VANCOUVER (CIS) – On paper the second-seeded StFX X-Women were heavy favourites over the host UBC Thunderbirds in the opening game of Pool B action at the 2009 CIS Women's Rugby Championship but a spirited effort by the host Thunderbirds kept the game's result in question until late in the second half as the X-Women earned an 18-0 victory.
"Defensively we were pretty sound. UBC is a good team and we knew they would give us a tough game but offensively we didn't adapt to the weather," said StFX head coach Mike Cavanagh. "We were trying to make plays in this weather that just weren't possible and it showed in our offensive performance. We need to keep things a lot tighter in our next game and play for territory. We don't need to try and run 80 metres out."
Territory was hard to come by in a back and forth first half that saw the X-Women take a 3-0 lead on a Courtney Malcolm penalty goal. There was little to give between the two sides until StFX was awarded a penalty try just before the break and a Malcolm convert made it 10-0 for the X-Women at the half.
The hard fought affair continued in the second frame but with the T-Birds unable to generate any points off their possession, the X-Women pulled away with a try from four-time AUS Player of the Year Ghislaine Landry and another penalty goal by Malcolm.
Despite the shutout loss, UBC head coach Lesley McKenzie saw a lot of positives in her team's performance.
"The majority of the points we gave up came from our penalties so that is something complete fixable before our next game," said the second-year boss and former T-Bird standout. "StFX is a very good team but I thought we were able to put a good amount of pressure on them. Our ability to get the ball in contact from them was really good and it gave us a fair bit of possession."
The X-Women get a break before taking on the third-seeded Guelph Gryphons at 3:00 p.m. while the T-Birds are back at it in a must win game against Guelph at 12:30 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
StFX 10-8: 18
UBC 0-0: 0
First half
1. Malcolm (penalty goal, 3)
2. Beukeboom (penalty try, 5), Malcolm (convert, 2)
Second half
3. Malcolm (3)
4. Landry (5)
Players of the game
LETH : Jamee George (Brandon, MB
UBC:
Lauren Nutt (Victoria, BC)
