Rugby Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Women beat Saskatchewan!

Nova Scotia stage a late comeback to nip Saskatchewan 23-20 in their final game of the NWL Championship. The win, and the bonus point means NS secures second place and has an outside shot at first if Alberta can pull and upset over Ontario in the late match. The first 20 minutes were a start stop affair with two blood subs for each team. Nova Scotia lost full back Pat Lapierre to a suspected concussion at the fifteen minute mark. Saskatchewan opened the scoring at the 16 minute mark with a long range penalty goal. Shortly after NS 7 Holly Devaal was sin bined for repeated team infringements at the breakdown. " We had a hard time adjusting and listening to the ref in the opening 20." said coach Carew. " We seemed to just have things figured out when she ( the ref ) needed to be replaced do to illness. " Nova Scotia responded well to the yellow card and seemed to some consistent play , and three thunderous strait arms from blood sub Paula McNeil, helped set Karen Connoly free after a brilliant cover run, to score out wide. The convert was missed NS 5 - Sask 3.
The Prairie girls were not ready to give up and struck back quickly with a try in the 23 minute. NS 5 Sask 8. Novas scotia would dominate play for the remainder of the half but could only come away with a penalty kick from Jenny " Shorty " Matheson at the 40 minute mark. Halftime 8-8.
As the second half opened NS began to struggle at scrum time and ball possession swung to the Sask side. A converted try at the 3 minute mark was quickly followed up with a second try at the 9 minute mark and Nova Scotia seemed to wilt in the hot Ontario sun. NS 8 Sask 20 at the 10 minute mark. An insertion of some fresh legs in the pack steadied the scrums somewhat and NS seemed to perk up with a little more possession. The ball started to flow better as the backs and forwards mingled and cracks began to appear in the Sask defence. Sherry Lake managed to weave her wave through the Sask backs and score at the 25 minute. With the convert unsuccessful Nova Scotia trailed by 7. NS 13 Sask 20. Nova scotia continued to press the pace and take the ball forward. With five minutes to go and with their two kickers subbed off with injury NS had a penalty at the 22 in front of the sask posts. Spotting space wide Captain Sherry Lake decided a chance at seven was the best option and quick tapped and spun the ball wide. Two passes later and it was Jenny Matheson scoring untouched in the corner. The conversion from the touchline came up just a meters short. Now with less than five minutes remain NS needed to pull out all the stops to try and complete the comeback. The pressure off the kick off was immense and Nova Scotia eventually regained possession. A series of rucks in sued and Nova Scotia began to inch ever closer to the line. Sask, recognising the danger off Lake from the back of the ruck , followed her across the the back of one two many, and Jill Watters was able to split the defence, as the seas parted, and scored untouched. The convert was missed .NS 23- Sask 20. Play remained in the mid field as the last two minutes expired and NS was rewarded with the victory. " The team showed a lot of heart today. It would have been easy in the 30 degree heat to fold the tents down 20 to 8 with 20 minutes to go. It was a great win and an excellent way to make our return to national competitions."