X-Women dump SMU 55-5

The StFX women’s rugby team picked up where they left off from AUS competition last season, continuing on their winning ways with a 55-5 victory over the visiting Saint Mary’s Huskies Wednesday night under the lights of StFX Oland Stadium in their season opener.

The game marked the first varsity game played at night time at the newly renovated field, and also marked the end of a milestone for the X-Women. This is the first time they have allowed a point to be scored against them dating back to October 14, 2007. The X-Women had a streak of going of 8 consecutive shutout wins in AUS regular season and playoff games until the Huskies broke that with a try late in the second half.

Despite the lopsided score, X-Women head coach Mike Cavanagh commented after the game, “we did score some easy tries but in general we played sloppily out there, our forwards didn’t protect the scrum half as well as I would have liked.”

“Our backs ran very well resulting in some tries being scored. Ghislaine Landry, Lisa Gauthier and Amanda Thornborough all played well, as did forwards Jessica Jacobs, Asya Bartley and Megan Pritchard.”

Ghislaine Landry earned Subway Player of the Game honors for the X-Women, scoring three tries on the night. Teammate Lisa Gauthier scored two tries.

Five different X-Women crossed the try line in the first half including one each from Landry and Gauthier, along with Amanda Thornborough, Asya Bartley and Megan Pritchard. Winger Courtnay Malcolm converted on 4 of the 5 tries to establish a 33-0 StFX lead at the half.

The X-Women came out a bit sloppier in the second half of play, but nonetheless Landry scored consecutive tries, along with rookie Tyson Beukaboom and Gauthier for her second of the game. Malcolm converted one of the tries, giving her 5 converts in the game.

The lone Saint Mary’s try was scored by Amber Handrahan.

The X-Women are back on the rugby pitch at StFX Oland Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 19th when they host the Acadia Axewomen (1-0) at 6:00 pm.