X-Women dominate in 67-7 championship final win over Huskies

Landry leads StFX to AUS rugby title
By Glenn MacDonald, The Chronicle Herald

The greatest player in AUS women’s rugby left her mark in what may have been her final conference contest.

St. Francis Xavier’s Ghislaine Landry — a four-time Atlantic conference MVP, twice a winner of the Canadian university player of the year and the all-time point-getter in the CIS (342 points) — collected a pair of tries to pace the X-Women to a 67-7 shellacking of the Saint Mary’s Huskies in the AUS championship Saturday afternoon in Antigonish.

It’s the 12th consecutive Atlantic title for the X-Women, who have won every league championship since women’s rugby became a varsity sport in 1998. They captured the CIS title in 2006, Landry’s rookie season.

Landry, a fourth-year human kinetics student, is undecided whether she will return next year for a fifth season. So she played Saturday’s final like it was her last conference match.

"I’m treating it as my last one," Landry said. "I gave a talk to the girls today and it was emotional. It’s very overwhelming. We play for each other and that’s how we won the CIS four years ago.

"That’s what I learned about winning at that level, playing for each other.

"We had a few jitters to start the game," she added. "Despite the score SMU gave us a tough test today, especially at the start. But once we got going, everyone calmed down and we ended up putting on a good show."

StFX used a balanced scoring attack to wear down the Huskies.

Eight players each scored a try: Lisa Gauthier, Amanda Thornborough, Tyson Beukeboom, Jamee George, Allison McGlashen, Malorie Dobbin, Jillian MacLaren and game MVP Asya Bartley.

Courtnay Malcolm had 17 points on seven converts and a penalty kick.

The X-Women claimed the Michelle Birks Trophy, named in honour of the former X-Women player who died of a heart arrhythmia in 2007, and advance to the Canadian championship tournament next weekend in Vancouver.

"We have threats all over the field," Landry said. "The mentality of the players was a big part of our success. Our players were able to come out and find it today.

"But we had to remind each other before the game that we had to play today and not to think about nationals. It’s tough not to think too far ahead. If we focused on B.C. and not focused on today, then things could have gone drastically different."

Jess Dovanne had a try and Katey Smith added a convert for the Huskies.

"SMU played very well in the first half," St. F.X. head coach Mike Cavanagh said. "They had the wind in the first half but didn’t really use it to their advantage. So we just kind of hung around.

"In the second half, we had the wind and we kicked the ball very well and kept the pressure on them and capitalized at the end of the day."

SCORING SUMMARY

StFX:
Courtnay Malcolm – 7 converts, 1 penalty goal (17 points)
Ghislaine Landry – 2 tries (10 points)
Lisa Gauthier – 1 try (5 points)
Amanda Thornborough – 1 try (5 points)
Tyson Beukeboom – 1 try (5 points)
Jamee George – 1 try (5 points)
Allison McGlashen – 1 try (5 points)
Malorie Dobbin – 1 try (5 points)
Asya Bartley – 1 try (5 points)
Jillian MacLaren – 1 try (5 points)

SMU:
Jess Dovanne – 1 try (5 points)
Katey Smith – 1 convert (2 points)


StFX X-Women - 2009 AUS Women's Rugby Champions


X-Women prop Asya Bartley accepts the Keith's cheque
for MVP of the AUS championship game from StFX Director
of Athletics & Recreational Services Leo MacPherson