GUELPH OPENS CIS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN
The Canada West champion Pronghorns dropped the OUA finalist Western Ontario Mustangs 20-3 in the first Pool A duel.
Lethbridge, which is hosting the CIS tourney for the first time, captured its first Monilex Trophy as national champion a year ago with a 15-10 victory over Western on the Mustangs' home turf in London, Ont.
The Ontario champion Gryphons, who came into the weekend with a perfect 8-0 record in OUA action, remained perfect on the season handing the Alberta Pandas a 15-5 loss in the opening Pool B match-up.
Four more round-robin games are on the schedule Friday, including Quebec champion Laval (0-0) versus Western (0-1) and AUS champion St. Francis Xavier (0-0) against Alberta (0-1) at 12:30 p.m. Mountain, and Lethbridge (1-0) versus Laval and Guelph (1-0) against StFX at 3 p.m.
Championship web site: www.universitysport.ca/e/championships/w_rugby/2008
GAME 1 POOL A: Lethbridge 20, Western Ontario 3
The defending CIS champion Lethbridge Pronghorns were dominant defensively in a 20-3 win over the Western Ontario Mustangs in a rematch of last year's CIS gold-medal game.
The pervasive theme for the Horns was defence. Head coach Neil Langevin lauded his team's defensive effort in their victory.
"Strong defence is continually coming up," said Langevin, of his team only allowing three points.
The Horns struck six minutes in when Katelyn Jonsson (Oakview, Man.) passed the ball off to Kenzie Ralph (Raymond, Alta.) to open the scoring. The Horns were able to extend their lead to 10-0 on the strength of the speedy backs. National team member Ashley Patzer (Lethbridge, Alta.) outran much of the Mustangs defence and passed the ball off to 2007 CIS tournament MVP Brittany Orr (Fort Macleod, Alta.) for the try.
The Mustangs struck back immediately on a penalty kick by sophomore Martha Goodrow (Aurora, Ont.).
Patzer nearly added three points at the end of the half, but her drop kick hit the upright.
The start of the second half saw a surge by the Mustangs, but the Horns were able to hold their OUA rivals from the touch line.
"The composure is always there, really on defence," said Langevin, praising his team's ability to keep the Mustangs offence at bay.
The Horns were able to rebuild their momentum about ten minutes into the half. Ralph took a brilliant pass from Patzer to add a second try to her line and put the Horns up by 12. Shannon Court (Red Deer County, Alta.) put the final nail in the Mustangs' coffin with her try in the dying minutes of the game.
Player-of-the-game honours went to Ashley MacDonald (Mt. Stewart, P.E.I.) for the Pronghorns and Kelly Russell (Bolton, Ont.) for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs finish off round-robin play Friday at 12:30 p.m. Mountain against the QSSF champion Laval Rouge et Or, while the Horns face Laval at 3 p.m.
Scoring Summary
Lethbridge
Tries (5 pts): Kenzie Ralph (2), Brittany Orr, Shannon Court
Converts (2 pts): none
Penalty goals (3 pts): none
Drop goals (3 pts): none
Western Ontario
Tries (5 pts): none
Converts (2 pts): none
Penalty goals (3 pts): Martha Goodrow
Drop goals (3 pts): none
GAME 1 POOL B: Guelph 15, Alberta 5
The OUA champion Guelph Gryphons kicked off the championship with a strong performance, defeating the Canada West runner-up Alberta Pandas 15-5.
The first half of play saw the Pandas dominate the field position by keeping the Gryphons pinned deep in their end for the first 10 minutes. The first true scoring opportunity came in the fourth minute when Alberta's Jill Morgan (Edmonton, Alta.) attempted a penalty goal, but she could not put it through.
The tide turned after the missed penalty and Guelph opened the scoring in the 15th minute, shortly after getting the ball out of their end for the first time in the game. Jacey Murphy (Alliston, Ont.) finished off a nice passing play to the outside deep in the Pandas zone, scoring the first try of the contest and giving Guelph a 5-0 lead.
Minutes later, Guelph's Brittany Benn (Napanee, Ont.) broke free on the outside of the pitch and delivered a solid stiff-arm to prevent a tackle. Once free and clear, she crossed the touch line to increase the Gryphons' lead to 10-0.
Right off the bat in the second half, Guelph's Michelle Joslin (Waterloo, Ont.) pushed the ball into touch after a scrum on the five-metre line for the Gryphons' third try of the morning making the score 15-0.
Alberta managed to break Guelph's bid at a shutout moments later. After storming down the field, Canada West player of the year Chelsea Stone (St. Albert, Alta.) finished off the drive by scoring the try, rounding out the scoring at 15-5.
"As with all national championships, nerves played a factor at the beginning of the game," said Guelph head coach Collette McAuley, who was named CIS coach of the year on Thursday. "Our girls settled down and stuck to the game plan, utilizing our speed and strength to put points on the board."
Scoring Summary
Guelph
Tries (5 pts): Michelle Joslin, Jacey Murphy, Brittany Benn
Converts (2 pts): none
Penalty goals (3 pts): none
Drop goals (3 pts): none
Alberta
Tries (5 pts): Chelsea Stone
Converts (2 pts): none
Penalty goals (3 pts): none
Drop goals (3 pts): none
ROUND-ROBIN STANDINGS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times LOCAL: MOUNTAIN)
Pool A | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
1. Lethbridge | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 4 |
2. Laval | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3. Western | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
Pool A | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
1. Guelph | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 4 |
2. StFX | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3. Alberta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 0 |
NOTE: 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, and 1 bonus point is allowed for a loss by 7 points or less.
Friday, Oct. 31
Round-Robin Pool A: Lethbridge 20, Western Ontario 3
Round-Robin Pool B: Guelph 5, Alberta 5
12:30 Round-Robin Pool A: Laval vs. Western Ontario
12:30 Round-Robin Pool B: StFX vs. Alberta
15:00 Round-Robin Pool A: Lethbridge vs. Laval
15:00 Round-Robin Pool B: Guelph vs. StFX
Saturday, Nov. 1
11:00 semi-final 1: first place Pool A vs. second place Pool B
13:00 semi-final 2: second place Pool A vs. first place Pool B
Sunday, Nov. 2
10:00 5th place: third place Pool A vs. third place Pool B
12:00 Bronze medal
14:00 Championship final
Source: Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorns Athletics