Newhouse News Service

Skye Leary carries the ball during a recent rugby practice. She is team president and plays wing on the Iron Maidens, Cleveland's premier women's rugby club. (Photo by Chris Stephens)

c.2008 Newhouse News Service

CLEVELAND — Christine Bryan's T-shirt read: "Give Blood — Play Rugby,'' and while there was no plasma on the grass at Impett Park on this recent evening, there were wounded among the Iron Maidens, the 2008 senior women state champions. They are considered Cleveland's premier women's rugby club.

Forward Kate Thorn sat out the practice with a sore shoulder. Might be a little separated. Lauren Bullard bruised a rib. It hurt just to breathe. There's a reason rugby players say, "Soccer is a gentleman's game played by ruffians, while rugby is a ruffian's game played by gentlemen.''

Rugby is brutal enough on its face. Personal fouls are redundant.

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