The StFX X-Women rugby team faced a tough Guelph Gryphons squad in the CIS championship game this afternoon and despite a tough defensive battle, came out on the losing end of a 28-0 game in Peterborough, Ont.
The silver medal is the third of that color for the X-Women in the past six years. They have made an appearance in the national final for the past four consecutive seasons and were champions in 2010.
The Gryphons controlled the play in the opening minutes of the game and scored a try in the third minute of play. After a StFX dropped ball, the Gryphons moved the ball deep into StFX territory and Mackenzie Higgs put the CIS ranked No. 2 team on the board first as she scored the try. Stephanie Tibelius made good on the convert and the Gryphons led 7-0 early on in the game.
The 7-0 score was enough for Guelph as they were able to shut down the StFX offensive attack for the remainder of the half. The Gryphons controlled possession for the majority of the half and were pressuring hard as the X-Women were forced to play tough defense to stay in the game. The 7-0 score held at half-time.
X-Women head coach Mike Cavanagh commented, “I give credit to Guelph, they played very well. I thought at half-time just being down 7-0 that we were in this game. We were at their goal line early in the second half and I think if we had of been able to score on that opportunity it would have been a different game. Full credit goes to Guelph, they held their goal line and came back, they were well equipped and are a good team.”
The second half proved to be another defensive battle as the Gryphons kept the pressure on throughout the game. They came out strong, made quick passes and tended to carry the momentum in the game.
The X-Women got a break early in the second half after scrum half Cassie Osins picked up a loose ball and ran it in deep to Guelph territory. StFX was close to scoring but the Gryphons were able to push them back 20 yards and eventually clear the ball to center field.
Later in the half as the Gryphons were in the StFX zone, a quick throw off a lineout led to Guelph penetration and a try by Samantha Eyles in the 66th minute. Tibelius made good on the convert and the 14-0 lead late in the game sent the X-Women scrambling to stay in the game.
The Gryphons pressure never let up, however, and they wrapped up the game with an additional two tries. Brittany Sammut scored in the 72nd minute and Britt Benn replied in the 77th minute as she found a gap and broke a couple tackles. Tibelius converted both tries for the 28-0 final score.
Guelph and StFX are two teams who posted some big scores throughout the regular season and they found themselves in a defensive battle in the national final. Coach Cavanagh commented, “I thought for 65-70 minutes we played some very good defense. In championship games sometimes you need a bounce or two and we didn’t get any, but then again good teams make their own bounces. But it wasn’t for a lack of effort, we made some mental mistakes and they punished us every time we did.”
The win marked the second CIS banner in team history for the Gryphons. They were inaugural champions in 1998. Center Mary-Jane Kirby was named Player of the Game for Guelph, while winger Amanda Thornborough was the Player of the Game for StFX.
StFX No. 8 player Tyson Beukeboom, along with freshman center Sara Kaljuvee and center Lisa Gauthier were named CIS tournament all stars. Kaljuvee was unable to play in the championship game due to an injury, but played two strong games in round robin play. Guelph lock Morganne Linthwaite received tournament MVP honors.
StFX University will be the hosts of the 2012 CIS championship.
SCORING SUMMARY
GUE: 7-21: 28
SFX: 0-0: 0
FIRST HALF
GUE: Mackenzie Higgs try (Stephanie Tibelius convert) 3rd minute
SECOND HALF
GUE: Samantha Eyles try (Stephanie Tibelius convert) 66th
GUE: Brittany Sammut try (Stephanie Tibelius convert) 72nd
GUE: Britt Benn try (Stephanie Tibelius convert) 77th
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
GUE: Mary-Jane Kirby
SFX: Amanda Thornborough
Legend:
Try: 5 points
Penalty goal: 3 points
Convert: 2 points
CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS
Championship MVP: Morganne Linthwaite, Guelph
R.W. Pugh Fair Play award: Université Laval
All-Stars:
Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid (Quebec City, Que.), Laval
Mary-Jane Kirby (Brampton, Ont.), Guelph
Brandi Van Eeuwen (Duncan, Alta.), Lethbridge
Morganne Linthwaite (Guelph, Ont.), Guelph
Caitlin Beaton (Clavering, Ont.), Guelph
Natasha Turner (Rockcliffe, Ont.), McMaster
Tyson Beukeboom (Uxbridge, Ont.), StFX
Jacey Murphy (Alliston, Ont.), Guelph
Ashley Burton (Peterborough, Ont.), Trent
Charlotte Vallieres-Villeneuve (Quebec City, Que.), Laval
Britt Benn (Napanee, Ont.), Guelph
Sara Kalijuvee (Ajax, Ont.), StFX
Karen Paquin (Quebec City, Que.), Laval
Lisa Gauthier (St. Bernadin, Ont.), StFX
Kayla Moleschi (Williams Lake, Alta.), Lethbridge
Official championship website:
http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wrugby/index
POOL STANDINGS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Pool A (FINAL)
GP W L T PF PA PTS
1. StFX 2 2 0 0 96 8 9
2. Lethbridge 2 1 1 0 40 20 5
3. Trent 2 0 2 0 3 111 0
Pool B (FINAL)
GP W L T PF PA PTS
1. Guelph 2 2 0 0 91 22 10
2. Laval 2 1 1 0 27 48 4
3. McMaster 2 0 2 0 29 77 0
NOTE 1: A win is worth 4 points and a tie 2 points.
NOTE 2: 1 bonus point is awarded for scoring 4 tries or more in a game.
NOTE 3: 1 bonus point is awarded for a loss by 7 points or less.
Thursday, Nov. 3
10:30 Round-Robin Pool A: StFX 76, Trent 3
13:30 Round-Robin Pool B: Laval 24, McMaster 10
Friday, Nov. 4
10:30 Round-Robin Pool A: Lethbridge 35, Trent 0
13:30 Round-Robin Pool B: Guelph 53, McMaster 19
Saturday, Nov. 5
10:30 Round-Robin Pool A: StFX 20, Lethbridge 5
13:30 Round-Robin Pool B: Guelph 38, Laval 3
Sunday, Nov. 6
10:00 5th place: McMaster 64, Trent 5
12:00 Bronze medal: Laval 29, Lethbridge 0
14:00 Championship final: Guelph 28, StFX 0