The road to the WPL Championship continues to be bumpy when teams are on the road, and that has shaken up both conferences this weekend.
The Glendale Merlins produced a crucial victory over the previously unbeaten Berkeley All Blues, while 2-0 New York also lost on the road, and dropped out of 1st place.
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The game was a back-and-forth affair into halftime, with the teams changing ends with Glendale up 20-14.
Nice drive ends in knock on @GlendaleMerlins and @AllBluesRugby ends up regaining posession. Still 41 @GlendaleMerlins - 21 @AllBluesRugby 74 min pic.twitter.com/bnRvKCLCAw
— Glendale Merlins RFC (@GlendaleMerlins) September 9, 2018
But a yellow card to Margaret Simpson put Berkeley down a player at the beginning of the second period, and the Merlins capitalized, putting prop Melissa Polheber over and then seeing flyhalf Hannah Stolba score moments later. Stolba converted both, and before 50 minutes Glendale was ahead 34-14.
It was a case of holding on after that. Joanna Kitlinski’s try was just icing on the cake, and the Merlins improved to 2-1 and dropped Berkeley to 3-1 - both in the Blue Conference.
San Diego kept pace, however. In a game that was much closer than anyone might expect, the Surfers held off Chicago. North Shore 22-10. San Diego got the four tries for a bonus point, and so has 11 standings points (as do the Merlins). Glendale keeps 2nd thanks to a better points difference. Berkeley is still in 1st. North Shore drops to 0-3.
Along with Berkeley, New York was the only undefeated team in the WPL, but no more. Twin Cities, winless until this weekend, hammered NY 32-10. Lock Marina McCuskey scored in the opening minute, and the Amazons never looked back.
39-10 final. Thank you orange and blue sisters for making the trip! @NewYorkRugby pic.twitter.com/arG842DTNA
— AmazonRugby (@TCAmazonRugby) September 9, 2018
That result means much for the Red Conference, as Beantown laid down a marker with a dominant 52-3 win over the DC Furies. Fullback Michelle Omondi scored four tries in the first half alone and staked Beantown to a 33-3 halftime lead.
The result has vaulted Beantown into the championship conversation, and into 1st in the Red with a 2-0-1 and 11 standings points. New York stays at 10 points and drops to 2-1.