AROUND OUA: Black posts 25 points as Mac beats up on York
The dominant run of form continued for the Marauders in their final regular season game on Friday, as eight different players crossed the try line in a lopsided 75-14 victory over the York Lions.
SCOREBOARD
Toronto 0 @ Trent 45
Black posts 25 points as Mac beats up on York
The dominant run of form continued for the Marauders in their final regular season game on Friday, as eight different players crossed the try line in a lopsided 75-14 victory over the York Lions.
Veteran fly half Steph Black led all players with 25 points, scoring a try and converting 10. Three Marauders — Ashley Gordon, Colleen Irowa and Cindy Nelles — had a pair of tries, while Abi Moody, Emily Ricketts, Meagan Wilson and Rina Charalampis added singles.
Mac struck early with a try in just the sixth minute to set the tone, with Black converting to give the Marauders a 7-0 lead. Strength was on full display from the home side a few minutes later, when McMaster worked a series of pick-and-gos to Irowa, who shouldered her way across the line for the team's second try.
Gordon's first score of the day was a thing of beauty, as she gathered a pinpoint, cross-field kick on the run and beat her defender into the corner of the end zone to swell Mac's lead to 21-0. Tries followed one after another, as the Marauders found increasingly little resistance, and Nelles notched both of her scores in a matter of five minutes as the first half drew to a close.
McMaster led 42-0 at the break and very little changed as play resumed, with Irowa, Ricketts, Charalampis and Wilson all scoring within a 10-minute window to give the hosts a 70-0 lead in the 64th minute. York would add a pair of tries as a measure of consolation before the night was done — and Gordon sandwiched her second score of the game between them.
Having completed their five-game regular season schedule with a 4-1 record, McMaster will now await the naming of a quarterfinal opponent at the conclusion of play this weekend. The defending OUA champions will host that game at Ron Joyce Stadium on Saturday, October 17.
Source: McMaster Marauders
Mustangs advance to playoffs after decisive victory over Brock
LONDON, Ont. – Ending the regular season on a high note, the Mustangs dominated the field to take down the Brock Badgers 72-10 on Friday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The win helps keep Western comfortably near the top of the Shiels division with a 4-1 record, allowing them to continue their fight for an OUA banner into playoffs. Now holding a 0-4-1 record, Brock's ability to move onwards will be determined by the outcome of Waterloo's final matchup against Laurier.
Nikki Case topped the scoresheet with 20 points of the day from four tries. Close behind was Andrea Bowra who put up 17 points after recording one try and six successful converts.
"The girls really stuck in today and wanted to play their game," said head coach Katie Baer about the win.
"As we go onward it becomes week-to-week, it's an entirely new season. Going forward we want to keep progressing in the way that we are, today was just a glimpse of what our possibilities are."
Bowra was the first to put up points on the scoreboard, recording the first try of the game around the five-minute mark. Her subsequent convert gave the Mustangs not only a seven-point lead, but also all the momentum they needed to take the game.
Ten minutes later, Veronica Harrigan followed up Bowra's points with a try of her own, allowing Bowra to add another two points to the board.
Brock retaliated to the increasing point difference with a deep drive towards the purple and white in-goal area, yet, were unable to break through the Mustang line.
The Mustangs did not face a similar problem coming from Brock's defensive line, as Paige Farries, Courtney Dejong and Case each landed tries following the first 20 minutes of play.
Headed into the half, the Mustangs were up 31-0.
Returning to active play, Western did not let up. The first five minutes of the second half were played exclusively in Brock's half of the field. While that isn't uncommon considering the strength of the purple and white offense, it is unusual for 19 points to be generated in such a short period of time.
Within the first several minutes of the second half Farries, Case, and Harrigan each recorded a try – two of which were followed by a successful kick from Bowra.
Minutes after Harrigan's try, Brock retaliated with an attempt to add points to their side of the scoreboard. Surging down the field, the Badgers pushed the play into the purple and white end for the first time within the second half. Earning her team's first points of the game, Chelsea Brathwaite put Brock on the board.
Looking to re-extend the point difference, Case made one of the most impressive tries of the game just minutes later. Breaking away from the pack of Brock defenders early, she ran unchallenged into the centre of the Badger in-goal area to bring the score up to 55-5.
The final twenty minutes of the game continued to be dominated by Western. Case, Danielle Spice, and Hilary Dingman each put up an additional try for Western, while the defense kept the Badgers at bay.
"We do a lot of defense at practice," explained point leader Case. "We had a loss against Guelph and since then we've had a really heavy mentality. We [needed] to come up, get really low, and our line speed is something we're always working on. I think it's quite fast for the league. Our main thing is getting in fast, getting in their face and getting enough momentum that they can't push you back."
It wasn't until the 76th minute that Brock was able to put themselves back on the board with a try from Rebecca VanderZalm.
At the 80-minute mark, Western had taken the game 72-10.
The Mustangs now look to make their mark in the post-season, hoping to improve upon last year's third place finish within the OUA.
Source: Western Mustangs
