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 game was played under the lights of Huskies Stadium on a crisp but clear October night.

The X-Women opened the scoring in the 7^th 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 26^th minute, STFX widened the league to 17-0 as Sierra Wood (Stirling, ON) ran in a try. In the 35^th 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 38^th 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 a X-Women maul but on the ensuing advantage, Dodge scored a try give the visitors at 36-0 lead. In the 67^th minute, X-Women prop Maddie Harroun (Halifax, NS) scored a try, converted by Ross, to extend the lead to 43-0.

In the 73^rd 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.

With the win, the X-Women improved to 3-1 on the season, and moved into first place in the AUS standings. STFX's next game will come next Wednesday, Oct. 12, as they travel to Wolfville, NS to take on the Acadia Axewomen in a game rescheduled from Sept. 25.

The Huskies loss dropped their record to 0-4 on the season. Saint Mary's will be back on homefield next Wednesday, Oct. 12, as they host the UPEI Panthers in a game rescheduled from Sept. 25.

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Recap by Allan April / SMU Huskies Athletics

Maddy Ross takes home Subway Player of the Game honours from the X-Women's 43-5 victory at SMU tonight! #goxgo #SubwayFuel pic.twitter.com/uec9waGN2z

— StFX Athletics (@StFXAthletics) October 5, 2022