Rugby Nova Scotia

RUGBY: BC WOMEN TAKE TIER ONE TITLE WITH WIN OVER ONTARIO

British Columbia beat Ontario in the torrid heat and humidity of Toronto, taking the National Women's League Tier One championship by a 34-22 score on Sunday.

With 500 fans looking on the British Columbians fought back after falling 6-0 to Ontario early in the game. Barbara Mervin's converted try in the 36th minute put BC in front, only to have Ontario hit for two more penalties to make the score 12-7 at the half.

In the second half BC hit back with three tries and three penalties to take a commanding 34-15 lead with five minutes to go. Barbara Mervin scored her second of the day, along with scrum-half Julia Sugawara and centre Mandy Marchak scoring solo tries. Andrea Burk kicked three conversions and two penalties for twelve points.

Ontario kicked its attack into high gear in the closing minutes as scrum-half Ghislaine Landry hit the gap on a quick throw in on BC's 22 metre line. The late score was all they could muster however, as full time came with a final score of 34-22.

Marlene Donaldson, Captain of the victorious side said the difficult conditions were not much of an issue, despite temperatures hitting 34 C with high humidity.

"We have been here all week and so we got somewhat used to it, plus the other team is playing in it too," she said. "We just really did a lot of things well today, and Ontario gave us a good hard game."

Scoring:

BC: 34 (7)
Tries: Barbara Mervin (2), Julia Sugawara, Mandy Marchak
Conversions: Andrea Burk (3)
Penalties: Andrea Burk (2)

Ontario: 22 (12)
Try: Ghislaine Landry
Conversion: Cheryl Phillips
Penalties: Cheryl Phillips (5)

Referee - Sherry Trumbull

Quebec 18 Alberta 17 - Tier One - Bronze Medal Match

Quebec defeated Alberta 18-17 on Sunday to claim third place in the Tier One competition.

It was a close game throughout, with Alberta pressing right to the end, but Quebec held the westerners at bay.

Alberta opened the scoring with a try from wing Andrea Letal, but failed to make the conversion. Quebec equalized in the 16th minute with a score from standout flanker Latoya Blackwood.

Letal then pulled her team back in the lead with a try at the 20 minute mark with prop Marie Pier Pineault -Reid adding the conversion for a 12-5 lead.

Quebec got three points back with a penalty kick from fullback Julianne Zussman in the 27th minute to make the half-time score 12-8 to Alberta.

In the second frame Zussman pulled her team to within a point at 12-11 - with a successful penalty just two minutes after the restart.

Hughanna Gaw then put Quebec into the lead with a cheeky take from the back of a scrum from 10 metres out - ducking out of two tackles before touching down for the crucial score.

Zussman added the conversion and Quebec settled in for the final twenty minutes with a 18-12 lead.

National team back rower Jen Kish appeared to score the go ahead try, but the conversion was missed, leaving the Albertans adrift 18-17. Both teams pressed hard in the final minutes in stifling Ontario heat, with Quebec rejoicing loudly at the final whistle.

"We won the game by not working backwards from thinking about winning," explained Quebec Captain Joceylyn Barrieau. "We did all the little things right and strung together 80 minutes of structured play and that was the difference.

"This is the culmination of four years of hard work," the diminutive half back continued. "This is such a great moment for Quebec rugby."

Scoring:

Quebec
Tries: Latoya Blackwood, Hughanna Gaw
Conversion: Julianne Zussman
Penalties: Julianne Zussman (2)

Alberta
Tries: Andrea Letal (2), Jenn Kish
Conversion: Marie Pier Pineault -Reid

Nova Scotia 23 Saskatchewan 20

Nova Scotia beat Saskatchewan team by a 23-20 score to take third place in the Tier II competition.

In a compelling contest Nova Scotia was down 20-8 but scored three second half tries to claw back for the win in the 75th minute.

Nova Scotia opened the scoring with a try from wing Karen Connoly at the fifteen minute mark, but Saskatchewan hit back with a score from wing Nicole Uhl to tie the score at 5-5.

The teams traded penalties within a minute of each other at the half hour to make the score 8-8.

Saskatchewan pulled into the lead for the first time with a try from fly-half Jenn Skilnick, who also converted her score for a 15-8 lead after 46 minutes. Saskatchewan added to their with fullback Gill Allen's try in the 52nd minute and it appeared the momentum was with the Prairie side.

In a torrid final twenty minutes Nova Scotia got tries from Sherry Lake, Jenny Matheson and a final try from Jill Watters in the 75th minute to retake the lead.

Despite some late pressure from Saskatchewan the comeback held up for a third place finish for the Novas Scotians.

Captain Sherry Lake, still gasping from the heat and the defensive work put in the final five minutes, was thrilled with the win.

"I knew this team could do it, and we followed our systems and the scores came," she said. "This is a great group and I so proud of what we have achieved.

Scoring:

Nova Scotia
Tries: Karen Connoly, Sherry Lake, Jenny Matheson, Jill Watters
Penalty: Jenny Matheson

Saskatchewan
Tries: Nicole Uhl, Jenn Skilnick, Gill Allen
Conversion: Jenn Skilnick
Penalty: Jenn Skilnick

Ontario U23 79 Alberta U23 0

Ontario scored an easy 79-0 victory over Alberta to take the Tier II title on Sunday.

Wing Linzy Anderson scored four first half tries to lead Ontario to a 54-0 lead at the break. Other try scorers included hooker Ashley Reid, and No 8 Gizelle Panton, who also scored twice in the second half.

Second row Misha Maric was the kicker for this scorefest, hitting for 19 points and also scoring a try for 24 points on the day.

Scoring:

Ontario 79 (54)
Tries: Linzy Anderson (4), Tiera Thomas Reynolds (2), Gizelle Panton (3), Misha Maric, Ashley Reid, Jessica Jacobs, Sam Eyles, Candice Murray,
Conversions: Misha Maric (8)
Penalties: Misha Maric

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