Cameron Doherty, Vikes Communications
VICTORIA – After a full day of frantic Canada West Rugby 7s Series action at Wallace Field in Victoria, B.C. two teams have separated themselves from the pack with perfect records on the first day of the season-ending tournament, taking place Feb. 24-25.
For fans of the series, the two names at the top come as no surprise as both the University of Victoria Vikes and the Calgary Dinos came to the fore, dominating their opponents en route to compiling records of 3-0.
Calgary, winners of the inaugural CW 7s Series last season, had their closest game of the day against their provincial rivals, the Alberta Pandas. The Dinos put up 15 points in the first half to secure the 20-7 victory before routing both the Fraser Valley Cascades (31-0) and the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (48-0) to finish day one.
Victoria outscored their opponents by a combined tally of 117-7, as the hosts looked untouchable in victories over UBC Thunderbirds (29-7), Thompson Rivers (62-0) and Lethbridge Pronghorns (26-0).
The Alberta Pandas proved to be the best of the rest in the first day of action, bouncing back from their loss against the Dinos to defeat Thompson Rivers (43-0) and UBC (27-5).
Both UBC and Lethbridge will enter the second day of the tournament with two losses to their name. UBC went 2-2, while the Pronghorns finished 1-2.
The two teams played what was the closest game of the day in a contest that went right down to the wire. UBC jumped out to an early 12-0 lead before a pair of Pronghorns tries on either side of the halftime whistle made the score 12-10 with just minutes left to play. T-Bird Shoshanah Seumanutafa was able to put the game beyond reach late by scoring a try and a conversion to make the final score 19-10 in favour of the T-Birds.
UBC's other victory came by the way of a 35-0 win over Fraser Valley. Lethbridge meanwhile, was able to regroup from their close loss to UBC and handle the Cascades 43-0.
Fraser Valley recorded their lone victory of the day in the very first game played, defeating the Thompson Rivers 43-0. For TRU, the results may not have shown on the scoreboard but the newest addition to the world of Canada West rugby made strides throughout the day and saved their best for last, putting together a long string of possession to end their final game of the day against Calgary.
The final day of action taking place tomorrow, Sunday Feb. 25, will not only name a winner of the Victoria leg of the series, but also crown the champion of the 2018 Canada West Rugby 7s Series.
Victoria will enter the day with one hand grasping the banner as their 20 points have them firmly in first-place in the series standings.
Calgary and Lethbridge sit second and third with 14 and 12 points respectively. Alberta, UBC and Fraser Valley hold down fourth through sixth, while the WolfPack are in seventh.
The conclusion to another great season of rugby will begin at 10 a.m., when UBC and Thompson Rivers take to the field and finish with the final game between UVic and Calgary scheduled for 2:50 p.m.
Saturday results
Game 1: Fraser Valley Cascades 43, Thompson Rivers WolfPack 0
Scoring summary:
UFV: 22-21: 43
TRU: 0-0: 0
• UFV try – #2 Mackenzie Fowler (convert missed) – 5-0
• UFV try – #13 Alex Motoc (convert missed) – 10-0
• UFV try – #3 Meghan Wellis (#2 Mackenzie Fowler convert) – 17-0
• UFV try – #14 Shalaya Valenzuela (convert missed) – 22-0
Half
• UFV try – #14 Shalaya Valenzeula (#2 Mackenzie Fowler convert) – 29-0
• UFV try – #2 Mackenzie Fowler (#2 Mackenzie Fowler convert) – 36-0
• UFV try – #4 Elyssa Phillipson (#2 Mackenzie Fowler convert) – 43-0
Game 2: Calgary Dinos 20, Alberta Pandas 7
Scoring summary:
CGY: 15-5: 20
ALB: 0-7: 7
• CGY try – #6 Laura Petrillo (convert missed) – 5-0
• CGY try – #3 DaLeaka Menin (convert missed) – 10-0
• CGY try – #9 Taejah Thompson (convert missed) – 15-0
Half
• CGY try – #12 Vanessa Graham (convert missed) – 20-0
• ALB try – #6 Courtney Holtkamp (#5 Aline Wicklum convert) – 20-7
Game 3: UVic Vikes 29, UBC Thunderbirds 7
Scoring summary:
VIC: 15-14: 29
UBC: 0-7: 7
• VIC try – #10 Jess Neilson (convert missed) – 5-0
• VIC try – #5 Emily Belchos (convert missed) – 10-0
• VIC try – #5 Emily Belchos (convert missed) – 15-0
Half
• UBC try – #6 Madison Gold (#4 Brooke Bazian) – 15-7
• VIC try – #4 Paige Farries (#9 Kara Galbraith convert) – 22-7
• VIC try – #11 Ashah Payson (#9 Kara Galbraith convert) – 29-7
Game 4: Calgary Dinos 31, Fraser Valley Cascades 0
Scoring summary:
CGY: 17-14: 31
UFV: 0-0: 0
• CGY try – #12 Vanessa Graham (#6 Laura Petrillo convert) – 7-0
• CGY try – #3 DaLeaka Menin (convert missed) – 12-0
• CGY try – #12 Vanessa Graham (convert missed) – 17-0
Half
• CGY try – #3 DaLeaka Menin (#12 Vanessa Graham convert) – 24-0
• CGY try – #9 Taejah Thompson (#12 Vanessa Graham convert) – 31-0
Game 5: UBC Thunderbirds 19, Lethbridge Pronghorns 10
Scoring summary:
UBC: 12-7: 19
LET: 5-5: 10
• UBC try – #7 Ciara Malone (convert missed) – 5-0
• UBC try – #6 Breanna Aikens (#4 Brooke Bazian convert) – 12-0
• LET try – #17 Caitlin Sears (convert missed) – 12-5
Half
• LET try – #15 Hannah Lopez (convert missed) – 12-10
• UBC try – #11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa (#11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) – 19-10
Game 6: UVic Vikes 62, Thompson Rivers WolfPack 0
Scoring summary:
VIC: 33-29: 62
TRU: 0-0: 0
• VIC try – #3 Chanelle Edwards-Challenger (#14 Sasha Guedes convert) – 7-0
• VIC try – #15 McKenzie Pusch (#14 Sasha Guedes convert) – 14-0
• VIC try – #1 Madison Aberg (#14 Sasha Guedes convert) – 21-0
• VIC try – #7 Jennifer Appleby (convert missed) – 26-0
• VIC try – #13 Renee Gonzales (#14 Sasha Guedes convert) – 33-0
Half
• VIC try – #10 Jess Neilson (#10 Jess Neilson convert) – 40-0
• VIC try – #7 Jennifer Appleby (convert missed) – 45-0
• VIC try – #15 McKenzie Pusch (convert missed) – 50-0
• VIC try – #10 Jess Neilson (convert missed) – 55-0
• VIC try – #4 Paige Farries (#9 Kara Galbraith convert) – 62-0
Game 7: Alberta Pandas 43, Thompson Rivers WolfPack 0
Scoring summary:
ALB: 19-24: 43
TRU: 0-0: 0
• ALB try – #21 Lora Lee (#10 Sarah Farley convert) – 7-0
• ALB try – #7 Karlie Tkachanko (convert missed) – 12-0
• ALB try – #21 Lora Lee (#10 Sarah Farley convert) – 19-0
Half
• ALB try – #7 Karlie Tkachanko (#10 Sarah Farley convert) – 26-0
• ALB try – #7 Karlie Tkachanko (convert missed) – 31-0
• ALB try – #6 Courtney Holtkamp (convert missed) – 36-0
• ALB try – #23 Heidi Peake (#23 Hedie Peake convert) – 43-0
Game 8: UBC Thunderbirds 35, Fraser Valley Cascades 0
Scoring summary:
UBC: 14-21: 35
UFV: 0-0: 0
• UBC try – #6 Madison Gold (#11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) – 7-0
• UBC try – #7 Ciara Malone (#11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) – 14-0
Half
• UBC try – #15 Hera Sfikas (#11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) – 21-0
• UBC try – #11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa (#11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) – 28-0
• UBC try – #2 Danika Elias (#11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) – 35-0
Game 9: UVic Vikes 26, Lethbridge Pronghorns 0
Scoring summary:
VIC: 12-14: 26
LET: 0-0: 0
• VIC try – #12 Julia Folk (#9 Kara Galbraith convert) – 7-0
• VIC try – #9 Kara Galbraith (convert missed) – 12-0
Half
• VIC try – #4 Paige Farries (#9 Kara Galbraith convert) – 19-0
• VIC try – #9 Kara Galbraith (#9 Kara Galbraith convert) – 26-0
Game 10: Calgary Dinos 48, Thompson Rivers WolfPack 0
Scoring summary:
CGY: 29-19: 48
TRU: 0-0: 0
• CGY try – #9 Taejah Thompson (#6 Laura Petrillo convert) – 7-0
• CGY try – #3 DaLeaka Menin (convert missed) – 12-0
• CGY try – #14 Kelcey Leavitt (convert missed) – 17-0
• CGY try – #14 Kelcey Leavitt (convert missed) – 22-0
• CGY try – #3 DaLeaka Menin (#6 Laura Petrillo convert) – 29-0
Half
• CGY try – #3 DaLeaka Menin (#6 Laura Petrillo convert) – 36-0
• CGY try – #9 Taejah Thompson (#6 Laura Petrillo convert) – 43-0
• CGY try – #23 Charity Corcilles-Herring (convert missed) – 48-0
Game 11: Lethbridge Pronghorns 43, Fraser Valley Cascades 0
Scoring summary:
LET: 15-28: 43
UFV: 0-0: 0
• LET try – #20 Brittany Orr (convert missed) – 5-0
• LET try – #10 Rebecca Gannon (convert missed) – 10-0
• LET try – #12 Myranda Falardeau (convert missed) – 15-0
Half
• LET try – #14 Hailey Driscoll (#7 Caitlin Sears convert) – 22-0
• LET try – #11 Erin McFadden (#15 Hannah Lopez convert) – 29-0
• LET try – #10 Rebecca Gannon (#15 Hannah Lopez convert) – 36-0
• LET try – #13 Sara Cline (#7 Caitlin Sears convert) – 43-0
Game 12: Alberta Pandas 27, UBC Thunderbirds 5
Scoring summary:
ALB: 15-12: 27
UBC: 0-5: 5
• ALB try – #11 Jamie Braybrook (convert missed) – 5-0
• ALB try – #14 Heidi Farley (convert missed) – 10-0
• ALB try – #1 Elizabeth Steele (convert missed) – 15-0
Half
• ALB try – #1 Elizabeth Steele (convert missed) – 20-0
• ALB try – #14 Heidi Farley (#5 Aline Wicklum convert) – 27-0
• UBC try – #11 Shoshanah Seumanutafa (convert missed) – 27-5
Tournament standings – Day 1
TEAM WINS LOSSES TIES POINTS
VIC 3 0 0 12
CGY 3 0 0 12
ALB 2 1 0 9
UBC 2 2 0 10
LET 1 2 0 6
UFV 1 3 0 7
TRU 0 4 0 4
NOTE: Teams are awarded four points for a win, two points for a draw, and one point for a loss.
Sunday schedule
10:00 a.m. – UBC vs. TRU
10:25 a.m. – VIC vs. ALB
10:50 a.m. – CGY vs. LET
12:00 p.m. – VIC vs. UFV
12:25 p.m. – LET vs. ALB
12:50 p.m. – CGY vs. UBC
2:00 p.m. – TRU vs. LET
2:25 p.m. – ALB vs. UFV
2:50 p.m. – VIC vs. CGY