The San Diego Surfers women’s rugby team started their fall season with a bang during a dominating 76-0 win over the Santa Monica Dolphins on Sept. 9 at Robb Field in Ocean Beach.

The Surfers managed to control the rucks and maintained possession of the ball at the start of the game, but were not making much headway against the Dolphins’ defense. After five minutes, the ball had moved only 10 meters in either direction, and the game had not left the center of the pitch.

As the Surfers changed tactics, they drew their defense out to the weak side but were forced into touch at the 30-meter line, giving a lineout to the Dolphins. The Dolphins immediately ran up the line and were themselves forced into touch without gaining much field position. The lineout to the Surfers was poached by the Dolphins, who managed to drive the ball back up the pitch to the 50-meter line. The Dolphins gave up possession of the ball and the Surfers took the opportunity to break through the Dolphins’ defense and score the first try of the game.

The Surfers attempted to capitalize on their momentum and immediately drove a second time toward the try line, slipping past the defenders only to knock-on in the try zone, giving the scrum to the Dolphins. The Dolphins dominated the scrum and managed to get the ball out of the danger zone with a short kick up the field. The Surfers returned the kick and managed to score a second time.

As the Surfers took the kick-off, they pushed immediately through the Dolphins’ line, breaking a tackle and then deftly side-stepping another. A Surfers player bolted past the single defender and out into the clear to score the third try of the match.

The Dolphins recovered possession and began their own push toward the goal. They were stopped at the 7-meter line by an unfortunate knock-on, but quickly refocused and won the scrum. The Surfers stepped up the pressure and drove the Dolphins back to the 15-meter line for another scrum. The Surfers again ratcheted up their defense and drove the Dolphins further back to the 25-meter line before poaching the ball and attempting to break away. The Dolphins fullback stopped the Surfers from a fourth score, ending the first half.

The Surfers continued to dominate in the second half of the game, scoring nine additional trys.

In only its second year, the Dolphins showed their potential by dominating the scrums. Their level of play has grown and evolved with each match.

The Surfers showed a promising start to their season with the lopsided victory. With several new players, they managed to control the ball and to dominate all areas of the game but the scrum.

“We have a lot of new players – many athletes, but new to the sport…. Everyone got a chance to play today,” said Surfers head coach Bruce Worman. “I’m very happy with our performance and am very encouraged about the rest of the season. It was a great opening game. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

The San Diego Surfers, members of the Southern California Rugby Football Union, practice on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Robb Field in Ocean Beach and are always accepting new players. For more information, visit www.sdsurfersrugby.com.