X rugby represented in international tournament win
Four X-Women rugby athletes helped the Canadian U20 team to a tournament victory recently at the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) regional tournament in the Bahamas.
Jessica Jacobs, Olivia DeMerchant, Stephanie MacKinnon and Beth MacNeill were part of the winning squad who defeated the United States by a close 6-3 score in the championship game. All four X-Women saw playing time in the final match, as well as in earlier tournament action in 62-0 and 43-0 wins over the Cayman Islands and Caribbean Selects, respectively. Jacobs scored a try for Canada in the win over the Caribbean.
MacNeill, a North Vancouver, BC native, will be joining the X-Women this fall as a freshman, while the other three StFX members of the national team return to the line-up in effort to defend the X-Women’s 12-time AUS championship title. Jacobs is a second year hooker/flanker, DeMerchant is a second year prop and MacKinnon is a center entering into her third year at StFX. Third year prop Asya Bartley was also a member of the Canadian U20 team but suffered a minor injury prior to the NACRA tournament and was unable to attend.
See below for each of the game recaps, courtesy of Rugby Canada.
U20 WOMEN TAKE NACRA TITLE WITH WIN OVER USA
It was a good day for rugby in Canada as the U20s provided Canada’s second win of the day across the pond from the Women’s Rugby World Cup and in the process won the North American Caribbean championship. The second test of the year between the Canada U20s and the USA U20s ended with a tight 6-3 win for Canada. Both teams played incredibly physical defense, and vigorously contested the breakdown.
Canada took NSWT head coach John Long’s pre-game message to heart and played a fabulous, tough and spirited defense against the USA.
In the end, the game came down to penalty kicks throughout the entire 40 minutes. There was no scoring in the first half as the US missed two penalty kicks and Canada missed one. Both teams headed into halftime with many areas to discuss and tighten up for the second 40 minutes.
The USA fullback scored first at 44 mins from a penalty kick inside the 22m line. It took some further bashing from Canada’s forwards, and then Canada was rewarded with a penalty just to the outside of the left post and outside the 22m line.
Flyhalf Laura Murphy-Burke coolly collected her kicking tee and delivered a penalty kick dead-centre through the posts.
Some shifting in Canada’s backline resulted in Misha Maric being the one under pressure to convert a penalty to Canada with only 10 minutes left and the score knotted at 3 all.
Maric, who started the game in the second row and then moved to 8man when Sade Smith left the field, had an attempt about 18 metres from the posts. She also took her time in getting set and then struck her kick true.
The Canadians weathered a storm from the USA when they had to scrum down again on their own 40 metre line. The US attacked and brought the ball within 15 metres of Canada’s tryline when another scrum was awarded to the Americans. Canada was called for an intentional wheel by the assistant referee and a penalty kick was awarded.
The angle was acute, with the penalty being tight to the line and quite right of the posts. The American fullback pulled the kick left this time and ended the scoring threat with only 2 minutes left until full time.
There was much celebration from the Canadians at the final whistle as the physical battle could not have been sustained much longer by either team.
The NACRA delegation presented a player of the tournament to both teams, with winger Katie McNally taking home the hardware for Canada by wearing not only her heart on her sleeve but also most of the opposition’s jerseys throughout the game.
NACRA also generously provided medals to both the runner’s up and the tournament champions.
Co-captain Becky Delaney said, “The game was very tough defensively today but our Canadian girls stuck together with the heart and desire to take home a win. They all did Canada proud today and gave their all until the final whistle blew. I am very proud of all of us!”
Morganne Linthwaite, the other Canada co-captain echoed Delaney’s comments, “The game came down to instincts and hard work - hitting low and hard – which paid off as we made positive gains on defense. Defense wins games, so the whole team is happy we could come out on top.
Canada:
Penalty kick: Murphy-Burke, Maric
Canada team: 1. Jacquie Laidler, 2. Meagan Chambers, 3. Randi Hunter, 4. Morganne Linthwaite ©, 5. Misha Maric, 6. Jessica Jacobs, 7. Kelsey Willoughby, 8. Sade Smith, 9. Michelle Moore, 10. Laura Murphy-Burke, 11. Lindsay Anderson, 12. Beth McNeill, 13. Becky Delaney ©, 14. Katie McNally, 15. Kayla Moleschi
Replacements: 16. Olivia DeMerchant (@ 50mins #1), 17. Marin Macleod (@ 62mins #3), 18. Miranda Smith (@ 58mins #8), 19. Stephanie Mackinnon (@ 40mins #6), 20. Lauren Tagg (@ 40mins #2), 21. Erin Beazley (@ 40mins #12), 22. Tia Croteau (@ 66mins #10)
U20 WOMEN ROUT CAYMAN ISLANDS 62-0
The Canada U20s continued their winning ways during their Bahamian tour with a 62-0 win over the Cayman Islands. The team scored 31 points in each half to earn the lopsided victory over a feisty Cayman side. On Sunday the Canadians opened their time in Bahamas with a 43-0 win over a Caribbean Select side.
Starting the scoring for the Canadians was winger Tia Croteau who was the finisher from a solid lineout on the 5 metre line. Hooker Megan Chambers threw a short lineout and the forward pack drove towards the line. Several stretch passes later, the ball found itself in Croteau’s hands before she nimbly slid over the tryline.
Flyhalf Laura Murphy-Burke converted the try successfully.
Four minutes later, flanker Sade Smith scored from a similar lineout play on the Cayman 5 metre line.
Laura Murphy-Burke continued her kicking prowess from Sunday’s game and counted her second of six conversions of the game to go along with her two outstanding tries.
Murphy-Burke’s first try came from contact where she was taken to ground but deftly placed the ball, regained her feet and bolted for the tryline before the Cayman defense was able to organize.
Centre Erin Beazley and No. 8 Misha Maric also scored for Canada before the half.
Substitute flanker Kelsey Willoughby finished off an all forwards try to start off the first half. From a ruck tight to the touchline, the forwards called for an angle ball which was received by Olivia DeMerchant and passed through Stephanie McKinnon’s hands before the try was scored.
Murphy-Burke’s second try was easily the most thrilling try scored by the Canadians and came from deep in her own territory after she was changed to fullback. From a deep kick by the Cayman Island flyhalf, Murphy-Burke fielded the kick and countered with a kick of her own. She gave chase and the ball bounced easily into her hands without needed to break stride. She touched down under the posts to the applause of the many spectators and Canadian fans.
Winger Katie McNally has been a workhorse for the Canadians playing all 160 minutes of the tournament thus far. McNally scored a try up the blindside from a scrum at centre with a neat side step and fend off to set herself free.
To continue the scoring to 55 points to nil, Maric touched down for her second try off of a long run and short pass from Willoughby. Similarly, Willoughby set up Lindsay Anderson to score on a long run after Willoughby picked up a loose ball from the back of a ruck and took on several defenders before offloading. Anderson then flew into high gear and scored under the posts to complete the try scoring for Canada.
Reflecting on the game, head coach Jason Young said, “The U20 Canada women showed improvement in the game against the Cayman Islands. They are starting to come together as a team and as a result, their individual and team performance have to get better. The USA will be a great test for us and we must be focused on our responsibilities both offensive and defensive for that match.”
Canada will play the USA on Friday to determine the tournament championship.
Canada
Tries: Tia Croteau, Laura Murphy Burke (2), Erin Beazley, Misha Maric (2), Kelsey Willoughy, Katie McNally, Lindsay Anderson
Conversions: Laura Murphy Burke (6)
Canada Roster
1. Jacquie Laidler, 2. Meagan Chambers, 3. Marin Macleod, 4. Morganne Linthwaite (c), 5. Miranda Smith, 6. Stephanie MacKinnon, 7. Sade Smith, 8. Misha Maric, 9. Michelle Moore, 10. Laura Murphy-Burke, 11. Tia Croteau, 12. Erin Beazley, 13. Casey Thorburn, 14. Katie McNally, 15. Kayla Moleschi
Replacements: 16. Randi Hunter (on for Marin Macleod at 35mins), 17. Olivia DeMerchant (on for Morganne Linthwaite at 40mins), 18. Lauren Tagg (on for Jacquie Laidler at 65mins), 19. Kelsey Willoughby (on for Sade Smith at 40mins), 20. Becky Delaney (c) (on for Michelle Moore at 40mins) , 21. Jessica Jacobs (on for Stephanie Mackinnon at 62mins), 22. Lindsay Anderson (on for Kayla Moleschi at 50mins).
Beth McNeill (inj)
CANADIAN U20s DOMINATE CARIBBEAN SELECTS 43-0
Canada's U20 women's team opened the 2010 North American Caribbean Rugby Association regional tournament with a seven try 43-0 victory over a Caribbean Select side.
Under threatening skies, the Canada U20s kicked off their first match of the Bahamian tour against a squad co-coached by Scott Harland, a former Canadian junior women’s coach. The weather was a stroke of luck on the part of the Canadians since the temperatures were nominally closer to typical summer temperatures north of the border.
While the humidity stayed high, the Canadians came flying out of the gate and recovered their own kickoff to eventually score at the 2 minute mark. Katie McNally finished off a smart passing play that found it’s way through the hands of each of the back three.
After a bit of sloppy play and several set piece restarts, the U20s scored again to take the score to 10-0. Flanker Kelsey Willoughby alertly recognized poor weak side defense by the Selects side and took the ball from the base of a breakdown on the 2 metre line in for her first try of the game.
At the 24 minute mark, the Caribbean captain and inside centre tried a penalty kick after Canada was whistled for an offside in front of the posts. Immediately after the kick sailed wide the referee whistled a delay to the game due to several quick lightning strikes nearby the grounds.
The teams were able to take shelter in the Winton Rugby Centre’s change room areas during the storm which delayed play for 60 minutes. Thunder and lighting continued for 30 minutes and the teams observed a 30 minute precaution before resuming play.
At four minutes after play restarted, a thundering hit by captain Morganne Linthwaite caused a turnover from the Selects. The ball was picked up by Willoughby and neatly off-loaded to blind side flanker Jessica Jacobs who crossed the tryline for Canada.
At the ensuing restart, Linthwaite led the charge from the first ruck gaining 25 metres with her support. The ball was smartly distributed from fly half Becky Delaney directly to her outside centre, Erin Beazley. Beazley held the defense and popped to speedy full back Kayla Moleschi who ran in to score under the posts. Prop Randi Hunter was successful on her conversion kick.
At halftime, Canada led by a score of 22-0. Both props were substituted at the 40 minute mark with Marin MacLeod coming on at loosehead and Jacquie Laidler at tight.
The middle five rounded out the scoring in the second half but did not get started until the 59 minute mark. At that point, No. 8 Sade Smith was rewarded for her high work rate and the pressure of Michelle Moore. Smith scooped up a loose ball on the five metre line and kept her feet long enough to dive over the try line. Fly-half Laura Murphy-Burke successfully completed the conversion to take the score to 29-0.
Murphy-Burke crossed the tryline for a score of her own finishing up a neat dummy 2-3 switch and notched her second of three conversions with 8 minutes left in the game.
Willoughby rounded out the scoring for the Canadians with a stylish try after again beating the Caribbean defense tight to the breakdown. Murphy-Burke slotted her final conversion of the day to take the score to 43-0 for Canada.
Coach Jason Young said, “The women well deserved the victory against a hard Caribbean side. We were definitely the better team overall and controlled most of the possession.
"The focus for us was on performance. With all of our possession, we needed to take advantage of more of our opportunities and concentrate on our core skills and continuity in attack. "
Canada’s next game will take place at 5pm EDT against the Cayman Islands on Tuesday, August 17th.
Canada: 43
Tries: Katie McNally, Kelsey Willoughby (2), Jessica Jacobs, Kayla Moleschi, Sade Smith, Laura Murphy-Burke.
Conversions: Randi Hunter, Laura Murphy-Burke (3)
Caribbean Selects: 0
Canada team:
1. Olivia DeMerchant, 2. Lauren Tagg, 3. Randi Hunter, 4. Morganne Linthwaite, 5. Misha Maric, 6. Jessica Jacobs, 7. Kelsey Willoughby, 8. Sade Smith, 11. Katie McNally, 12. Beth McNeill, 13. Erin Beazley, 14. Lindsay Anderson, 15. Kayla Moleschi
Substitutes:
16. Meagan Chambers, 17. Marin Macleod, 18. Miranda Smith, 19. Stephanie Mackinnon, 20. Laura Murphy-Burke, 21. Casey Thorburn, 22. Jacquie Laidler, 23. Tia Croteau