The Berkeley All Blues DII side played their second game of the season and first home game against San Francisco Golden Gate this past Saturday on Treasure Island. The All Blues started the game with fourteen players and were playing down four by halftime due to injuries and a lack of substitute players.
San Francisco Golden Gate scored within the first ten minutes and made the conversion, bringing the score to 0-7 early in the game. The All Blues slugged through the first half, suffering three injuries that left the team with eleven players on the field. Two more SF Golden Gate tries brought the score to 0-22 by halftime.
The first few tries scored after halftime were San Francisco Golden Gate’s, in spite of the All Blues efforts to maintain a strong and impenetrable defensive line. Berkeley’s first try of the day came late into the second half and was touched down by captain Bridget DeSantis. After another try by SF GG, center Bulou Mataitoga scored the All Blues’ second try. The last twenty minutes showed marked progress and extraordinary effort on behalf of the All Blues, with the final score at 14-48. Loosehead prop Kat Telles earned forward of the match for her high work rate and sense of urgency and wing Jessica Oya earned back of the match for her try-saving open field tackles.
Despite injuries and numbers, the All Blues put up a tenacious fight for the duration of the 80 minute game, showing strength of character and heart. The score was ultimately not a reflection of the relentless spirit of the team and if the improvement between the All Blues’ first and second games of the season is any indication, there are better games ahead.
By Daniela Bernstein