Rats Keep on Tickin’
The retired Timex watch slogan saw its reincarnation last Saturday, on the backs of a Charles River Lady Rat team that never quit in the face of adversity. Traveling to Sudbury with a severely depleted lineup, the Orange and Green challenged a renowned Beantown squad, clawing their way through the match with poise and heart. Despite being handily outscored, the Rats never let down, halting a Beantown try even in the final seconds.
The Rats fell to 0-2 on the season with the loss, but remain optimistic as they continue to restructure their play under head coach Bob Ryman in 2012-2013. River rallied around its veteran core, relying on the emotional steadfastness of players like Jehanne Junguenet, Kara McAuliffe, Anne “Wales” Beaumont and Alex Schmidt. All four played strong games, the former three leading the Rat Pack with determination, and the latter consistently releasing pressure with well-placed kicks. Prop Julie “Traut” Trautwein played a very strong game, handling her Beantown counterparts in the pack with precision and power. Trautwein would be recognized for her work with a Star of the Game award from Captains Junguenet and Maegan Hoover. Alicia Scahill impressed on the wing for Charles River, shutting down her larger counterpart on Beantown several times, while also creating space to run. Scahill made several breaks on the outside, but unfortunately, River was unable to capitalize on her efforts.
Beantown’s marked size and manpower advantage returned large dividends for the home team. Sadly, Charles River lost another of its already depleted lineup when flanker Karen Smith suffered a season-ending injury in the second half. Having already inserted a forward to its back line, Charles River still exercised stoic determination. The Rats fought bitterly, scrapping in scrums and reining in the middle Beantown’s back line for much of the match. Despite being vastly outweighed in the forwards, the Rat Pack held its own in scrumdowns. The plucky play and quick thinking of Captain Jehanne Junguenet drew Beantown’s attention, as they named the veteran as their Visitor’s Player of the Game. The versatile Junguenet, normally a prop, displayed striking agility at #8, breaking away on several nifty pick-and-gos and coordinating well with scrumhalf Geni Beninati.
Despite the heavy loss to the premier Beantown club, Coach Bob Ryman praised his club’s determination and cohesion. After the match, the captains recognized Scahill and Trautwein, while Beantown praised Junguenet’s play. The Rats cheered their efforts, having scuffled to the very end. Charles River would like to thank Beantown and Sudbury High School for hosting the match. The Lady Rats return to action tomorrow, when they travel to Worcester to face the Shamrocks. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30PM.