Midwest Recap: Top of the Table Teams Survive Scares

Midwest Premiership:

The Detroit Tradesmen were able to give the Chicago Lions a taste of their own medicine when they avenged a loss from September, winning 30-19. It was a brilliant first half, in which the Tradesmen escaped to a 20-0 lead, that helped them get over the line on Saturday.

It was a one-sided affair between the Chicago Griffins and the Cincinnati Wolfhounds. The Chicago men were too dominant and ran away with a 69-20 win. The Griffins were led by open-side flanker, John Luhrsen who scored a hat trick.

Slow and steady wins the race, at least that was the case for Palmer College Dragons on the weekend. They overcame a sluggish start to push past a competitive Milwaukee Barbarians side, 36-17. The Dragons despite succumbing to a 10-point deficit within the first ten minutes, were still able to draw the game level. The Barbarians would go on to retake a seven-point advantage but the Dragons stormed back thanks to two tries in ten minutes from lock, Michael Lawrenson and cruised to victory.  

Metropolis continues to be prove themselves as the best in the western pool, as they moved to 5-0 after beating the St. Louis Bombers, 41-23 on the weekend.

 

Women’s Division I:

The Minnesota Valkyries remain firmly entrenched in the top spot of the Midwest Women’s Division I standings. They have now improved to 5-0 on the season, as they beat Detroit Rugby in a nail biter, 29-27.

 

Men’s Division II:

Midwest:

After an impressive 45-24 win this weekend over the Chicago Lions D2, the Indianapolis Impalas were able to keep pressure  in the standings on the competition leaders, Wisconsin Rugby. After a slow first thirty from both Indianapolis and Chicago, the Impalas scored two tries just before the break to take the lead and the momentum, 14-0. Another quick try shortly after the start of the second half saw them escape to a 21-0 lead. The teams traded scores from there, but the damage had been done.

Lincoln Park got their third win of the season over a resilient Eastside Banshees side, 44-31. The Banshees were first on the board, getting out in front 14-0, but Lincoln Park stormed back with 24 unanswered points. After forfeiting the lead, the Banshees never got another sniff at it, and Lincoln Park rode the lead until the end of the game.

Metropolis D2 side were unable to replicate the efforts of their D1 squad and fell in a tightly contested battle to the South Side Irish, 26-14.  

Great Lakes:

Buffalo won a crucial match against the Cleveland Crusaders, narrowly getting a, 18-14, win. The Pittsburgh Forge ran right through the Rochester Aardvarks, 67-36. 

Women’s Division II:

East Gold:

Buffalo Rugby saw off a stiff challenge from their crosstown rivals, South Buffalo, 33-12. South Buffalo got off to a roaring start scoring in the first minute, but Buffalo responded with two tries in the next ten minutes. Those two tries were the sparkplug to a run of 26 unanswered points, which ultimately was enough to secure the win.

East Green:

Cincinnati Kelts continued their excellent run of form, moving to 6-0 on the season after blowing by Columbus Rugby, 48-5. They were led by Krista Dyer who got over the line three times. 

West Green:
Palmer College recorded their third win of the season over the weekend as they moved by Twin Cities Amazons D2, 42-15.

Will County Morrigans were too good for the Minneapolis Menagerie as the dominated from start to finish putting up over 50 points in the process.

Men’s Division III:

Chicago Area:

The Illiana Misfits were too strong for the struggling Peoria Pigs, beating them convincingly, 67-31.

The Fox Valley Maoris completed a perfect regular season by knocking off the Chicago Westside Condors, 44-0. Peter Banks, the Maoris open-side flanker, scored a double.

East:

In a low scoring affair, Presque Isle Scallywags saw off a persistent Cleveland Rovers side, 10-7. A penalty kick in the 44th minute from Jordan Heberle is all that separated the two teams.  

The Cleveland Crusaders D3 squad lent a hand to the Scallywags, by beating their rivals Pittsburgh Forge D3, 38-29.

The Canton Maddogs overpowered the South Pittsburgh Hooligans, 73-7. Fadzai Mushonga contributed 25 points to the Maddogs campaign.

Minnesota:

The St. Cloud Bottom Feeders saw off a Rochester Rogues team that was a thorn in their side all day, 29-19.

The St. Paul Jazz Pigs kept themselves in second place by discarding the Eastside Banshees D3 squad, 45-24.  

North:

Grand Rapids Gazelles are still undefeated as they out muscled the Flint Rogues, 70-7. Zebb Dewes-Taylor was the highest point scorer, with nineteen points.

In an arm-wrestle, Michigan rugby saw off the Kalamazoo Dogs 13-10.

Detroit Rugby hung 55 points on the Toledo Celtics. The men from the Motor City scored 45 points in 43 minutes before the Celtics were able to get on the board. Final score, 55-28.

South:

Dayton Flying Pigs retained their first spot in the competition after beating the Westside Outcasts 71-0.

The Flying Pigs closest competitor, Louisville, are also undefeated on the year, and they kept the pressure on with a win over the Cincinnati Kelts, 50-24.

The men from Columbus Ohio, travelled to Columbus Indiana to take on the Rhinos. The match was worth the travel as Columbus Rugby D3 came away with a lop-sided victory, 51-10.

The Columbus Castaways were also successful on the road, as they took down the Lexington Blackstones in convincing fashion, 58-7.

Wisconsin:

Fond du Lac Wolfpac bounced back after a tough loss last week, beating the Fox City Gargoyles, 39-14.

In an all Milwaukee affair, it was the Barbarians D3 side that had the better of Milwaukee Black and Blue. The Barbarians D3 had no issue on either side of the ball playing stout defense and putting up over 50 in attack.

Milwaukee Rugby faced off against the Wisconsin Sharks, and it was never in doubt, Milwaukee beating the sharks, 39-7.

The Final game in the Wisconsin division saw, Oconomowoc Rugby blow the doors off the Oshkosh Pigs defense, putting up 41 points. However, Oshkosh did some scoring of their own, just not enough. Final score, 41-26.

Women’s Division III:

The only game played this weekend in the Midwest Women’s Division III competition, saw an excellent contest between the Dayton Flying Pigs and Fort Wayne Rugby. Dayton survived a late comeback attempt from Fort Wayne to win, 29-21

 

Men’s Division IV:

Buckeye:

The Columbus Coyotes played a clinical display of rugby, against the Dayton Flying Pigs D4 squad. They walked away well deserved winners, 39-12.

Lancaster Men of Stone also found themselves celebrating a victory as they were able to get up over the Columbus Castaways D4 side, and scored over fifty points in the process.

 

Central:

Chicago Blaze torched the Kenosha Mammoths, 60-0.

The Indianapolis Impalas D4 squad finished their season off with a bang, seeing off Crashlander Rugby 48-15.

Iowa:

Cedar Rapids Headhunters doubled River City Rugby’s score, winning, 34-17.

Iowa Falls Rugby enjoyed a similar fate to the Headhunters, securing a 22-7 win over Des Moines Rugby D4.