In Week 5 of AUS women's rugby action, the StFX X-Women played to a 43-5 win over the Saint Mary's Huskies, and the Acadia Axewomen edged the UPEI Panthers 20-19 to both earn playoff positions.
(HALIFAX, N.S.) The STFX X-Women Rugby team improved to 3-1 after defeating the Saint Mary's Huskies 43-5 on Wednesday night in Halifax.
The X-Women opened the scoring in the 7th minute of play with a try by back row Sky Koyote (Duncan, BC) to put the visitors up 5-0.
Just over 10 minutes later, the X-Women extended their lead on a tremendous run by centre Jill Griffith (Upper Tantallon, NS) for the try, and scrum-half Maddy Ross (Coldbrook, NS) converted to give the visitors a 12-0 lead.
In the 26th minute, STFX widened the league to 17-0 as Sierra Wood (Stirling, ON) ran in a try. In the 35th minute, fly-half Hannah Ellis (Halifax, NS), scored a try, and prop Annie McMullon (Rothesay, NB) converted to extend the lead to 24-0.
The X-Women continued to pin the Huskies in their defensive end, and the power running of fly-half Emily Dodge (Fall River, NS) was a difference maker for STFX in the first half.
In the 38th minute, the Huskies' Katherine Fairbrother (Saint John, NB), was given a yellow card for a high tackle on the try line, awarding an automatic seven points to STFX, with the ballcarrier Katarina Peric (Toronto, ON) given credit for the try and conversion. The X-Women took a 31-0 lead into the second half.
Early in the second half, the Huskies denied an X-Women maul but on the ensuing advantage, Dodge scored a try to give the visitors a 36-0 lead. In the 67th minute, X-Women prop Maddie Harroun (Halifax, NS) scored a try, converted by Ross, to extend the lead to 43-0.
In the 73rd minute, the Huskies had a great team effort, pushing forward into the X-Women defensive end, and prop Meagan Dunn (Halifax, NS) finally dove the ball across the try line for the home team's first points of the match and cut the lead to 43-5, which would stand as the final score.
X-Women scrum-half Maddy Ross was recognized as the Subway Player of the Game.
Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics
For the full recap of StFX vs Saint Mary's, click here.
(WOLFVILLE, N.S.) – The Axewomen rugby team squeaked past the visiting U SPORTS No. 7 ranked UPEI Panthers to even the score on the season between the two teams.
The Axewomen picked up an important win to remain in the running to host a playoff game with two regular season games remaining. They improve to 3-1, while the UPEI Panthers will deal with two losses in a row and a 2-2 record.
The strong Panther club was the first to post a try. Brinten Comeau (Halifax, N.S.) led the UPEI maul and Frances MacWilliam (Mill River East, P.E.I.) converted the try for an early 7-0 lead in the 19th minute.
Trailing in the closing minute of the opening half, the Axewomen opted for a 10-yard field goal knowing that points would be difficult to come by against the stingy Panthers.
Both teams came out of the gates on fire in the second half.
Axewoman Juliette Matsukubo (Ottawa, Ont.) had a 30 sprint to the try line in the 42nd minute, scoring her seventh try in four games.
Trailing the Axewomen 8-7, Brinten Comeau, who was named the UPEI Player of the Game, scored her second try of the match on a short dive over the try line to take back the lead – 12-8 in the 52nd minute.
Three minutes after the Panthers regained the lead, Kenzie Cecchetto (Newport, N.S.) showed a beautiful fake pass and took the ball in for Acadia's second try and a 13-12 lead after the conversion was missed.
At the 72-minute mark, Emily Duffy (Saint John, N.B.) scored the Panthers' third try and was also awarded a penalty try for a high tackle to regain the lead at 19-13.
With just over three minutes remaining in regulation time, Acadia's Sara Grant (Melrose, Alta.) broke out of a pack for a 20+ sprint to the try line for five points and added the conversion to give Acadia a 20-19 lead in the dying moments of a see-saw battle.
Dondi was named the AUS Subway Player of the Game for her effort in the win.
Recap by Acadia Athletics
For the full recap of UPEI vs Acadia, click here.
Scores
Wednesday, Oct 5
StFX 43 at Saint Mary's 5
Friday, Oct 7
UPEI 19 at Acadia 20