Langley, B.C. – The University of Victoria women's rugby team captured the Canada West silver medal after going 4-1 at the Langley 7s stop hosted by Trinity Western University, Feb. 23-24.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Day 1
Victoria Vikes 26, Alberta Pandas 10
- Larah Wright got things started for the Vikes, scoring in the second minute. Adding a convert by Maggie MacKinnon, Victoria went ahead, 7-0.
- MacKinnon put seven more points on the board for the Vikes in the third minute with a try and convert to double UVic's lead to 14-0.
- Alberta added a try before the end of the first half to bring the game to 14-5.
- Wright (try) and MacKinnon (convert) combined for seven more Vikes points in the eighth minute, before Emmie Pierce added a try in in the 12th minute to extend Victoria's lead to 26-5.
- A final try by the Pandas brought the final score to 33-10 in favour of the Vikes.
Victoria Vikes 26, Lethbridge Pronghorns 5
- Emily Findlay and Maggie MacKinnon combined for 14 of the Vikes' 19 first-half points, with Findlay registering tries in the second and seventh minutes and MacKinnon successful on both conversion attempts.
- Making her season debut for the Vikes, Sierra Gillis recorded a try in the fifth minute to contribute to the 19-0 lead the Vikes held at halftime.
- Larah Wright's try and Elle Douglas' convert opened the second-half scoring, putting the Vikes ahead 26-0.
- Lethbridge put the final try of the day on the board to bring the final score to 26-5.
Victoria Vikes 31, Calgary Dinos 0
- Larah Wright and Maggie MacKinnon once again combined for the opening points of the game, with Wright's try and MacKinnon's convert in the third minute putting the Vikes ahead, 7-0.
- Emily Findlay's try in the sixth minute and Wright's second try of the game in the seventh minute gave the Vikes a 17-0 lead at halftime.
- Tries by Justine Blatt-Janmaat and Shaye Ogurek in the ninth and 14th minutes, respectively, along with two successful converts by Elle Douglas, finalized the shutout win for the Vikes, 31-0.
Day 2
Victoria Vikes 33, Trinity Western Spartans 0
- Maggie MacKinnon put the Vikes on the board, scoring a try in the third minute for the 5-0 lead.
- A fourth-minute try by Larah Wright and seventh-minute try from Maelle Reed, along with two successful MacKinnon converts, brought UVic's lead to 17-0 after the first half of play.
- Two Emmie Pierce tries, coming in the eighth and 14th minutes, respectively, along with one MacKinnon convert and one convert by Elle Douglas, sealed the win 33-0 for the Vikes.
UBC Thunderbirds 19, Victoria Vikes 0
- UBC opened the scoring in the third minute, taking a 5-0 lead after a try. Adding one more score as time expired in the first, the Thunderbirds held a 12-0 lead at the half.
- A final try and convert in the 11th minute gave the Thunderbirds a 19-0 win.
WORTH NOTING
- Larah Wright led the Vikes' try-scoring with five over the two-day tournament.
- Maggie MacKinnon led the Vikes in points and converts with 26 and eight, respectively, over five matches.
- Emmie Pierce and Emily Findlay added multiple-try weekends, finishing with three and two, respectively.
- The Vikes close the Canada West 7s series with a 12-2 overall record and grab the conference silver medal with the runner-up finish at the Langley 7s stop.
UP NEXT
The Vikes head to the Canadian University Women's Rugby 7s national championships, March 17-18 in Montreal, Que.
