The Charlotte Junior Rugby Association (CJRA) coordinated six games in Morgantown, W.V., against out-of-state opponents, and a combined Tigress and Valkyries side faced Highland (Ohio) for two 15s games. The North Carolina side won both matches and relished the opportunity to play solid competition.
“Our coaches – Alicia Tice, Megan Ketchum and Geoff Tice – did an excellent job of prepping the ladies over the last few weeks for 15s,” CJRA Director Erik Saxon praised “Having to coordinate two girls matches and four boys matches all six-plus hours travel both ways – it is a wonderful luxury to have these dedicated coaches to each of our teams, and to have all of our teams on the same overall structure and game planning.”
CJRA won the first match 36-0, a victory that evolved from solid scrums and stellar breakdown work from locks Gracie Robinette and Ariyah Mayes, and hooker Zoey Keller. No. 8 Lennox London (2T), inside center Maddie Hughes (2T) and Drea Hooker (T) capitalized on scoring opportunities, and flyhalf EC Cantrell kicked two conversions. A penalty try accounted for the additional seven points. The second half saw the subs take the pitch and reserve center Savannah Edge did strong work with the minutes she had. The second match was a developmental outing that CJRA won 35-5.
“It was great to play against a team that actually played with a structure,” Saxon added. “Highland is very well coached.”
“Highland was a new team for us. This year we’ve had to branch out to find competition,” Captain Cantrell said. “We definitely did have an advantage. Their coach told us they’d been practicing for two weeks. We’ve been practicing since December, so we’ve been learning and working on our structure, and wanted to show that on the field.
“The defensive side was awesome,” the flyhalf added. “We’ve worked on pressuring the offense a lot more and it’s shown to work every time.”
Cantrell called out co-captain London, who returned after six weeks’ rehab and played with so much enthusiasm. The No. 8 then played outside center in the B side match, and guided the newcomers as they oriented themselves in an actual game. The flyhalf lauded the hard-running Hughes, whose game understanding raises the team’s standard. Cantrell enjoys teaming up with the inside center and devising plays together that confuse the defense.
“Our scrumhalf, Caroline Cook – her nickname is ‘Cookie’ – did a great job leading on the field,” Cantrell said. “She’s a freshman so she’s young, and scrumhalf is a big role to play at such a young age. You have to assert yourself and call those plays and set the tone and be there for the team. She did a fabulous job.”
Cantrell can relate to the pressure. She started playing soccer and swimming at six years old, but by the time she joined the high school swim team as a freshman, she’d lost passion for the sport. It was more of a way to stay in shape than an actual pursuit of joy. She saw a social media post promoting CJRA rugby and attended a practice at the end of freshman year.
“The first girl I ever tackled was one of the biggest on the team and it boosted my confidence so much, and I got such an adrenaline rush that I stuck with it,” said Cantrell, who played her first season as a sophomore. “I naturally stepped up as a leader in my first year because the game clicked faster for me.”
Cantrell learned the game from scrumhalf, and by junior year – her second season – she was named team captain.
“I was actually surprised when the coach called me,” Cantrell said of the call-up. “There were seniors on the team that I thought would have been picked before me, but the coaches explained that they had a game plan. They wanted a junior to captain so she could build chemistry with the squad on the field. I thought it was a great idea. And there were co-captains who were seniors so they were all part of the leadership community. But, yes, I was definitely nervous going in junior year as captain since I was younger.”
To boot, Cantrell took on a new position: flyhalf.
“I really love it and think it’s a great position for a captain to be in,” Cantrell said of flyhalf. “You already have to be a natural leader – you call the plays, work with the scrumhalf – and it creates a leadership environment on its own that works well with the team. And it’s fun. I can’t see myself in any other main position. I mean obviously I’m flexible, but I love flyhalf.”
CJRA is back on the pitch March 20 at home, and April has a full state of games awaiting the Tigress.
“In the first half of the first game, our structure was a little off,” Cantrell talked of work-ons for upcoming training. “It was the first time really we were trying to focus on it. Some plays we couldn’t get into a rhythm. We wanted more pods but it became more of a passing, back line game – it worked but it’s not what we wanted to do.
“It’s been nice getting to play a bunch of teams we’re not used to,” Cantrell reviewed the schedule. “It broadens our rugby IQ and forces us to learn from other teams and adapt, but stick to your game.”
April also includes a trip to Tropical 7s, and Tigress will be leaning on the chemistry its built since December. Afterward, Cantrell intends to play rugby in college and is looking at the University of Tennessee, Penn State and Cardiff University in Wales. The latter opportunity arose after Dai Morgan held a player camp in North Carolina and sold an attractive offer to study and play rugby overseas.
“Cardiff is definitely a possibility because the rugby there is great and they have a great biology and sports medicine program, which is what I want to do,” Cantrell said. “Having the opportunity to go to Europe for college is so great and doesn’t come around for everyone, so I might take advantage of that.”
In the meantime, Cantrell and team will be making the most of her final season as a Tigress, and help lay foundation for future years of success.