The Valkyries have started a monthly e-newsletter for players and Vintage Valks with updates about our goings-on and up-comings. You can read the current issue here. Previous newsletters will also be archived online.
Submissions are always welcome! Please send those to Lena, lenakatherine@gmail.com.
Filed under: News, Voice of the Valkyries | Comment
Even as a developmental season, Spring 2008 promises to be a busy one!
Several Valkyries have already started their spring season, finding ways to cure the winter dulldrums in warmer climates. The trend continues as we will have representatives at two early spring tournaments - Champagne Classic in San Diego (March 8 & 9) and St. Patrick’s Day Tournament in Savannah, GA (March 15 & 16).
As we welcome the spring, our schedule has been updated with confirmed events, such as DC Ruggerfest and the first ever Finnegans Mosquito Madness Rugby Tournament. This tournament is co-hosted by the Valkyries, Minneapolis Menagerie and Twin Cities Amazons. We hope to make this an annual event which will draw teams from across the MidWest & the USA to Minneapolis/St Paul.
Please check back soon, as updates to our schedule are added.
The Valkyries traveled to scenic Kansas City, MO for the first round of Nationals last weekend (10/28-29).
We picked up some good karma at our Friday practice. First, we found a stray dog. Then, we found some dedicated people to rescue the stray dog, who we named Charlie Fuzzypants. Charlie was taken in by Akita Rescue and Adoption Foundation. If you’re the dog-loving type (as so many Valkyries are) their website is here: http://akitarescue.info/.
I can’t help but believe that good karma contributed to our 55-0 victory against the Olde Girls of Glendale on Saturday.
This win set up our game against Keystone on Sunday. Although Keystone had a face-slappin’, head-stompin’ good time, the Valkyries emerged with the win. Final score was 43-3.
That’s right. We’re going to Disneyland: http://www.usarugby.org/championships/ClubWomenI/index.html
After going undefeated in league play, the Valkyries went into the MW Territorial Tournament with the #1 seed.
We made good use of our seeding, defeating Madison 116-0 in Saturday’s match. Our early game time gave us the opportunity to watch the Amazons beat North Shore in a game that was physically intense for both sets of forwards (final score, 20-15 or 20-17, depending on which source you’re looking at).
Sunday’s final was played at a furious pace and resulted in victory for the Valkyries (final score, 34-5).
Next up, we’ll be going to scenic Kansas City, MO for the round of 16.
Eric Perkins visited practice on Tuesday (5/16) to film a Perk at Play segment about the Valkyries. You can watch the segment here:
http://www.kare11.com/video/player.aspx?aid=27191&bw=
On a cold and gray Chicago—wait, Minneapolis—mornin’
A poor little baby child is born…
No, that’s not it…but it was a bit cold and it was a bit gray as the Minnesota Valkyries took on the Twin Cities Amazons in Columbia Heights, MN, Saturday April 29.
The elements facing the Valkyries on that day were in full force. Thoughts of the rain and cold temperatures consumed the mind of our little friend who, perched upon our shoulders, wore a yellow poncho.
The game started with a sloppy bang. There were hard hits. There were balls won and balls lost. The opposition played with much intention and much fury.
Emotions for the Valkyries remained at simmering, as the chips did not fall where we intended them to. The Amazons scored within the first 10 minutes of the game off of a lineout deep in the Valkyries end, but did not convert the try.
Level headedness and persistence finally paid off in the last 15 minutes of the first half as Maroon found their way to the try zone. A stolen Amazon put-in about 15 meters out found its way into the hands of Hannah Stolba who ran it in for the score. The conversion attempt, though, did not find its way through the uprights. The score was 5-5.
After the first Valkyrie score, there was a conversation between Wing Jen Sinkler and #8 Greta Simpson before the kick off. It was concluded that Sinkler was just not dirty enough. Sure enough, within the next few phases, the ball was kicked by fullback Christy Ringgenberg behind the Amazon’s strong side wing and Sinkler was then able to use a couple of kicks to beat the fullback and recover the ball in the back of the try zone. It was a great effort by the speedy wing that helped ignite a fire under the feet of the Valkyries.
They needed that fire as the end of the first half was upon them. The last minute ended with a huge defensive stand led by Garnet Towne, who held up a near try for the Amazons. Score at half was 10-5.
Second half action stayed mainly in the middle of the field as both teams fought hard to maintain possession. Due to some team infractions, the Valkyries saw a few of their players sent to the sin bin. Even with these added obstacles, Maroon was able to keep their composure and continue playing team defense. As neither team found themselves in the try zone during the second half, the final score stood at 10-5.
We’re baaa-aaack. And thank goodness. It was high time we found someone other than each other to tackle, and someplace other than practice to try out our fancy new moves and refresh our muscle memory of the ones we already knew.
The Valkyries’ lucky opponent was the Kansas City Jazz, and even missing five starters due to the inconveniently scheduled West territory tryouts held the same weekend, they were scraptacular, making us work for every inch we gained, all game long.
Exactly what we needed, as their motivation for ball on ground was the impetus we needed to begin putting the pieces of our game plan together. We spread the ball wide and we kept it close; we kicked smart and mauled just long enough. We figured things out all along the way, and we did it as a team.
By the end of the game, everything felt great — everything, that is, except the rock-hard pitch replete with scuffy dirt patches and deep cracks in the earth due to Missouri (Missoura, if you’re Officer Dale, who doesn’t allow Minnesotans to speed in his state) getting no rain since the beginning of time. (It’s always something, isn’t it, when we’re traveling outside the mecca that is lush, green, squishy Minnesota?)
Tries and points were scored as follows, and of note: Hannah Stolba, Kristin “Ham” Zdanczwicz, and Garnet Towne each had a pair of tries. (What does that get you in poker?)
Also of note: Three players graced the field as Valkyries for the first time: Desiree Markovich, Christy Ringgenberg, and Michaela Ahern.
Penalty Kick — Jenn “Halvo” Halvorson
Try — Kristin “Ham” Zdanczwicz; Conversion — Halvo
Try — Katy Hertel
Try — Angie “ATB” Heifort; Conversion — Desiree Markovich
Halftime score: 22-0
Try — Ham
Try — Hannah Stolba; Conversion — Christy Ringgenberg
Try — Hertel; Conversion — Christy Ringgenberg
Try — Garnet Towne; Conversion — Christy Ringgenberg
Try — Blaire Zummak; Conversion — Christy Ringgenberg
Try — Hannah; Conversion — Christy Ringgenberg
Final score: 60-0
The Minnesota Valkyries started practice indoors at the Midtown YWCA on scenic Lake Street last week. We move outside to even more scenic Peavey Field on 4/4.
Then, we kick it into high gear on our annual spring training trip to Des Moines, IA. The trip includes a Thursday departure, 3 days of practices, and a Sunday return. We’ll all learn lots.
