HANOVER, N.H. - Davenport played against Queens University of Charlotte for the NIRA Division 2 Championship at Dartmouth College on November 19th. Davenport's standings for the season were 7-0, and Queens University standings were 8-0. Both teams had an undefeated season on their sides, leading this to be an equally challenging match. The final score was 34-27 leaving the Panthers second in the nation in the NIRA Division 2 landscape.

The match began with evenly matched teams in skill. It was a forward-heavy game, with lineouts and scrums happening often, as well as forward pods dominating the turf for both teams. Queens was a hard-hitting and rough team that Davenport was expecting. Davenport was able to utilize their back players for skill and speed in cutting through the defense. It was a tense first half, not giving either team the leg up in the game.

By the second half emotions were running high due to multiple factors. One of these for Davenport's team was the amount of injuries happening as well as the unnecessary roughness of the other team. Davenport really pulled together as a single unit, and put everything they had out on that field. Tries were timed farther in between than the Panthers were used to, but it didn't stop them from keeping the score so close that overtime was looking like a very possible opportunity. In the last three minutes, the Panthers evened the score with the Royals for a 20-20 score leading into overtime. For this collegiate game, two rounds of 10-minute halves were awarded for overtime play, being the first time Davenport had overtime in a NIRA nationals tournament. By the second section of overtime, the Panthers had exhausted their bench of three due to some pretty serious injuries, and were down two more players leaving them 12 on 15 with Queens having player count advantage. Due to the circumstances Davenport showed what they had to prove, that they compete despite all odds. Unfortunately, this game was not a win based on score, but it was a game for the books proving what Davenport has overcome this season.

Davenport women's rugby has seemed to have continual dwindling numbers throughout the season, leaving them with only 18 healthy players to travel on the road to nationals. Most teams will roster 24 for a tournament of this nature. Every single player on Davenport's team had to come together to push through the 100 minutes of game play. Many girls had to pick up new positions, and adjust to support their team, maintaining their strength in scrums, lineouts, and defensive actions.

In the chant these women do before each and every match it states, "If we should win, let it be by the code, with faith and honor held high. If we should lose, let it stand by the road, and cheer as the winners go by". They play with intention, heart, blood, sweat, and tears. Nothing has proved that more than the extremely successful season they have had thus far, and plan on having in their 7's season beginning next semester.

Scoring Breakdown for Davenport v. Queens
Ashley Cowdrey - 1 try 2 conversion kicks and 1 penalty kick (12 points)
Addy Ochoa - 1 try (5 points)
Aubrey Crist - 1 try (5 points)
Valencia Goldsmith - 1 try (5 points)

The team returns in the spring kicking off their 7's season. All updates regarding their next games will be located on the Davenport Athletics website. The link for the website is https://dupanthers.com/sports/womens-rugby/schedule/2022-23

Story by: Taylor Badal