Congratulations to the New York Rugby Women who won the inaugural Women's Premier League title over the Berkley All Blues in San Francisco November 6-8th.

Rugby Magazine article by J. Finlan can be read in full after the jump or viewed by clicking here.

It may have taken three years to replicate, but the New York Women defeated the reigning champion Berkeley All Blues 19-10 in the Women's Premier League Championship. The All Blues may have 11 national DI titles to their credit, but New York goes down in history as the first WPL champion.

The two teams took some time to reacquaint themselves, and the scoreboard saw no action for a good portion of the half. New York flyhalf Maura Weikman (who was New York's high scorer with 10 points on a try, conversion and penalty) hit a penalty in the second quarter to get the ball rolling.

Berkeley responded immediately, and on the subsequent kick-off, fed the ball to Nathalie Marchino at outside center. She tore down the sideline and hit fullback Ashley English trailing in support. The veteran outran her defenders and dotted down in the corner, 5-3.

The final lead change of the game followed, when All Blues flyhalf Ruth Bryson high-tackled wing Jenna Flateman on a breakway down the sideline. The winger took some time getting up, and the ref sent Bryson off with less than 10 minutes remaining in the half. Weikman kicked for touch and set up a lineout, which the New York forwards drove deep into All Blues territory. The ball flowed out to Weikman, who dummied and skirted into the tryzone, 8-3.

In the second half, New York gets into its second long goal-line stand. In the first half, intense Berkeley defense stiffled the perpetual punches across the zone, and eventually forced a penalty that allowed Bryson to clear the ball. Same scenario followed in the second half, and a series of penalties allowed players to catch their breath, though the ball remained inside the 10 meter.

Finally, off a wheeling scrum, New York flanker Phaidra Knight scooped up the ball as it skirted out the back and dove over the line. Weikman converted for the 15-5 lead. The try ended up being the winning points, but New York had one more score in store.

From about midfield, there was a change of possession and Berkeley scrumhalf Jossy Tseng quickly took off bringing her back line with her. A soft pass was picked off by fullback Laura Bilzarian, who raced into open field. Bryson tracked her down and just before contact, Bilzarian lobbed a pass to Flateman in support. Bryson was still on her feet and set after the New York winger, but Flateman kicked it into second gear and left Bryson behind. The conversion missed, 20-5

With less than 10 minutes remaining, the All Blues pulled with 10. Marchino, who switched to outside center from wing about halfway through the season, got the ball with little room to her left. She beat a couple of defenders with some amazing footwork and managed to tip-toe down the sideline for the try, 20-10.

The hometown crowd was certainly behind Berkeley throughout the match, but All Blues supporters will have to wait another year before being potentially rewarded with a WPL trophy..

- Jackie Finlan
Rugby Magazine