Women’s club rugby finds success in teamwork
Young rugby teams find teamwork a huge key for success.
Having mostly new players, the Utah State University women’s rugby team stomped Weber State University 97-5 Saturday. Meanwhile, Weber’s men forfeited to USU’s inexperienced men’s team.
“We only have seven returning players, but we have a lot of talent on our team,” said women’s team member Michelle Olphin.
The women continue with their conditioning as well as tough practices during the season.
“We all get along well,” said returning USU player Becca Ogden. “There are many different personalities on the team but we have great unity so it makes going to practice exciting.”
Since Weber is still struggling to get a program together, the women look on their two victories of the last weekend as a larger accomplishment.
Overcoming the University of Nevada at Reno 29-12 and Idaho State University 25-0 energized the ladies for the coming week.
“The University of Nevada was a good opponent,” Ogden said. “We were evenly matched, but our team came together very well to win.”
Losing about 90 percent of their players this season, the men’s team is gaining in experience.
“When we played ISU, we only had three players who had played before,” said Head Coach Nev Pulutu. “With teamwork we came back from a 0-19 deficit and ended the game with a disappointing loss of 18-19. Missing three kicks was the main reason for the loss.”
That same Saturday, the men defeated Nevada 36-5.
“I think we have talent and play well together,” Pulutu said. “Still we have a lot of work to do and we lack experience.”
Even though technically they won by forfeit, Pulutu said he considers it a loss since they did not win when they were playing.
-bridget@cc.usu.edu