Hayes (Wake Forest, N.C.) was good on the conversion kick to push E&H ahead 7-5 at the half.
- The Wolves briefly retook the lead at the start of the second stanza by a 10-7 scoreline, but once more the Wasps had an answer. Walker's monster day continued when she broke free again down the right side of the Newberry defense to make it 12-10. She tacked on another try on the following possession to balloon the margin out to 17-10. Branch would go on to put the icing on the cake with a try of her own to seal the 22-10 victory.
The Warren Wilson Match
- The Owls got the scoring underway in the match when they took the opening kickoff straight down the pitch for the opening try and a 5-0 lead. WWC tallied another score as they increased the margin out to 10-0. Senior Rem Johnson (Stephens City, Va.) made a great run to advance the ball down the pitch and freshman Kayla Spiegel (New Jersey, N.J.) got the Wasps on the scoreboard to trim the deficit to 10-5.
- Spiegel added another try to kick off the second half to tie the match at 10-10, but WWC would add a score and conversion kick to make it 17-10. Walker struck once more late in the second half and Inge was true on the conversion kick to tie the match 17-17 and send things into sudden death. Walker sealed the deal again for the Wasps when she took an offload from Branch and scampered for the game-winning try for the 22-17 final.
The Championship Match
- The Tar Heels were the early aggressors in the Championship Match, scoring three unanswered tries to run out to a 17-0 lead.
- A try from Walker and another from freshman Kylie Richards (Painted Post, N.Y.) opened the scoring for the Wasps when she took a pass from junior Gracie Wall (Winder, Ga.) and sprinted for a try. A conversion kick from Wall made it a 17-12 scoreline. The Tar Heels would add another score, but the defenses could not contain Walker all afternoon as she tallied her tenth try to run the score to 22-17. The Wasps rally would come up just short as they had to settle for second place despite their outstanding effort all afternoon.
Walker was named Emory & Henry Player of the Tournament for her outstanding play.
Up Next
- The Wasps return to action at home this weekend when they host Warren Wilson College in 15's action on Sunday, September 22. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from the Wasps Rugby Field.
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