U19 Griffen Girls Rugby Team Defeats Colorado Summit

Desiree Leaupepe of Orca Youth Rugby helped U19 Griffin Girls defeat Summit Colorado 29:12. Photo: Paul Rudman

In what was thought to be the most exciting Girls Rugby match this year in SoCal, the SoCal U19 Griffin Girls did not disappoint the large crowd of spectators that gathered in Fullerton on Saturday to see them play against Summit Colorado.

The SoCal team started with a punch right from the kick-off when the forwards kept attacking the visitors, pushing them 10 meters from their try line, it was here when Captain Sammy Pinson picked the ball up from a ruck and scored under the posts.  Lauren Bell converted, 7-0.

In the sixteenth minute, from a penalty awarded to SoCal in front of the posts, Pinson took a quick tap and scored under the posts. The try was unconverted. 12-0.

Summit, which is ranked by Rugby Magazine as the #2 team in the US was still suffering from shock, not expecting the Griffin Girls to keep hammering them in their own twenty two.  However, they put on a good defense after the second try was scored, preventing the Griffin Girls scoring again before half-time.

Going into the second half, the Griffin Girls went deep into Colorado territory for a scrum, and that’s when #8 Pinson scored her third try to complete her hat-trick, which was the first ever for the Griffin Girls.  Lauren Bell converted to bring the score to 19-0.  This was when the Colorado girls started hitting back, forcing the Griffins to defend in their twenty two.  They were rewarded when a SoCal kick to clear the ball went across field and their winger made a sizzling run to score far right.  The try went unconverted.  The score: 19-5.

The Griffins scored again to bring the score to 22-5, when Lauren Bell converted a penalty when a opposition player was caught offside. The Colorado team replied soon after, when they scored and converted after being awarded a penalty.  22-12.

The best try of the match came when the Colorado team was pushing into the Griffins twenty two, and when the ball was turned over and was passed from the forwards to the backs, winger Desiree Leaupepe, made a 75 meter run past three defenders to score under the posts.  Lauren Bell converted.

The final score: SoCal U19 Griffin Girls 29, Summit Colorado 12.

Griffin Girls Players:

•  Izzy Manu (Fullerton)
•  Corina Curiel (Fullerton)
•  Jessica Nuno (Fullerton)
•  Ally Maxwell (Unaffiliated)
•  Simone Qualls (Fullerton)
•  Bere Ruvacalba (Fallbrook)
•  Natasha Perera (CSUF Women)
•  Sammy Pinson (Unaffiliated)
•  Samantha Irizzary (Fullerton)
•  Lauren Bell (Unaffiliated)
•  Desiree Leaupepe (ORCA)
•  Aliyah Moala (South Bay)
•  Laren Pe’a (Back Bay)
•  Natalie Wilson (Back Bay)
•  Mckenzie Lane (Fullerton)
•  Cynthia Nuno (Fullerton)
•  Cambria Brandenburger (Fullerton)
•  Sade Young (South Bay)
•  Cathy Tran (Back Bay)
•  Diana Nguyen (Back Bay)
•  Kayla Rudman (Fullerton)
•  Eriana Pula (South Bay)
•  Eva Klein (Santa Clarita)
•  Chelsea Tatum (Santa Monica)

 Griffin Girls Leadership:

• Ravi Perera (Head Coach)
• Craig Pinnell (Forwards Coach)
• Marin Pinnell (Backs Coach)
• Ericka Adakai (Manager)
• Tammy Irizzary (Manager)

Thank you to Paul Rudman for supplying the following photos and video:

Check out photographs taken by Paul Rudman >

When the Colorado team did a surprise haka before the match, the Griffin Girls were quick to respond with their own 10 second surprise….Check out the video >