On Saturday, May 4th, in Pittsburgh, PA, the Harrisburg Women took the field for their Mid-Atlantic Conference Division 2 Championship semi-final match. Despite a surprise end-of-regular-season loss to an energized White Horse squad, the Harlots entered the match as the #1 seed from the North Division. A physically tough Norfolk side, 2nd seed in the South Division, lined up across from our heroines on a wet, muddy pitch. Embracing the challenging field conditions, Harrisburg started the match with a bang, scoring 3 times in the first 5 minutes. The Harlots were relentless through the first 25 minutes, dotting down try after try. The squad’s speed on the outside overwhelmed the Norfolk side. Well in the lead, Harrisburg slid into a familiar pace for the remainder of the first half. Halftime brought words of encouragement from coaches and leaders, as well as some fresh legs. The depth of Harrisburg’s bench and the ability to bring in “run ons” without dropping the level of play on the field has been key to their success this year, and Saturday was no exception. Norfolk eventually mounted a comeback with a Harrisburg player in the sin bin, but it was too little, too late. The Harrisburg Women won handily, 53-20. They would return to the muddy pitch the next day to face White Horse in a rematch of their only loss from a few weeks prior.
Sunday was warm and wet 😉 when the Harrisburg Women kicked off the MAC D2 Women’s Championship match against White Horse. The field was a muddy mess and threatened Harrisburg’s speed on the outside. Soon after kick-off, White Horse seized their opportunity, scoring the game’s first try. But the Harlots, loath repeat the missteps of their previous encounter, rallied and got down to business. The White Horse team kept the action close to the breakdowns, attempting to make ground with short, intense bursts from their forwards. Harrisburg stonewalled them time and again, sticking tackles and keeping their defensive formation. Communication on the Harrisburg side kept everyone focused and on task. Harrisburg wore down their opponent and finally gained momentum, cracking the White Horse line for 5 unanswered tries. The match maintained a back-and-forth pace, but Harrisburg kept control of the scoreboard. Their consistent tackling and dominant backline and scrum could not be matched. The game finished 36-17 with the Harrisburg Women prevailing as 4-time MAC D2 Champions!
The win punched Harrisburg’s ticket to the USA Rugby Eastern Club Championships in Spartanburg, SC. The Women will play in the National Quarter-finals on May 18th against Providence Rugby, for the chance to move on to the semi-final on May 19th. This marks the Harlots’ fourth trip to the National Quarter-final, and the ladies are hoping the fourth time’s the charm.
