T-Birds topple Dinos for first win of 2009

VANCOUVER - Michelle Helmeczi displayed her all-around game and kicking skills at Thunderbird Park on Friday as she led the UBC Thunderbirds (1-1) to a 46-0 win over the Calgary Dinos (0-2).

Helmeczi counted UBC’s second try in the first 10 minutes after she forced a turnover then smartly kicked the ball along the ground through the posts before beating her defender and pouncing on the loose ball. The try was the fifth-year fly half’s first points of a match-high 21 that she counted against the Canada West newcomers.

She crossed the line again in the 28th minute after her own kick pinned the Dinos deep in their own end and a consistent T-Birds attack eventually caused the visitors to succumb to the relentless pressure.

Helmeczi, UBC’s captain, converted four of the seven T-Bird tries and displayed her versatility late in the match when she booted a drop kick from 15-yards to put an exclamation point on UBC’s first victory of the season.

“It was good to get a win under our belts but it was still sloppy from time to time,” said UBC head coach Lesley McKenzie. “We moved players around a lot today and got to look at some new faces, so I wasn’t too surprised in some of sloppy play. We need to be crisper against Lethbridge and I think we will be.”

The T-Birds got a strong performance from 2008 CIS All-Canadian Radha Jain who scored a pair of tries.

The first came in the 36th minute off a turnover caused by forward Sarah Hrabi who swung the ball out wide with Jain doing the rest, running in for the score from 22 yards out. Her second try came only two minutes later when the third year centre showed some determined running as she carved through her opponents’ back field on an 60-yard run after UBC controlled the restart.

The T-Birds also got tries on efforts from Katherine East, Sidney Eaden, and Blaine Lyons.

With the win the Thunderbirds improve to 1-1 while the Dinos drop to 0-2. UBC faces the two-time defending national champion Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday at Thunderbird Park with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Scoring Summary

7th minute: UBC #11 - Katherine East (missed convert)

10th: UBC #10 - Michelle Helmeczi (Helmeczi)

28th: UBC #10 - Michelle Helmeczi (Helmeczi)

36th: UBC #13 - Radha Jain (missed convert)

38th: UBC #13 - Radha Jain (Helmeczi)

45th: UBC #12 - Sidney Eaden (Helmeczi)

59th: UBC #24 - Blaine Lyons (missed convert)

76th: UBC #10 - Michelle Helmeczi drop kick

Source:

UBC Athletics