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FINAL CIS championship: StFX captures second Monilex trophy
By Trent University sports information / Photo
credit Matt Stetson
PETERBOROUGH, Ont. (CIS) – The St. Francis Xavier X-Women
captured the second CIS women’s rugby title in school history
on Sunday afternoon with a thrilling 17-12 overtime win over the
Concordia Stingers in the gold-medal final of the championship
hosted by Trent University.
It marked the first title match decided in extra time in the
13-year existence of the CIS tournament.
The X-Women, 13-time Atlantic conference champions in as many AUS
seasons, had claimed their first Monilex trophy as national champs
in 2006 in London, Ont., thanks to a 10-5 gold-medal victory over
Guelph. StFX returned to the CIS final each of the past two years,
only to fall to Lethbridge on both occasions, 20-3 in 2009 and
29-15 in 2008.
While the second-place finish is disappointing for Concordia, it
is the best-ever result for the Quebec titlist Stingers in their
fifth appearance at the event.
StFX head coach Mike Cavanagh credited a quick start by his players
for giving his team the edge in the game.
“They kept control of the ball and kept up their intensity
throughout. Hats off to Concordia for a great game. They never gave
up.”
“What a terrible way to lose. We had points to take and
didn’t, and paid the price,” commented reigning CIS
coach of the year Graeme McGravie of Concordia, obviously deeply
disappointed.
The championship final fulfilled every bit of its promise to
provide spectators with a thrilling climax to a fine week of
rugby.
Amanda Thornborough of Brandon, Man., opened the scoring for StFX
with a try converted by AUS rookie of the year Magali Harvey of
Quebec City.
Concordia was finally able to put points on the board late in the
first half when Sarah Scanlon of St. Bruno, Que., touched down from
a driving maul off a 5 meter line-out. The try was not converted
however and the Stingers went into the halftime break down 7-5.
Back from the intermission, Concordia quickly took its first and
only lead of the afternoon on a play similar to Scanlon’s
score. Lisa Hoffman of Montreal touched down this time and Quebec
MVP Jackie Tittley of Kirkland, Que., converted to make it 12-7
Stingers.
The X-Women kept pressing and the momentum seemed to shift their
way as the half wore on.
Asya Bartley of Ottawa finally powered in to tie the match at 12
all after her teammates had applied intense pressure on the
Concordia defence with disciplined multiple phase control of the
ball and territory.
In the 10-minute overtime period, the X-Women continued their
dominance and only repeated desperate defensive play kept Concordia
hopes alive.
Just as time was expiring in the first extra frame, Olivia
DeMerchant of Woodstock, N.B., charged through for the
championship-winning try.
SCORING
SUMMARY
SFX: 7-5-5:17 (OT)
CON: 5-7-0:12
First half
1. SFX: Amanda Thornborough (5), Magali Harvey (2)
2. CON: Sarah Scanlon (5)
Second half
3. CON: Lisa Hoffman (5), Jackie Tittley (2)
4. SFX: Asya Bartley (5)
Overtime
5. SFX: Olivia DeMerchant (5)
Players of the game
SFX: Asya Bartley (Ottawa, Ont.)
CON: Erika Hamilton (Ormstown, Que.)
Legend:
(5) Try: 5 points
(3) Penalty goal: 3 points
(2) Convert: 2 points
CHAMPIONSHIP
ALL-STARS
Championship MVP: Magali Harvey (Quebec City),
StFX
R.W. Pugh Fair Play award: Concordia Stingers
Prop
Lauren Wizkowski (Lindsay, Ont.), Trent
Hooker Adara
Borys (Montreal), Concordia
Prop
Asya Bartley (Ottawa, Ont.), StFX
Forward
Claire Hortop (Mississauga, Ont.), Concordia
Forward
Lindsay Duxbury (Lethbridge, Alta.), Lethbridge
Flanker
Stephanie De Vries (Ariss, Ont.), Guelph
Flanker Hughanna
Gaw (Elgin, Que.), Concordia
#8
Kelsey Willoughby (Lethbridge, Alta.), Lethbridge
Scrum Half Susan Heald
(Burlington, Ont.), Queen’s
Fly
Half
Brittany Benn (Napanee, Ont.), Guelph
Winger
Dominique Monaghan (Markham, Ont.), Guelph
Inside Centre Shannon Court (Red Deer, Alta.),
Lethbridge
Outside Centre Andrea Wadsworth (Toronto, Ont.), Queen’s
Winger Amanda
Thornborough (Brandon, Man.), StFX
Full Back
Magali Harvey (Quebec City), StFX
POOL STANDINGS,
SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Pool A (FINAL after Saturday)
GP
W
L
PF
PA PTS
1. Concordia
2
2
0
51
15 9
2. Lethbridge
2
1
1
27
31 5
3. Queen’s
2
0
2
15
47 1
Pool B (FINAL after Saturday)
GP
W
L
PF
PA PTS
1.
StFX
2
2
0
55
17
9
2. Guelph
2
1
1
54
23 6
3.
Trent 2
0
2
5
74
0
NOTE: A win is worth 4 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.
Thursday, Nov. 4
11:00 Round-Robin Pool A: Lethbridge 15, Queen’s 12
(OT)
13:30 Round-Robin Pool B: StFX 37, Trent 0
Friday, Nov. 5
11:00 Round-Robin Pool A: Concordia 32, Queen’s
3
13:30 Round-Robin Pool B: Guelph 37, Trent 5
Saturday, Nov. 6
11:00 Round-Robin Pool A: Concordia 19, Lethbridge 12
13:30 Round-Robin Pool B: StFX 18, Guelph 17
Sunday, Nov. 7
10:00 5th place: Queen’s 53, Trent 5
12:15 Bronze medal: Guelph 10, Lethbridge 8
14:30 Championship final: StFX 17, Concordia 12 (OT)
-CIS-
