By: Lenni Ferreira

Since the first canceled practice back in 2020, the Honey Badgers, deprived of doing what they loved, have grown hungry. They found crumbs to eat, watching rugby while in quarantine at home and eventually got some slivers to hold them over once they were able to play in a couple friendlies in the Spring and Summer of 2021, but the hunger kept building. The Honey Badgers grew wild, waiting for their first meal, and on an early morning in late September, they finally got to feast.

On September 18th at 10:30 AM, on their home pitch, Sever River Women’s Rugby kicked off their first league game since Fall 2019. Chesapeake traveled down a short ways to Annapolis to face off against Severn River. The Badgers started off strong and did not let up.

Eager to get playing time in for all, Forwards Captain Kate Todorovich was excited that they “were able to use all our subs and move many people around to play different positions.” Although there were many player and lineup changes, Todorovich added that the team was still able to “focus on working on our new style of play which really shows how adaptable this squad is.”

Newer Honey Badger, Izzy Smith, remarked that her first league game with the team was really fun. As most veteran players know, games early in your rugby career can be chaotic, and Smith noted she was “super excited to have gotten the ball and been able to run with it a bit.” A true triumph for any rookie rugger.

The relentless and hungry Honey Badgers were not only able to rack up 95 points that included 15 tries and 10 conversions, but prevented any tries being scored against them the entire 80 min. The 15 tries were scored by a total of 10 different players, speaking to the squads overall talent, unity, and teamwork. Walking away with a 95-0 win, the Honey Badger stay hungry for more. Their next league match will be an away game against James River on Saturday October 2nd.

Men of the Match: Holly Schafer (F) and Sara Mercado (B)

Tries: Abuela (1), Tina (1), Hope (1), Zori (1), Rayne (1), Bomb (2), Masha (2), Todo (2), Marshall (2), Bri (2)

Conversions: Masha (10 of 15)

Roster:

1-      Jasmine Harrison

2-      Hope Wasserman

3-      Shanna Davidson (Blade)

4-      Kate Todorovich (Todo) (C)

5-      Maria Beteta (Abuela)

6-      Brianne Niewinski

7-      Hannah Whiteley (Scrappy)

8-      Holly Schafer

9-      Tina Schafer (C)

10-   Charlee Bryan

11-   Rayne Trouwborst

12-   Sara Mercado

13-   Maria Romanchak (Masha)

14-   Shelly Freeman (Bomb)

15-   Katie Marshall

16-   Katie Turner

18-   Victoria Zito

20-   Zori Drew

21-   Sophie Clendenin

22-   Casey Hartzell

23-   Samantha Bottrof

24-   Izzy Smith

25-   Maria Russo-Greer