VANCOUVER - The no. 9 CIS ranked UBC Thunderbirds come into the 2009 CIS Women's Rugby Championship with the host berth, however, the T-Birds were just one score away from earning their own ticket with a near loss to the Alberta Pandas in the Canada West semi-final.
The T-Birds lost 19-15 to the Pandas in Edmonton during the CW Championship. UBC took an early lead in the game and after falling behind 12-3 fought back with a converted try to make it 12-10. Despite controlling most of the play in the second half, UBC couldn't take command on the scoreboard and the Pandas escaped with the narrow victory.
UBC responded with their second straight commanding performance in the CW bronze medal game, beating Victoria 46-0 in their final game before the CIS Championship.
For their efforts, UBC comes into this weekend sporting a 3-3 overall record after a 2-2 regular season saw them pick up victories over the Calgary Dinos (47-0) and Victoria Vikes (8-5) while dropping decisions to the Lethbridge Pronghorns (50-0) and Pandas (10-0).
"We've struggled to find consistency this year but at the same time have shown in stretches that we're capable of playing fast, exciting, aggressive rugby and playing with the big teams," said UBC head coach Lesley McKenzie, who is in her second year at the helm. "We've had the luxury of knowing we'll have at least a host's berth at Nationals and that took some of the pressure off a short competition season. I thought we played really well against Alberta in the semi-finals and if we didn't give up as many penalties the result may have been different."
The T-Birds opened their season with a spirited effort against the Pandas, dominating possession and territory for much of the first half, however, turnovers and penalties cost UBC on their scoring opportunities. The Pandas took full advantage of the T-Birds inability to convert and squeaked out of Vancouver with a 10-0 win.
UBC rebounded with a convincing 46-0 victory over the Calgary Dinos to improve to 1-1, however, they couldn't match the two-time defending CIS champion Pronghorns who took down the T-Birds 50-0. The T-Birds then closed the regular season with an 8-5 win over Victoria to finish with a .500 record.
Fifth-year captain
Michele Helmeczi leads UBC with 35 points on two tries, one drop goal, two penalty kicks, and eight converts.Â
Radha Jain, a 2008 CIS All-Canadian and 2009 Canada West all-star, remains one of the country's most dangerous attackers, with the ability to beat almost any defender in the open field. She had a pair of tries during the regular season before adding four at the Canada West Championship to finish with 30 points.
Sidney Eaden and
Blaine Lyons found the end zone twice this year for the T-Birds while
Caitlin Harris,
Maggie Ritchie,
Darcy Patterson,
Jennifer Brule,
Katherine East, and Christine Mahain all have a single try on the year.Â
Other key players for the T-Birds have been fifth-year
Sarah Hrabi, who has played extremely well in multiple positions, and lock
Danielle Willhoeft who was named a 2009 Canada West all-star alongside Jain.
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Maggie Ritchie and
Michele Helmeczi have been applying some some punishing pressure so far this season.Â
Danielle Willhoeft has come into this season very focused, powerful, and consistently forceful with ball in hand and at the breakdown. I think these girls are going to shine at Nationals," added McKenzie.
The Thunderbirds are making their third appearance at the CIS Championship with a bronze medal performance in 1998 and a trip to the 2003 tournament.
"We've got a fit, mobile, and aggressive forward pack that's going to fare well against some of the bigger teams in loose play. If we get some positive, go-forward game management then our girls are going to be able to really push the envelope," said McKenzie who was a member on that 2003 UBC squad.
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