Banshees Current Season Match Reports

vs. Wilmington Colts (Scrimmage)  3/9/08

Banshee's at Wilmington Lady Colts scrimmage was a nice muddy way to start our 2008 season. The Lady Colts are a solid rugby team and very good hosts. We went through 40 minutes of fixed rugby scenarios Opening kicks, scrums and line outs then two 15 minute periods of rugby. The Banshee's scored 5 tries and 2 conversions to 0 tries and 0 conversions. This was with us having a one player advantage. Scoring was Sam Reed 1T, Amanda Kiefer 2T, Amanda Packer 2T, 2C.

We have a lot of work to do this week! We must work on line outs and our rucking. The weather will be nicer, I ensure you! We'll have much fun. However, we all must be at training for the season starts now. We are at North Penn this Sunday. Enjoy tonight and we start fresh tomorrow. Nice day!
With you, Murph.

Team: M. Dayton, D. Aaron, N. Jones, A. Packer, K. Reedman (c), A. Galambos, S. Kuepper, S. Heffelfinger, K. Marseglia (c), J. Sacco, Erica, Amber, K. Schwiekert, Sammi Reed, A. Kiefer.

Reserves:  

Player of the Match: 

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vs. North Penn   3/16/08  

Player of the Match: Amanda Keifer

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vs. South Jersey   3/30/08

Sunday, March 30, 2008 Hibernian Banshee's host the South Jersey Girls for their first home match of the season. This was a dual home match that saw the Bull's host Doylestown.  The weather was perfect for rugby with a coolness in the air and bright sunshine. Many parents and friends and yes, even Banshee's turned out to see this match. We had 17 players and a sick Alex G. plus Rachel and Kelly and two mates from KU attended. This was also team picture day and of course my memory card was full, ugh! We then take the field in our black kit and whoa, South Jersey is also wearing black. We track down Coach Castner and get our gray jerseys.  Just a small note: as I was loading my truck with all the stuff there was a cardinal signing the whole time, maybe the "with you" rugby angels. Made me smile.

South Jersey traveled with 14 players. Coach Falana and I agreed we would play 15 on 14 and if a SJ girl got hurt we'd give them a player.  South Jersey kicked off to us, two passes until Jacki Sacco got the ball and was off to score a try at the 1 minute mark. 5-0. We received the ball again and had good control for a few minutes with us being penalized, no damage. At the 5 minute mark Amanda Packer using her strength and straight arm bruised her way in for our second try, unconverted, 10-0. More ball control by the Banshee's and from a SJ line out we recovered the ball and Jacki to Liz Ellis to Amanda Keifer who came charging in from fullback to score the third try of the match at 12 min. Conversion no good, 15-0. The next 12 minutes saw the Banshee's penalized once with nothing coming out of it and SJ penalized once which Amanda K. almost ran down and scored again. At the 21st minute the SJ hooker got the ball and ran around our end and ran all the way down the side line to score a try in the corner, 15-5. This sent a charge into the Banshee's and a minute later flanker Shauna Kuepper scored her first try with a tremendous effort, fighting her way in, conversion missed, 20-5. I think the Banshee's started to realize that they had one more player and I think Jacki S. figured that out, too and at the 24th minute scored her second try of the match with nice footwork, conversion missed, 25-5. The 29th minute had us with a line out that we won, nicely done Devon Aaron and Kate Reedman. Kate passed the ball to Kate Marseglia who passed off to Shauna who hit Amanda K. who flew down the field arm out knocking girls out of the way to score her second try, unconverted, 30-5. The 34th minute the ball goes to Jacki S. who zig zagged her way to open space and raced in for the final try of the half which Mellisa Friscia converted, 37-5.
At the half we brought in Jill MacMath for Liz Ellis at center and started up. SJ brought in a KU girl to even things up.
We kicked off to SJ and they played really well at the kick and their #8 streaked down the side line just getting knocked out of bounds by Amanda K. The 4th minute from a won ruck Kate passed out to Jacki who beat three girls and sprinted 60 yards for her fourth try under the posts, converted, 44-5. We were penalized for killing the ball and then for not being back 10 yards and we dodged a real bullet there. At the 12th minute the ball went from a breakdown to wing Tricia Punyko who had a great run for 20 yards and then off loaded to a supporting Amanda K. who ran in for the try, unconverted,49-5. I must say, all of this scoring and movement came from some very hard work from the forwards, Nicole, Morgan Dayton, Devon, Kate R. Amanda P. Mellisa and Sommer Heffelfinger rucking and off loading ball to scrum half Kate M.who would feed flying backs, Great stuff to watch!
The 17th minute Amanda Packer scored her second try with a thunderous run of 30 yards to score under the posts, conversion made, 56-5. At the 18th minute Kate Marseglia ran with some authority and broke a tackle, passed to Kate Schweikert who passed to Amanda K. who hit wing Tricia Punyko who scored her first try of her career with a great run, conversion made, 63-5. For the next 8 minutes the Banshee's were flying all around the field. At one point wing Sam Reed had a few chances to break free but got hung up by some great defense. Bad luck ,kid. At the 26th minute flyhalf Jacki Sacco scored her 5th try of the match, they just couldn't stop her, unconverted, 68-5. At the 27th minute Amanda Keifer scored her forth try of the day with a great run, unconverted, 73-5. The 31st minute South Jersey scored a converted try under the posts, 73-12. From a scrum deep in the SJ end, #8 Sommer picked up from the base and ran in untouched to close out the day for a final score of 78-12.
Post note:
The day saw the Banshee's score 14 tries, this was against a side that had 14 girls for the first half. The second half SJ was able to get help from the KU girls and you still outplayed them. That is the point, if you can out play your opponent you can probably out score them. Take nothing away from South Jersey.
Your season is right here for you to take, train together, play together. I expect to see you all at training Tuesday and Thursday this week. We host Valley Forge Girls this Sunday.

Player of the Match:  

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vs. Valley Forge   4/6/08 

On a cloudy, breezy Sunday the Valley Forge Girls held the Banshee's scoreless for their A-side match. 15-0 to Valley Forge. We started with the match by receiving the ball and having the ball awarded to VF for a scrum. The VF fly half ran down the short side against the grain, around our wing and scored in the corner, con. missed, 0-5. The match had a lot of penalties called, mostly against us. The refereeing seemed to frustrate the girls a bit. The Banshee's were hitting hard. At the 11th minute, VF penalty tap ran the ball to the wing were Sammi Reed made a great tackle to stop the threat. At the 16th minute from another penalty VF got the ball to a strong runner (forward) who took the ball in for their second try, unconverted, 0-10.  The 22nd minute we had a penalty to us and Amanda Packer had a tremendous run with that hand out knocking players out of the way, however, support wasn't there and there was no score. Amanda had penalties called against her for high tackles and straight arms given ( dangerous) throughout the match.  The half ended on a VF try from a set piece, same way, around the short side, 0-15.

Half time ended and the Banshee's played a much better second half. The two sides played a scoreless second half dominated by ferocious hits , especially by the two Amanda's. Jacki Sacco made a try saving tackle from one of the penalties against us.  At the 17th minute A. Packer was given a yellow card for a high tackle and sent off for 10 minutes. The Banshee's played well with a player short and came close a couple of times but were not able to turn any movements into points.  The match ended 0-15. Valley Forge. 

We were treated to a second match which the Banshee's won 17-0.  One try apiece were scored by Amanda Packer, Amanda Keifer, Jacki Sacco and one conversion by Melissa Friscia.

Nice notes:  Nice breaks from #8 Sommer and nice rucking from Morgan.
Sad notes:  Our lack of practice time together put us in a disadvantage many times during the match. I feel that some time together as a team (training) could be of some help....

We travel to play 0-2-1 Blackthorn on Sunday. We'll be leaving our field at 10:00 am for the 40 minute drive to Blackthorn.  Kate M. will not be able to make the match...We will need EVERYONE to make this match!
See you at training!
With you,
Murph.

Player of the Match:

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vs. Blackthorn   4/13/08  

The Hibernian Banshee's travel to play Blackthorn Girls on a chilly, cloudy day. The girls seemed pretty loose, I, however felt a bit tight. The Banshee's went on an end of the match shoot out and came from behind to win 32-25. The last five minutes we were treated to 5 tries and one conversion. The first two by Blackthorn and the last three by us. WOW!

Blackthorn kicked off to us and there was some good opening play from both sides. The ball remained in the middle of the field as the two sides probed one another looking for a good place to attack. The 10th min. BT moved the ball wide to a speedy girl who ran around the end and scored in the corner, 0-5. The BT inside center was given lots of switch balls to run with but she passed a lot of the time. The 12th min. a BT player got open and ran down the side line for their second try, 0-10. The 15th minute we were awarded a penalty that Amanda Packer tapped and attacked their goal line but was stopped short of a score. The ensuing phase ball had us regain possession and at the 17th minute Devon Aaron scored a try near the right goal post, unconverted, 5-10.  The next minute from the kick off the ball went to wing Tricia Punyko who had a great 30 yard run down the side line but was caught by their fullback who saved the score. The Banshee's were applying some good pressure and from a BT line out deep in their end Amanda Packer blocked the clearing kick from their fly half and an alert Mellisa Friscia dove on the ball to tie the match at 10-10, unconverted.
More good back and forth rugby between the girls. At the 28th minute BT was awarded a penalty near our goal line but was stopped just short. Another penalty against us with the BT girls trying to get in, our defense held again and Kate Schweikert dug the ball out and passed to Amanda who kicked deep and took the pressure off. We must have been getting tired as we were penalized again. Banshee's Shauna Kuepper and Morgan Dayton came up big with the stops to keep BT out. BT commits a penalty and A. Packer kicks us out of trouble again.  But the half doesn't end there and at the 35th minute from a BT scrum they race around the end scoring a try to end the half at 10-15.  That is a tough one to take, giving up points just before the half.

The second half starts with us kicking and the ensuing BT scrum is stolen by us and Liz Ellis passes nicely to a streaking Jacki Sacco who goes in for the try to tie the match at 15-15. We have more penalties called against us and we bend but really don't break. That is until the 17th minute when Amanda Packer makes a crushing tackle near our goal line, saving a try for sure but unfortunately we lose her with an injured shoulder. Kelly Gilbert comes in as the replacement. The Banshee's get the ball moving in the right direction with some nice runs by Jacki and wing Sammi Reed. At the 18th minute scrum half Liz has her two fingers injured in a tackle and stays tough. There is scoreless back and forth rugby with BT having most of the advantage yet great defensive pressure from the Banshee's holds the score even.  Time is winding down with the score even and we finally break. From a penalty BT runs in a try at the 32nd min, unconverted 15-20. We kick off and BT runs right through us and scores again, unconverted, 15-25 at the 33rd minute. BT kicks off to us and in the same minute fullback Amanda Kieffer from a BT penalty runs around everyone and scores a try, unconverted, 20-25. Oh my! In the 36th minute (first in injury time) from a line out Amanda Kieffer does it again, around the end, great effort and scores under the posts, converted by Mellisa Friscia, 27-25. The 38th minute the Banshee's were really applying the pressure and BT was trying everything they could to get the lead back when an opportunistic Morgan Dayton stole the ball from a BT players hands in goal and touched down for the game sealing try, unconverted and the match ended with the Banshee's winning an impressive come from behind win at 32-25!
"To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible"

Scoring: A. Kieffer 2T, M. Friscia 1T 1C, D. Aaron 1T, J. Sacco 1T, M. Dayton 1T.

The girls played a second game of one half of 25 minutes and that ended in a 5-5 tie. Jacki Sacco scored the try for the Banshee's.

What a day! A great rugby day for the Banshee's. Now, we must build on this and train together this week as we host Doylestown Sunday the 20th at home.

I will see you ALL Tuesday at 4:00 sharp. Put ice on anything that hurts, OK.

With you, Murph.

Players of the Match:

Team: Nicole Jones, Devon Aaron (c), Morgan Dayton, Amanda Packer (Kelly Gilbert 52 min.), Kate Reedman (c), Melissa Friscia, Shauna Kuepper, Sommer Heffelfinger, Liz Ellis, Jacki Sacco, Tricia Punyko, Jill MacMath (Lauren Hicks 35 min.), Kate Schweikert, Sammi Reed, Amanda Kieffer

Reserves:  Kelly Gilbert, Lauren Hicks

Player of the Match: