 The girls relax pre-match! |
The “World Famous and Almost Legendary” UW Milwaukee Lady Panthers are back on The FRU. Head “injin” Coaches Scot has sent us over his report on the girls pre-season build up at the Highland Games Tournament held by Wisconsin Scottish and Milwaukee Westside Harlequins.
Going from strength to strength The Panthers were able to enter two teams in the competition this year, The Panthers and a Combined Side made up of Reserve Panthers, Ex Panthers and some Winona State University reserve players.
The Panthers won their first Pool game UW Whitewater 27 – 0 with Caila Ney (2 trys) Mollie Martin (2 trys) Tina Gill (1 try) and Brittany Houston (1 con) being the scorers.
 Match action! |
The Panthers upped their game against UW Madison in their second pool match and ran out comfortable winners in with two trys from Kati McCormick, one each from Tina Gill, Brittany Biedenbender and Mollie Martin. Brittany Houston made three conversions to take the final score to Panthers 31 Madison 0.
With this win the Panthers topped their pool and went through to the final against Winona State University.
In a repeat of last years final the Panthers proved too strong and ran out winners 29 – 0. Brittany Biedenbender and Mollie Martin each bagged a brace of trys with Tina Gill dotting down for one and Brittany Houston adding two conversions.
As this was the third year in a row that the Panthers had won this tournament, the Highland Games Claymore Trophy, a two handed Claymore Sword, was awarded to the Panthers permanently. Captains Kati McCormick, Caila Ney and Brittany Houston accepted the trophy on behalf of the team.
 Mollie, The Haus and Megan with the Claymore! |
The combined side lost both their pool matches but as this was the first time they had played together it was a big ask. It was good to see that FRU favourite Toni Cattani managed to get on the score sheet.
Line Ups.
UWM Lady Panthers: Thorn, Trott, Jensen, Hausman, Reidy, Schultz, Ney, McCormick, Houston, Knox, Jones, Gill, Johnson, Biedenbender, Martin, Mayer, Bertram, Rademacher, Uher, Galien, Yuhas, O’Connor, Knurr.
Lining up for the Combined Side were: Murillo, Russel, Theiler, Murphy, Arntsen, Welch and Cattani.
It is good to see quite a few of the girls playing who attended the Justin Fitzpatrick Rugby Camps during the summer.
 Members of the Panthers and Combined Sides. |
This is going to a big season for The Panthers as they stand a good chance of moving into Midwest Division One after strong performances over the last couple of years. The next few months will be crucial as they make a big push for the regional playoffs.
The FRU will, of course, keep you up to date with their progress.
One Response to “The Panthers Are Back!”
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Is it possible to enquire who in the bottom photo (Members of the Panthers and Combined Sides) is the player standing – third one standing up from the right hand side (as u look at photo) – identifying features being blonde hair, black headband, black sunglasses, small black top and whot appears 2 b a nice trim tummy. I feel i have a rite 2 no.