Lady Aggies blank the Bobcats

Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin surrounded by the Texas A&M Women's Rugby Club

February 23, 2013, College Station, TX - Texas A&M's Women's Rugby Club hosted the Texas State Women's Rugby Club in Southwest Women's Rugby Conference (SWWC) action at the Texas A&M Rugby Pitch on main campus. The Aggies dominated the Bobcats in a 51-0 win.

Texas A&M took charge from the onset, spending the first 15 minutes inside Texas State's half of the pitch and dotting three tries. Texas State put up a determined goal-line stand during the second minute, but the larger A&M pack drove over after four phases to get the first five points. Six minutes later, Tight-head prop Marki Hoyne found a seam to slip through on the weak side and darted down the right touchline until she was met by the Bobcat fullback, who dragged behind her as she powered to the in-goal for the the second Aggie try.

Two minutes later, flyhalf Linsey Wojtasczk received clean ball from a ruck and decided to test the size mismatch that A&M had on Texas State in the midfield. She spun it wide to outside center and recent rugby recruit Bonnie Richardson. The former Texas A&M varsity track athlete stepped through the 13-channel, turned upfield, and pinned her ears back to finish the 60 meter sprint. Richardson went on to garner a hat-trick in the second half off 40 and 50 meter runs. Richardson's running style and sure-tackling displayed shades of Christy Ringgenberg. Her work-rate and eagerness to tackle earned her my vote for Rugger of the Match.

Texas State bounced back after that try to make several determined drives toward in-goal. But the Aggie defense was having none of it. Finally, A&M recovered turn-over ball and strung together a few phases until FH Wojtasczyk found a hole to exploit and shifted gears to sprint for the try near the end of the half.

The Aggies started the second half determined to camp out in the Bobcat end. Several phases into a goal-line stand by a gutsy and determined Texas St. defense, A&M's big lock, Amethyst James, lowered her shoulder to drive through her tacklers and paste another five points on at 47 minutes. Richardson followed James' effort with her long runs to goal at 58 and 61 minutes.

Loose-head prop Jennifer Marcum rumbled in-goal for a try at 70 minutes after another goal-line stand. Fatigue began to peek out for both teams at this point. Aggie FH Wojtasczyk used that to her advantage and stretched her legs through slow-moving traffic to dot the final try at 75 minutes. Wojtasczyk also notched three conversions in this match.

Tight-head prop, Marki Hoyne, with Dr. Loftin

A&M's #8 Chelsea Blakely may not have scored a try during this match, but her work-rate and ball-security at the breakdowns set up several of the Aggie tries. She's one of those unassuming athletes that does not stand out unless you keep an eye on the grunt-work of a game. She may not be flashy, but she's always in the thick of it making life difficult for the opposition.

Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin accepted an invitation from the women's team to stop by and take in the action. With his signature bow-tie, walrus moustache and smiling eyes, Dr. Loftin took in the second half of the match and stuck around to have his picture taken with the Lady Aggies.