Girls HS Rugby has been delayed a bit in some areas as the ripples of the COVID pandemic have made it slow going in recharging some teams and leagues.

But we are in action and here’s a look at some of what’s been going on.

Vienna 

The Vienna girls faced off with Aspetuck last week in a warmup for Aspetuck’s entry into the new EGRL multi-state league.

Vienna forwards Taylor Johnson, Gianna Biagioni, Natalie Allen, and Eleanor Day led a physical effort from the Virginia team, with scrumhalf Sofia Florio marshaling the attack nicely. Prop Gianna Biagioni set up the first try with a backhanded offload, but Aspetuck kept coming and made it 15-12 nearing halftime.

With Aspetuck on the surge once more Vienna center Mia McKinstry intercepted an Aspetuck pass and took it 60 meters to make it 20-12. 

Aspetuck inched closer once more to 20-17, but then Vienna stiffened their defense, won the ball back, and worked it down the field where sophomore Natalie Allen scored to seal the game 25-17. Leia McKinstry was instrumental in the win with her defense.

EGRL

The EGRL really gets going this week with Doylestown taking on Aspetuck and West Carroll vs Morris as curtain-raisers for the MLR game between New York and DC.

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“I think many of us have young teams,” said Morris Coach Bill Dobbs, whose team tied Doylestown earlier in March. “And with the early start to the season, it will take a little time to gel. But I will say the contact area has really been at a higher level so far. I think the teams are moving the ball well, and I think the level is only going to get better as the season goes on.”

Doylestown has already logged a 91-0 win over Conestoga.

Ohio

The Rugby Ohio season looks to be pretty robust with some teams starting off their seasons at the Carolina Ruggerfest. Taking a nine-hour bus ride for preseason games shows some commitment. Highland and Brunswick have started well.

Illinois

The season starts this weekend with six teams in action. 

Speaking of Carolina

A pretty snappy Clayton team was defeated by Wando 31-0 this past weekend and Wando is 2-0. The Charlotte Cardinals won big over the Cobras but we won’t see the Cardinals vs the Wahines until the end of the month.

Idaho

Mountain View and Eagle both started 2-0 in their league and guess what? They play this weekend.

Oregon

Just one week in the books so we’ve got four teams at 1-0. Two of them, Chinook and David Douglas HS, will face off this weekend. Chinook is actually a Washington-based team, but they are based in Battle Ground, Wash., which is just over the border from Oregon and about 90 miles from the nearest Washington girls team, so they play in Oregon.

Southern California

Belmont Shore and LA Tribe look to be the strongest of the teams so far. Tribe is 2-1 and their lone loss was a 7-5 nailbiter to open the season against Belmont Shore. Teams are playing 10s in SoCal as numbers inch higher. 

Utah

As usual it’s a bit of a dogfight in Utah. United opened up with a big win but then were undone in a close on 29-22 by Majestics, a team that loves to upend United’s applecart. United rebounded to beat Wasatch last week, a team Majestics also beat.

Majestics has two weeks off, while United takes on a Highland team that started well over Mountain Ridge. Joining Majestics at 2-0 is Provo, which won with big shutouts in their games against Mountain Ridge and Hurricane. They also have some time off and, in a symmetry we’re pleased to see, will face Majestics April 16.

This league is one of the most robust in the nation so far.