2019 Women’s Premier League Champions are crowned, as the Glendale Merlins steal the show

Article by Chris Turner  |  Originally published at wplrugby.org

Photo courtesy of wplrugby.org

In the final day of the Women’s Premier League Championship weekend, all teams in attendance were geared for their last push into the 2019 standings. The day started with consolation matches beginning at 10am, but ended with the Championship Final under the lights in front of an electric crowd. This lead to the stage being set for an epic final 80 minutes, encompassing an incredibly memorable weekend in the Mile High City.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: GLENDALE VS LIFE WEST

Glendale were in full swing from the opening whistle as their first possession, a minute after kickoff, ended with a try by Joanna “Jo” Kitlinski. The local team continued with quick and cohesive ball movement, with a strong defensive front on the other side of the ball. A stifling effort drove the Gladiatrix backwards, earning a penalty in Life West half. Soon after, an unfortunate mis-pass, caused in the Glendale backline, was scooped up by Elona Williams, which she proceeded to scorch the unprepared Merlin players. The 50 meter try under the posts tied the game at 7 points a piece. Glendale regained composure after their blunder, surging into Life West territory. Earning a penalty just outside the 22 meter line, Glendale elected for a shot at the posts, with a difficult angle.  Kicking specialist, McKenzie Hawkins, drove the kick through the uprights to give the lead back to the Merlins.

Life West’s forward movement was dynamic in combination with their fierce backline play. The Gladiatrix quickly regained possession and retaliated with darting runs through the Glendale defense, scoring for the second time.  The game then turned to a battle between the 22 meters lines, with back-and-forth surges from either side, for the next 12 minutes of play. After on onslaught of nonstop action, Glendale elected for a penalty kick in lieu of a Gladiatrix infringement, earning them another 3 points from the boot of Hawkins. The tug-of-war battle continued with the team in possession, making lengthy strides into enemy territory. An untimely knock by Life West in their own half gave the determined Merlin side another crack at a score before the halftime whistle. An excellent effort by the Glendale flyhalf, breaking the Gladiatrix defense for a 25 meter run, was brought down short of the line when her teammate, Kaitlyn Broughton, was there to finish in the corner.

HALFTIME: Glendale 18 – Life West 12

Beginning the second half, the kicking game was on showcase as Gabby Cantorna and company strategically placed pressure on Life West. With 2nd ditch efforts, Glendale secured ball and kept the legs driving for extra meters, in every attempt to stop them. The tables quickly turned as the Gladiatrix countered with advancing movement of their own. The battle between the 22 meters lines consumed minutes 40 – 50, as the Glendale defense prevailed gaining a turnover at midfield. Joanna Kitlinksi once again taking full advantage of an opportunity to run her way toward the corner, was stopped just shy of the line. After the hooker’s run and some quality phase play, Merlin Az Nalbandian found her way into the tryzone, barreling over would-be defenders to make the score 25-12. As the momentum swung for the home side, the crowd began to sense a possibility of a championship looming. An already rowdy crowd started to turn electric as every crunching hit, meters gained, and points scored ensued.

Feeling the energy of the crowd, Life West began to make small mistakes down the stretch. Down 13 points, in a crucial penalty awarded to them at mid-field, they missed touch and kicked through the tryzone, letting Glendale escape a potential score. After another surge of the dynamic attacking pattern, the Merlins found themselves deep in Gladiatrix territory once again. An incredible team effort, provided by the pattern of the home side’s scheme, created a swan dive try finish by Kaitlyn Broughton after breaking the defense. 32-12, left Glendale leading with 20 minutes to go. The next 5 minutes of play displayed lovely rugby with quick back to back tries by both teams as they gained big meters, off individual efforts. In the first of the two, Amy Naber of Life West, struck back with a venomous run of her own around the left flank of the Glendale defense. In return, Az Nalbandian added one more for Glendale to make it 39-19 with less than a quarter of the game to go. The Merlins bench and crowd became louder, and more in unison, as the remaining minutes began to dwindle.

Life West were sure to empty their entire tank in the last moments of the season, as they began to find form with sharp offloading and massive fends which created gaps. The Gladiatrix gave it their all in dash for the tryline as often as they could, scoring twice continuing to throw the kitchen sink at the Colorado-side. Life West brought the score within 8 points through valiant effort in true form of a great team, but it was an effort stopped prematurely by time, as the final whistle blew in Glendale’s favor.

FULL TIME: Glendale 39 – Life West 31