Harvey, Gauthier and Thornborough help guide team Canada to international victory

Three members of the X-Women rugby team helped lead the Canadian women's sevens national team to a tournament victory  this past weekend at the North American Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) 7s Championship in Ottawa. Centre Lisa Gauthier (St. Bernadin, ON), fullback Magali Harvey (Quebec City) and winger Amanda Thornborough (Brandon, MB) all played key roles in the championship victory which secured Canada a berth in the upcoming Rugby 7's World Cup.

The following articles highlight Team Canada's performance and are compliments of Rugby Canada Communications.

LIVE FROM THE NACRA 7s: CANADIAN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TEAMS
 
The expectations for the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association 7s Championship were high for both the Men's and Women's 7s teams as Canada played host to it's first ever International 7s tournament at Twin Elm Rugby Park in Nepean, ON.

After going 3-0 during the first day of the competition, both squads went into Day Two knowing that the opposition would only get harder and more determined, both teams arriving readied for the challenge.

The Women's 7s squad went into this weekend ranked tops in the Women's pool, and really showed it on Day One by going 3-0 and dominating their opposition by holding all three opponents scoreless through the first three games.  Day Two saw more of the same from the Women, as they opened their day with their last round robin game of the tournament against Trinidad and Tobago, a team they would see again the finals.

Being one of the top teams in the world last season, the Women's team showed why they are a force to be reckoned with globally as they jumped to a 24-0 lead just before the end of the first half.  The team from Trinidad had played very well through their first three round robin matches, but could not match up with the strong Canadian women, who continued their attack throughout the second half.  The Women would add to their total in the second, finishing the match by a score of 39-0 and moving them onto the Women's Semi Finals where they would face Mexico.

The Semi Finals match would see the Women's team keep to their winning ways as the scored early and often in the first half, leading 27-0 heading into the second.  The second half saw the Canadian Women continue to add to their try total, with the final tally being eight trys on the day.  The Women's team would punch their ticket to the finals, where they would face Trinidad and Tobago once again, with a 42-0 win over Mexico.

The Women's Final saw the Trinidad and Tobago team come out of the gate hard and strong, keep the Canadian Women's team off of the board longer than any of the other opponents had throughout the tournament.  The Women's team captain, Jen Kish finally opened the scoring with a try that saw her take complete control of the play, and that started the momentum for the Canadian side.  The Canadian Women would finish the first half up 20-0 and would finish the second half even stronger, ending the game with a final score of 46-0.  With the win, the Canadian Women's 7s team found themselves qualified for the 2013 R7WC, there was only one spot up for grabs in the Women's tournament, as well as crowned best Women's squad in the region for 2012.  With the American Women's team already booked for 2013, based on their performance last season, the Women give themselves the opportunity to show the world that they can be just a dominate on the global stage as they were this weekend.

"The big one is that we are going to the [Rugby 7s] World Cup, now we can prepare our players over the next months so they are successful next June in Moscow," said Women's 7s Head Coach John Tait.  "For me, one of the great things we got out of this tournament, other than winning and qualifying, was that we got to debut five new caps and they stepped onto the team pretty seamlessly, I thought they did very well."

"We're going to a World Cup, we fought our way into it.  It was a great victory and the girls learned a lot and I learned a lot about being a leader," said Women's 7s Captain Jen Kish.  "Overall, it was just a great tournament for us."

Now that both teams find themselves heading to Moscow in 2013 for the Rugby 7s World Cup, and find themselves as NACRA Champions, they can both walk away from this experience knowing that they made the absolute most of the opportunity to play an international tournament on home soil.

See below for individual game reports on each game from Day Two of the North America and Caribbean Rugby Association 7s Championship.

Game 24 - Canada Women’s 39 vs Trinidad & Tobago (T & T) Women’s 0

Another beautiful morning greeted the second day of competition for the NACRA Rugby 7’s tournament. The first match of the day was between the undefeated Canadian women’s team and the team from Trinidad & Tobago who have also put on a good showing so far in this tournament.

A poor kick off from T & T gave Team Canada possession but knock on from a messy Canadian play led to the first scrum of the match and a penalty against Canada.

This gave T&T an opportunity to launch one of their few offensive plays of the match but strong tackling by the Canadian defence thwarted T&T’s chances. A first try attempt was valiantly held up by Trinidad & Tobago but a second Canadian attempt was too strong for the T & T defence.

Canada’s first try of the match was also the first for #5 Julia Greenshields bringing the score to 5-0.

Scrappy play following the kick off led to back and forth between both teams but ultimately Canada’s #7, Magali Harvey, gained possession from an excellent pass under pressure by Canada’s #9, Lisa Gauthier, for the second try of the match.

A third and a fourth try by #12, Amanda Thornborough and #5, Julia Greenshields just before the half soon followed giving Canada a 24-0 lead.

Canada looked determined and at ease to begin the second half, holding strong during an early ruck and scrum. Canada’s #9, Lisa Gauthier demonstrated good skill with an excellent recovery out of the scrum to run in an impressive try despite being tackled right on the line.

A turnover by Canada led to a break away for T & T but the Canadian defence regained possession and set up the sixth try of the match by #6, Bianca Farella, extending Canada’s lead to 34 points.

Canada continued to overpower the T & T defence with another try by Bianca Farella that closed the match with a final score of 39-0 leaving Team Canada’s undefeated record for the tournament untouched.

Game 40 - Canada Women 42 vs Mexico 0

The second women’s semi-final was a match up between Canada and Mexico, who were ranked 1st and 4th respectively in their pool. Going into this match the Canadian women hoped to repeat their previous performance against the Mexican team who they defeated earlier in the tournament

Canada began the match with the kick off quickly winning possession from the Mexican side to run the ball in for Team Canada’s first try of the match.  Magali Harvey, a star for Canada in this tournament, scored the try lighting up the scoreboard with a 5-0 lead.

Right on her heels were two more tries, one by Canada’s #10, Julianne Zussman and the other by #8, Britt Benn giving Canada 15 points total.

The pressure being applied by Canada would not be alleviated with Canada’s #1, Jenn Kish, splitting the Mexican defence at the seams on two occasions running a ball in for two consecutives tries bringing the score to 27-0.

This remained the score at the end of the first half.

Canada continued their strong offensive play in the second half. A scrum down in Mexico’s half gave Canada the ball but a series of incomplete passes slowed down their progress. Canada’s #9 Lisa Gauthier brought back up the pace by scoring a try in the corner. Canada maintained a strong lead with a score of 32-0.

Seconds later, Canada’s #10 Julianne Zussman and #12 Amanda Thornborough scored the seventh and eighth tries of the match adding ten more points to Canada’s significant total.

Those would be the last points of the match, as Canada remained undefeated with a victory of 42-0, advancing in to the women’s final.
 
Game 44 Women's Final – Canada 46 – Trinidad and Tobago 0

Nearing the end of Day 2 of the NACRA rugby 7’s tournament, Canada was matched up against Trinidad & Tobago in the women’s final. The winner of the match would qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia in 2013.

Canada, having dominated in the tournament so far, have yet to give up a single point and we’re the heavy favourites leading into the match.

Canada, wearing their black kits, looked confident and relaxed as they took the field against the fast team from Trinidad & Tobago.

Canada’s early knock-on was not the start that Canada was hoping for but they quickly recovered the ball following a penalty against Trinidad & Tobago. Canada’s set play looked a bit sloppy with T & T’s #10 Taria Cheekes staying down on the pitch following the play. Canada lost the scrum and subsequently lost a ball due the second knock on of the match.

Canada, however, was able to recover the ball from a win off the scrum and #1 Jenn Kish scored the first try of the match.

Another penalty for T & T launched an attack. They were unable to capitalize on it but Canada was subsequently penalized leading to lengthy back and forth play across the middle of the field.

A good pass let #10 Julianne Zussman loose as she brought the score to 10-0 despite being chased down by a speedy T & T defender

Seconds later, Canada’s #1 gained possession following Team Canada’s own kick off. Catching the ball off a clean bounce, she ran it in to score Canada’s third try extending Canada’s lead to 15 points.

T &T overthrew their lineout missing their jumper and giving Canada the ball. Team Canada then ran a set of crisp passing plays eventually running the ball in for a try by Canada’s # 11, Arielle Dubisette-Borrice. The score at the half was 20-0.

The second half began with a strong initial attack by Canada’s #7 Magalie Harvery leading to her first try of the match giving Canada a 27-0 lead.

A good run by T & T’s # 7 Daryl Scott gave them an opportunity to move down the field into Canada’s half. After winning the ball of the back of the scrum, Canada’s Bianca Farella out-paced and out-manoeuvred the T &T defence to score another try for Canada.

Canada continued to apply pressure and speed to the Trinidad & Tobago defence with Canada’s #4 Kaya Moleschi and #1 Jenn Kish bringing the score up to 46-0 with a try each.

An interception attempt by Canada caused a knock on bringing both teams together to scrum down with less than a minute to go.  Winning the ball out of the scrum, Canada kicked the ball into touch ending the match 46-0.

With this win the Canadian women’s 7’s team won NACRA 7’s rugby tournament cup and qualified for the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in Moscow.

It capped off an extremely successful two days for Canadian rugby at Twin Elm field, which saw both the national men’s and women’s teams emerge champions but also announced to the world that Canada had well and truly arrived as a rugby nation.