What had been a rather beautiful Saturday suddenly changed on April 19. Ominous clouds darkened the sky, the wind gusted and rain fell sporadically. The foreboding weather set the stage for the drama on the intramural field. A sizeable crowd, with umbrellas in tow, whooped and hollered as the women’s rugby team walked onto the field. The clouds parted long enough to catch the glitter on a UNCG player’s strappy mini-dress and to illuminate the floral pattern on Guilford’s captain’s frock. The annual prom dress rugby game had begun. The game is usually played during Serendipity, but even soggier weather forced it to be rescheduled. Guilford plans this game far in advance, so as to schedule it against either Duke or UNCG.

While the prom dress game doesn’t count towards matrix games, which affect the team’s official league standing, playing UNCG is of great importance to the Quaker women.

“(This is the) game to name the best team in Greensboro,” said junior and second-row lock Laura Milot.

The Greensboro rivalry was magnified this year, because the teams tied, 2-2 and 0-0, during their two season games.

Although Guilford lost the game 5-0, I have my doubts about being able to “name the best team in Greensboro.” The game was just that intense.

From the opening minutes of the game, the crowd went wild. As lace, taffeta and velvet ripped, the crowd’s screaming got louder.

“Oh my God! She’s a beast!” screamed a UNCG fan pumping her fist in the air.

“Did you see that?” a bewildered student shrieked.

“That’s actually a cute dress!” squealed an Early College student.

“I’m so conflicted,” said Guilford Alumna Aleksandra Babic, who is now attending graduate school at UNCG. “Who do I root for?”

A month’s notice about the game’s dress code allowed both teams to find some creative clothes. From puffy sleeves to matronly lace collars, the ladies looked fierce.

“You’re trying to look as really ridiculous as you possibly can,” Milot said.

Being in dresses had no obvious affect on the way the teams played. Their speed, strength, agility and aggression were still there beneath the layers of fabric.

Lauren Jeffries, a prospective Guilford student in the crowd, was particularly impressed with the intensity of the game.

“It’s amazing that that girl is showing cleavage and is still kicking ass,” Jeffries said.

Senior and team captain, Beth Isle, who was ruthless in her tackles, anticipated the carnage.

“(UNCG is) the meanest, dirtiest team we play,” said Isle. “(Everyone is focused on) just ripping the dresses off and destroying.”

Her prediction of dress destruction was accurate.

First-year Elizabeth Schroder ran plays, with a train of torn fabric flowing behind her, and one UNCG player’s dress puddled around her legs in shreds.

By the end of the game, everyone walked off the field muddy and drenched in sweat, with their tattered dresses trailing.

“I’ve been to other games and they were not like this” said first-year Je’lissa Fowler.

“I just have one word to describe this,” Fowler said, “Hardcore!