RUGBY FOR WOMEN; LOCAL PLAYERS DON'T SKIRT THE ISSUE

A simple dare during a friendly group conversation was all it took to get the ball rolling toward forming a women's rugby team in Cape Girardeau.

And, even though participation in the squad has not yet been overwhelming, its coach and some of his players believe that the best is yet to come for women's rugby in this area.

"It's the fastest growing women's sport in the country and it's picking up all over the place," said John `Hadji' Creutz, the team's coach. "I think there is a talented base of athletes around here that we can draw from and eventually I think we're going to have a very good team."

Creutz, who plays for Cape Girardeau's Kohlfeld Scorpions men's rugby team that has been a highly competitive squad for a number of years, came up with the idea of forming a women's team. But it took some good-natured prodding to really set things in motion.

"We were sitting and talking with some of the guys and we made the comment that there were some women in town who could probably play and play well," said Creutz. "We thought we could pull it off."

Not so fast, said Kathy Patterson.

"I told him he couldn't do it," said a grinning Patterson.

But Creutz had other ideas, as he recalled with a smile.

"I wanted to prove her wrong," he said.

Which, slowly but surely, he is apparently doing.

After Creutz got word around that a women's team was forming, there was enough interest for practice to begin in early February.

Although the squad has not yet had enough regular participation to fill a full 15-player lineup needed for games, as many as 13 players have attended some practices and several have been regulars at all the practices, which are held about three times per week.

The squad has played one game, teaming with a squad from Carbondale, Ill., for a contest against Murray State.

"I think they're doing great so far," said Creutz. "I thought they did good against Murray State. They have the fundamentals down. Now they need to play. The big thing is to get them as much game experience as possible."

During a recent early evening practice session at Arena Park, three of the players who have been regular participants since the team was formed worked on drills under the direction of Creutz.

All three lauded the virtues of the sport that can be extremely physical at times but relies more on finesse than brute strength on the women's side.

"There's still a lot of hitting, but everybody says there's a lot more technique with the women than with the guys because we're not as fast or as strong," said Nicole Gonzalez. "

Patterson, who went from doubting whether Creutz could form a team to becoming one of the squad's players, said she likes the physical nature of the sport and doesn't worry about possible injuries.

"I always liked football so I like the physical play," she said. "Injuries don't scare us. You probably won't get hurt if you play right. And anyway, you can get hurt doing anything."

Said Dorrie Marshall, "It's a great sport, a lot of fun. It keeps you in good shape and the camaraderie is great. We definitely have a good time."

Like the majority of the team's members, Gonzalez, Patterson and Marshall have been involved with athletics most of their lives on various levels -- Gonzalez played volleyball at Southeast Missouri State University while Patterson played volleyball and basketball at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.

"We all like to stay active and compete," said Gonzalez.

Most of the local players are not originally from Cape Girardeau, many of them having moved here to attend Southeast Missouri State, but Creutz emphasized that not only college students are welcome on the team.

The players range in age from 18 to 25 but Creutz said virtually all ages are welcome, noting that some players in their 40s and 50s compete for the thriving St. Louis women's rugby team.

"It's for any age, not just college," he said.

Played on a field a bit longer than that for football, rugby features plenty of contact, including tackling, although the players do not wear equipment as they do in football. The ball is somewhat like the shape of a football, only larger.

The ball is advanced on the field by passing it backward or laterally. The object is to score by crossing the try line (which is similar to the goal line in football) and placing the ball on the ground. That is worth five points. The scoring team then has a chance to earn two more points with a kick through the goal posts.

Games are played in halves that can range up to 40 minutes.

While women's rugby is just getting started in Cape Girardeau, it is becoming increasingly popular across the country. In this general region alone, Southern Illinois, Murray State and Missouri all have club teams while St. Louis and other cities also have squads.

While the Cape squad does not yet have enough players for actual games, Creutz said he plans on having a full schedule in the fall.

"We've been happy with the early response and we're anticipating a lot more once word really gets around," he said. "I'd like to see us reach club level and eventually be a competitive team. I think we can do that."

The players have no doubts and they believe that local interest in the sport will continue to grow.

"It's a great sport and people shouldn't judge it until they've tried it," said Patterson. "There are a lot of good people involved."

And the players say local athletes shouldn't worry if they know little or nothing about the sport.

"Don't worry if you don't know anything because we didn't either when we first started," said Gonzalez.

Any female interested in joining the rugby team should call Creutz at 335-8046.

"We encourage people to come out and try it," said Marshall. "If they do, they'll really like it."