Women’s Premier League All-Star Match
USA Rugby Release
The Eastern All-Stars squeezed past a tough Western All-Star team, 33-24, this weekend in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) All-Star Match at the University of Denver Pioneer Field.
In a tightly contested game which saw the score tied on three occasions and four lead changes; it was a brilliant individual effort, in the 70th minute, from Lauran Glover to tally her third try of the game and seal the victory.
The game kicked off with a bang as Juliann Tordonato from the Glendale Merlins crossed for the west to open up a seven-point lead. It didn’t last for long though, as moments later from just inside the East’s half a brilliant solo counter attack from the DC Furies, Lauran Glover saw the scores once again locked up.
Glover’s first try sparked a scoring streak for the East, as they combined to score another two tries to open up a twelve-point lead. The tries came once more from Glover and the other from Darian Lovelace of the Atlanta Harlequins. Only twenty minutes into the game and it looked like the East had full control over the match.
As quickly as the East found the lead, they were just as fast to lose it. The West determined not to go away and seize momentum before the half find two tries of their own, through Glendale’s Hannah Stolba and Juliann Tordonato, to level the scores at 19 a piece.
Just like the first half it was the West getting on the board first and building on their hot finish to the opening stanza. Denali Graham from the Merlins crashed over the line after a perfectly executed set piece move from the East’s 22m line.
Graham’s try secured the first lead since the opening try of the game for the West, however, sustained pressure and excellent counter attack off the ensuing kick-off from the East, ensured that there was no respite for the West. Misha Green crossed over the line to draw the scores level, but when Emily Jones slotted the conversion, the east had a lead they would not relinquish.
Players will now return to their respective club teams to prepare for the opening round of the WPL’s Regular Season on the 18th and 19th of August.
