Antigonish, NS – The STFX X-Women, Saint Mary's Huskies and Acadia Axewomen competed in a pre-season exhibition tournament Saturday afternoon at STFX Stadium. The X-Women went 2-0, while Acadia was 1-1 and Saint Mary's 0-2.
STFX 50, Saint Mary's 0
In the first game of the triple-header, the X-Women defeated the Huskies by a 50-0 scoreline.
STFX's dynamic number seven, Camryn Kleynhans was first to score as she finished off after a great run by Jill Griffith. Veteran Madison Ross converted to make the score 7-0.
Katarina Peric was next to score as the X backline showed off their great passing skills with Kathleen Dolan making the final pass to send Peric home. As SMU were progressing down the field a skip pass was intercepted by Griffith. She raced down the field before she passed to Sierra Wood who finished up under the posts. Peric then scored again for the X-Women.
Fullback Katie Douglas scored the last try of the half on a great 50 metre run as she eluded numerous SMU tacklers on her way to the try line.
The second half was a tighter affair with SMU's scrumhalf Katherine Fairbrother at the heart of the action throughout. However, X continued their fine play and used their scrums and lineouts to launch their excellent first-phase attacks.
STFX's first try of the second half came from a well-executed line and the ball was passed efficiently along the backs before Madelyn Weisshaar touched the ball down. Another great effort by Griffith saw her score again and she converted her own try for good measure. Emma Langley capped off the scoring for StFX to make the final score 50-0.
Acadia 30, Saint Mary's 7
There was no rest for the Huskies as they faced the Acadia Axewomen in the second game. The game started with a number of big tackles by both sides and SMU's lock, Rian Murphy, made her first of many key tackles.
Acadia scored the game's first try by winger Grace Pinch. The try came from a SMU scrum that went 'against the head' as Acadia's scrum half Matsukobo quickly sent the ball to her backs before Pinch finished off the scoring play.
Acadia's continued to put pressure on SMU and Acadia's half-back axis was in top form as Juliette Matsoko made a nice pass to Katya Dondy who finished off the scoring play.
Openside Chloe Buckingham's excellent all-around play was rewarded as she touched down to make the score 20-0 for the Axewomen. Kylie Manser scored Acadia's final try of the half.
The second half saw both teams make a number of changes and the play was not quite as fluid as the opening frame. Summer Giffen scored early in the second half for the Axewomen.
Katherine Fairbrother, the SMU scrumhalf, continued her fine play with solid passing and was a complete nuisance to Acadia during their scrums, which is exactly what any scrum-half worth her salt is supposed to do. The Huskies, facing off against two of Canada's top rugby teams, battled until the end. Their resilience was rewarded when Hannah Pinet scored their first try of the day with Lauren Maye slotting the conversion to make the final score 30-7 in the Axewomen's favour.
STFX 31, Acadia 0
The final match of the day saw the long-time rivals Axewomen face the X-Women with the home team X-Women coming out on top.
The STFX forwards set the stage early for X showing skill and power in equal measure. It was fitting that Sophie Beck scored the game's first try after great work by No 8 Annie McMullon.
Acadia kept the pressure on with a number of good runs but X's defence was superb. Skye Koyote was next to cross over to double the STFX lead to 10-0.
In the second half the X-Women's set piece remained dominant throughout and a great drive off a lineout led to a score by Lauren Stienburg, which was converted by veteran scrum half Madison Ross. The X-Women's final two tries were scored by winger Katarina Peric, the second of which was expertly converted by Jill Griffith.
The game ended 31-0 in favour of the X-Women.
AUS regular season play opens on Saturday, September 10th. The AUS defending champion X-Women will travel to Charlottetown to take on the UPEI Panthers, while the Huskies will host the Axewomen. Both games are at 2:00 pm.
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Recap courtesy Bart Sears, STFX Sports Information