[Photo: Flyhalf Ruth Bryson engineered Berkeley's win perfectly. Bill English photo]

Of the four games contested in the Women’s Premier League this weekend, the hands-down winner in terms of suspense occurred between Berkeley and Glendale. As one has come to expect out of the Red Conference, the match wasn’t decided until the waning moments of regulation, when All Blues wing Alyssa Baccarella dotted down the game-winner for the 32-27 victory.

“It was a really quality game, one that was very entertaining to watch,” Glendale coach Mark Bullock said. “What I’ve liked about our introduction into the WPL is that every game is hugely contested, and this game was no different than our first two. It went back and forth, with both teams trying to get that edge. If you let up or lost composure, the other team got a jump. That’s the caliber of the players and coaches – everyone has to play hard throughout.”

Neither side displayed an overt dominance in any phase of the game. Glendale had a slight edge in the scrum, and both sides struggled to send the ball down the middle of the lineout at times. The Raptors prefer to play a tighter forwards game, while Berkeley is more adventurous. The All Blues run a great support game and like to move the ball around.

The key for both sides were their flyhalves. Glendale’s Hannah Stolba and Berkeley MVP Ruth Bryson were both on point and never flinched under pressure. The kicking game is key to both teams’ strategies and the standoffs did well to put their sides in favorable territory.

Glendale got on the board about 10 minutes into the match, when Raptors MVP Brittany Houston crossed for five and Stolba slotted the conversion. The young scrumhalf really grew into her position and is realizing how effective she can be within the Raptors’ game plan.

Glendale showed some lack of discipline at the breakdown and the penalty count began to grow. By day’s end, the Raptors handed over possession 21 times due to penalties, and Berkeley did well to take advantage of the opportunities on attack.

Inside center Jill Whitfield scored the first of her two tries to put Berkeley on the board, and the All Blues took a 14-7 lead when No. 8 Liz Terry dotted down and Bryson added both conversions. Minutes later, the visitors led 21-7 off another Whitfield/Bryson combo.

“We went from a 7-0 Glendale lead to a 21-7 deficit,” Bullock recapped. “Things could have gotten away from us, but the players showed good character and the resolve to get it back.”

At the 30-minute mark, Stolba added a try and conversion (21-14), and as the half wound down, slotted a penalty to pull within four points. Just before the whistle, Bryson responded in turn, and her penalty kick pushed the lead out to 24-17.

Stolba and Bryson repeated their first-half efforts and each slotted their second penalties, 27-20. Glendale fullback Tonya Ansel did her team proud and scored the team’s third try, and with Stolba’s conversion, the game was all tied at 27.

As the clock wound down, Glendale turned over an attacking opportunity. Berkeley sent a clearing kick to midfield, where it was misplayed and recovered by All Blues' Ardia Kelker. Berkeley worked the ball through the hands and broke around the outside. It was all the room Baccarella needed to finish off the try, 32-27.

But the game wasn’t over just yet. With two minutes remaining, Berkeley knocked on the subsequent kickoff and handed over possession in their end. Glendale worked through the phases and pushed Berkeley up against their tryline. The effort nearly paid off as Glendale crossed the tryline, but the ball was held up and there the game ended.

“The game went down to the 80^th minute,” Bullock said. “Had the referee played 20 more seconds of injury time, we would have had an attacking scrum on the five meter. Maybe we would have scored off of that.

“There’s always a play or a move during the game that you’d like to have back and do differently, but that’s why we play the game,” Bullock added. “The competition on our end seems to be really even. That’s what it’s all about – games that are hard fought and in jeopardy until the end.”

The rest of the WPL can’t lay claim to that statement this weekend. The other Red Conference game – San Diego v New York – ended in a 47-15 win to the Surfers in NYC. In the Blue Conference, Beantown defeated Keystone 47-0, and Twin Cities trounced the DC Furies 65-0.

Below are the current WPL standings.

WOMEN PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 3