Photo credit Ian MacAlpine
KINGSTON, Ont. (CIS) – The Victoria Vikes concluded the CIS women's rugby championship with a program best fifth-place finish on Sunday afternoon after defeating their Canada West rivals, the Lethbridge Pronghorns, 27-24 at Queen's University's Nixon Field.
The CIS fifth-place game was much closer than the Oct. 25 Canada West final between the two teams, which the Vikes won 50-17 to claim their first-ever conference banner. Victoria had finished sixth in its lone previous appearance at the national tournament, in 2005.
"I'm happy for the girls coming back with two wins after that opening-day loss," said Canada West coach of the year Brittany Waters, in her first season at the helm. "It's difficult to do, but coming fifth was our championship game and I'm proud of the fight they had."
First-year Pronghorns coach Ric Suggitt was proud of the effort his team put forth. "What a great game of rugby, we pushed it right to the end and I thought we had an opportunity to steal the game in the last minute there. Victoria played well, they've got some good backs and a couple good forwards so all the credit to them today."
The contest began with the two teams trading off field position around half in the first 15 minutes. Lethbridge found the first opening with all-Canadian Nicole Ronsky (Calgary) catching a pass from Melissa Bass (Okotoks, Alta.) and running 50 metres to put down the try.
Despite the quick strike by the Pronghorns, it was Victoria that dominated the pitch offensively for the majority of the first half. The Vikes were awarded six points in a row off back-to-back penalty goals kicked true by all-Canadian Jess Neilson (Victoria) to shrink their deficit down to just one point.
Pam Buisa (Gatineau, Que.) was the Vike who was finally able to complete the try Victoria was working at putting down all half, as she drove through the Lethbridge defence at the 32nd minute mark to grab the lead.
The Pronghorns surprised the Vikes who expected to leave the half with their lead as Ronsky got away from Victoria at midfield to take another long run this time in injury time, putting down her second try at the stroke of halftime.
The two teams traded points in the second half as Vike Jennifer Appleby (Regina) outran Pronghorn Sarah Gordon (Surrey, B.C.) to put down a try but Gordon then booted a penalty kick through, narrowly avoiding the left goal post to bring the score to 20-17 with the Vikes out in front.
The Vikes looked to increase their lead as they cornered Lethbridge in their try zone, but with a pass to Ronsky they swung the play around, pushing Victoria onto their heels. In a series a drives to the line, Lethbridge sent Sonja Simmelink (Rocky Mountain House, Alta.) across to regain their lead from the first half.
Pushing off one tackler and outrunning two more, Buisa fought for her second try for the Vikes as Neilson went three for three on her conversions to get Victoria back in front 27-24.
Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford, B.C.) received the player of the game nod for Victoria. Ronsky was selected for Lethbridge.
SCORING SUMMARY
VIC 13-14: 27
LET 14-10: 24
First half
LET - Nicole Ronsky try (Sarah Gordon convert) 15th minute (LET 7 - VIC 0)
VIC - Jess Neilson penalty goal 17th (LET 7 - VIC 3)
VIC - Jess Neilson penalty goal 21st (LET 7 - VIC 6)
VIC - Pam Buisa try (Jess Neilson convert) 32nd (LET 7 - VIC 13)
LET - Nicole Ronsky try (Sarah Gordon convert) 39th (LET 14 - VIC 13)
Second half
VIC - Jennifer Appleby try (Jess Neilson convert) 5th (LET 14 - VIC 20)
LET - Sarah Gordon penalty goal 9th (LET 17 - VIC 20)
LET - Sonja Simmelink try (Sarah Gordon convert) 21st (LET 24 - VIC 20)
VIC - Pam Buisa try (Jess Neilson convert) 33rd (LET 24 - VIC 27)
Players of the game
VIC: Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford, B.C.)
LET: Nicole Ronsky (Calgary)
Legend:
Try: 5 points
Penalty goal: 3 points
Convert: 2 points
PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING
1. Acadia (AUS champions: 5-1 regular season / 2-0 conference playoffs)
2. McMaster (OUA champions: 4-1 regular season / 3-0 conference playoffs)
3. Ottawa (RSEQ champions: 7-0 regular season / 2-0 conference playoffs)
4. Victoria (Canada West champions: 2-2 regular season / 2-0 conference playoffs)
5. Concordia (RSEQ finalists: 6-1 regular season / 1-1 conference playoffs)
6. StFX (AUS finalists: 5-1 regular season / 0-1 conference playoffs)
7. Lethbridge (Canada West finalists: 0-3-1 regular season / 1-1 conference playoffs)
8. Queen's (Hosts: 4-1 regular season / 1-2 conference playoffs)
SCHEDULE & RESULTS
Thursday, Nov. 5
13:00 Quarter-final 1: Ottawa 29, StFX 7
15:00 Quarter-final 2: McMaster 62, Lethbridge 14
17:00 Quarter-final 3: Concordia 34, Victoria 12
19:00 Quarter-final 4: Queen's 24, Acadia 17
Friday, Nov. 6
Rest day
Saturday, Nov. 7
11:00 Consolation 1: Lethbridge 20, StFX 12,
13:00 Consolation 2: Victoria 55, Acadia 12
15:00 Semifinal 1: McMaster 14, Ottawa 8
17:00 Semifinal 2: Queen's 27, Concordia 13
Sunday, Nov. 8
11:00 Fifth place: Victoria 27, Lethbridge 24
13:00 Bronze medal: Ottawa vs. Concordia (CIS-SIC.tv)
15:00 Championship final: McMaster vs. Queen's (CIS-SIC.tv)
