ASHLAND AT HOME

This weekend both the women's and men's team received visitors from Ashland university. The male contingent of both teams showed up early to support their female counterparts. In a shortened game of fifty minutes the Ashland ladies scored four tries, two more then the lady Roses. Of the four, two were length of the field break away tries, mind you, which made the scoreline look very flattering for the visitors.
The men played for the full eighty minutes. The full match length and the way the game developed, gave coach Rugby Rob ample opportunity to try out new players in new positions. The Black Rose try line was never threatened by the guests, where the Black Rose backs might have felt shortchanged with a score of only 4 tries. The packies added a close range try of their own to make the final score 27 to 0.

Flattering
At the start of the ladies' game the Black Rose ladies outnumbered their guests by fifteen to thirteen. After some negotiations prop Natalie Catalanotto was asked to temporarily exchange the black ONU shirt for a yellow and purple one. This made the numbers match up 14 against 14.
The ladies from Ada had an excellent start to the game. Good rucking led to immediate possession in the Ashland half. An excellent sweeping move by the backs was finished with a try near the cornerflag by wing Valerie Cooper. This early lead was only short lived as a knock-on advantage was converted to a try by a 60 yard dash of Ashland's scrum half.
The game ebbed and flowed for a while. Ahsland's packies tackeled hard to shut down any moves out wide, but they could not follow up on line breaks created by their own backs.
Halfway though the first half the Black Rose forwards barged their way through the middle of the opposing pack. After several five yard scrums it was rookie Erin Brand who scored a controversial try in the right corner. The touch judge had to be consulted to make sure the second row, come prop, did not cross the touch-in-goal line before she grounded the ball. Eventually the Sir awarded the try, Erin's first.
Ashland drew level just before half time, and after the interval went on to score two more unanswered tries. ONU's team saw most of the ball in the second half, but they could not push through a solid defensive line. Most runs were lateral and ended up in a pass to a stationary team member. The Black Rose packies came close to two more tries, but both times a pile-up just over the try line led to nothing more then a scrum on the five.

Another win
The Black Rose men set out for what was to be the final game on home soil for there seniors. All players, especially the seniors themselves, were destined to make it a hard felt goodbye.
Early on in the game the men in orange clearly showed more motivation and determination then the guests from Ashland. It should be said that this was the third game in a week for the visitors. A frantic start from the home team and couple of early tries sealed the victory and broke the spirit of the guests. Again the Black Rose defense held firm in another shut out performance.

Teapot
Next week's Teapot tournament in Marion will pose a challenge of a different caliber for the Black Roses. The men are capable of winning their third tournament in a row, but to succeed they have to go back to playing as a team. The ladies moral will be strengthened by their performance this Saturday. With a good turnout they will be able to really turn some heads in Marion.