Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE – Heading into the weekend the Lethbridge Pronghorns had two goals in mind, earn their first win of the 2018 season and retain the Ric Suggitt Memorial Cup. While they completed the first goal with a 38-32 win over the Alberta Pandas, the Pandas took home the second installment of the Ric Suggitt Memorial Cup on point differential.
The Pandas beat the Pronghorns in the first leg of the two game affair with a 17-10 win and with both teams tied in Canada West standing points, the Pandas won on the tie breaker on the final try of the game and held a plus-one point differential.
The win improves the Pronghorns record to 1-3 on the season, while the Pandas fall to 1-2.
Off the opening kick the Pronghorns pushed the Pandas back into their own side of the field but untimely momentum halted the Pronghorn pressure. The 'Horns would steal a Panda's line-out and push within 10 yards but they could not take advantage.
The Pandas were able to relieve the early pressure with a long kick but a Pandas penalty would flip possession to the Pronghorns and they were able to take advantage of this opportunity. Abby Duguid pushed through the Pandas defense for the game's first try. Caitlin Sears made good on the convert to give the Pronghorns the early 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing kick, the Pandas returned the favour, pushing the Pronghorns on the defensive. Lily Smythe took an inside pass and was able to break a tackle and reply for the Pandas in the 13th minute. Ali Wicklum made the convert to tie the game at seven.
Only minutes later, the Pandas moved ahead off a Pronghorn penalty. From 30-yards out, Wicklum made good on a penalty kick to put the Pandas up 10-7.
The Pronghorns continued to push forward and off a line-out the Pronghorns set up a maul and moved the Panda pile within metres of their touch line and Sydney De La Mare pulled the ball out of the pile and touched down the ball to put the Pronghorns back in the lead. Sears made her second convert to make the score 14-10.
As time wound down in the opening half, the Pronghorns took advantage of a Pandas miscue to extend their lead. A kick slipped through the hands of the last Panda back and Hailey Driscoll raced on to the bouncing ball to score her first try of the game and with another Sears convert, the Pronghorns took a 21-10 lead into the break.
Almost immediately off the restart for the second half, the Pandas bounced back scoring twice in the opening eight minutes with the Pronghorns down a player due to a yellow card that carried over from the first half. Jayne Isherwood got the Pandas second half off on the right foot with an unconverted try only two minutes in.
Less than six minutes later, the Pandas pushed the Pronghorns into their own end zone off a line out and Avery Johnson was able to get a hand on a loose ball for another unconverted try and cut the Pronghorn lead to 21-20.
Just when it looked like the Pandas had all the momentum, freshman Payton Viney broke through and was awarded a penalty try in the 51st minute to put the Pronghorns back up by eight, setting up a wild final 30 minutes.
De La Mare added to the Pronghorn lead with a near carbon copy of her first half try, riding the Pronghorn maul near the goal line and pulled the ball out for her second try of the game but the Pandas would answer right back.
A long run from Isherwood flipped field position and a couple of nice passes sprung Savannah Dubien who touched the ball down under the uprights for an easy convert for Wicklum.
The back and forth continued as Pronghorn Carolyn Mckee was able to steal the ball near mid field and outraced all Panda defenders to score a try in the corner of the end zone and with the missed convert, the Pronghorns held 38-27 lead with less than 10 minutes to play and the Suggitt Cup on the line.
With the Pandas pressing the Pronghorns came up with a strong defensive stand in the final minutes, turning over the ball on a knock-on, but a forward pass would turn the ball back over in the Pandas favour, leading to the cup deciding try. Miranda Risling was credited with the game's final try and giving the Pandas the Ric Suggitt Memorial Cup on point differential.
The Pronghorns will travel to Calgary next Saturday to face the defending Canada West Champion Calgary Dinos next weekend. The Pandas will face the Calgary Dinos on October 4th.
1 2 F
LET 21 17 38
ALB 10 22 32
Scoring Summary
1st Half
7th – Lethbridge Abby Duguid try Convert Caitlin Sears 7-0
13th – Alberta Try Lily Smythe Convert Ali Wicklum 7-7
22nd – Alberta Penalty kick Ali Wicklum 10-7
31st – Lethbridge Try Sydney De La Mare Convert Sears 14-10
40th – Lethbridge Try Hailey Driscoll Convert Sears 21-10
2nd Half
42nd – Alberta Jayne Isherwood Convert missed 21-15
48th – Alberta Avery Johnson Convert missed – 21-20
51st – Lethbridge Penalty try – Payton Viney – Convert automatic 28-20
59th – Lethbridge Sydney Del La Mare Try Convert missed 33-20
67th – Alberta Savannah Dubien Try – Convert Ali Wicklum – 33-27
71st – Lethbridge Carolyn McKee Try – Convert missed – 38 -27
80th – Alberta Miranda Risling Try – Convert missed – 38-32
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Photo by: MPP Photography