A wonderful final, ​after 30 games of 7-a-side rugby with 16 teams battling for the Conference title, saw the Marist College Women defeat the University at Albany Women 20-10.

It was a sunny warm day for a change in the Northeast and Fairfield University hosted the 4 pools of 4 in the Tri–State Conference 7s Women’s Championship.

The Rugby Referees Society of New York (RRSNY) provided a stellar crew and thanks are due to all the referees as the event ran smoothly finishing on time.

Fairfield provided the fields, medical coverage as well as security. The Fairfield women’s team, their coaches and the school administration, particularly Jon Dinihan, are to be thanked for their hospitality.

In pool play Vassar College Women, the University at Albany Women, Marist College Women and Siena College Women all went 3-0 and topped their respective pool.

Looking at the pool results both Marist and Albany certainly had the most firepower as they racked up some pretty hefty scores and had the best point differential. The Red Foxes scored 123 points in 3 games and conceded one try. Albany scored 102 points and did not concede any points!

The quarterfinals saw the 4 pool winners play the second placed teams from another pool. First up was Vassar versus Stony Brook and the former, the defending Tri–State 7s Champions, had a tough game falling behind 19-12 with just a few minutes left. But the Brewers rallied and clinched the game 24-19.

The University at Albany finished Hofstra’s day with a solid 29-7 win and that game was followed by Marist beating the hosts 29-0. SUNY-New Paltz upset the form book as they defeated Siena College 22-10. New Paltz had been a runner-up while Siena had won their pool.

The semifinals pitted Albany against Vassar and Marist against New Paltz. Albany jumped ahead of Vassar 5-0 and it was only in the second half that Vassar tied it at 5-5. But Albany capitalized on a couple of errors and two more tries made it 17-5 and a trip to the final for the Great Danes. Marist took on Mid-Hudson rivals New Paltz and ran amok. The Red Foxes thumped the Hawks 43-0 and entered the final as firm favorites.

Marist and Albany were clearly the best two teams at the championship and with Cat Sum refereeing this was always going to be a good game. Neeither team disappointed. Marist looked the fresher of the teams and jumped ahead 15-0 as the teams switched ends at the half. Albany rallied with a try and it was 15-5. A spilled pass in the Marist 22 brought a groan as Albany looked on the verge of staging a grandstand finish. But Marist countered, 20-5 and although Albany got one more it was too little too late.