Blues Sr. Women: Ontario strikes gold at 2017 CRCs

July 21, 2017

Ontario Blues Senior Women strike gold at the Canadian Rugby Championship

A talented Ontario Blues Senior Women’s team completed their CRC campaign on Saturday with a 37-7 win over the Prairie Wolf Pack. With the win, the Blues finish with a record of 4-0 at the Canadian Rugby Championship in Truro, Nova Scotia and secure the title of Canadian Senior Women’ Rugby Champions!

In Game 1, the Blues met the host Nova Scotia Keltics. The strong Ontario side put on an offensive clinic against the team from Nova Scotia, winning the match 57-0.

In their second match, the Blues took on a strong Quebec side. In both of their first games, the Blues and Quebec put up high offensive numbers and many dubbed the match between the two eastern rivals as the most anticipated of the tournament. The defending champion Quebec side came out flying against the Blues, providing much of the offense in the initial half of the first frame. The Blues defense stood strong, though and when momentum swung in their way, the Ontario side took advantage. The Blues defeated Quebec 15-0.

In the Blues’ third game, they met the British Columbia Bears. The first half was back and forth, as the Blues conceded their first points of the tournament. With a try and a penalty kick, the Blues were up by just one point (8-7) at half time. In the second half, the Blues took control, as they scored three more tries, winning the game by a score of 25-7.

The final match saw the Blues match up against the Prairie Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack came into the match with confidence after a victory over the Nova Scotia Keltics. The Blues continued their defensively sound play in the first half, not allowing a single point in the first 35 minutes. The Blues led at half 25-0. It was much of the same for the Blues in the second half, as they scored two tries and converted one. The Wolf Pack added a try of their own early in the half, but couldn’t swing the momentum in their favour. Final score of the match was Blues 37 – 7 Prairie Wolf Pack.

With the Championship win, the Blues avenged place finish to Quebec in last year’s tournament. Congratulations to the players and staff on a great Canadian Rugby Championship campaign!

ONTARIO BLUES SENIOR WOMEN'S ROSTER - 2017 CANADIAN RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Emily Barber - Aurora Barbarians
Nikki Case - Toronto Scottish
Lauren Congdon - Aurora Barbarians
Louise Chen - Aurora Barbarians
Zana Everett - Brockville Sirens
Becca Gannon - Aurora Barbarians
Veronica Harrigan - London St. George's
McKinley Hunt - Aurora Barbarians
Colleen Irowa - Toronto Saracens
Melanie Judges - Ottawa Irish
Daria Keane - Guelph Redcoats
Lauren McEwen - Kingston Panthers
Fedelia Omoghan - Toronto Saracens
Tobi Owotomo - Toronto Saracens
Megan Pakulis - Toronto Saracens
Irene Patrinos - Ottawa Irish
Emily Ricketts - Crusaders
Julia Schell - Oshawa Vikings
Natasha Smith - Barrhaven Scottish/Cowichan RFC
Ashley Snider - Waterloo County
Sara Svoboda - Belleville Bulldogs
Lauren Walkden - Crusaders
Saffara Whiteley-Hoffelner - Aurora Barbarians
Petra Woods - Toronto Saracens
INJURY RESERVE LIST
Kristina DeLosReyes - Brampton Beavers
Mackenzie Higgs - Aurora Barbarians
Olivia Merritt - Barrhaven Scottish
Raquel Rose- London St. George's
Danielle Spice - London St. George's
Maddy Seatle - Crusaders
COACHING STAFF
Head Coach - Sonia Sennik
Assistant Coach - Stuart McReynolds
Video Analysis - Tom McLeod
Skills Coach / High Performance Manager – David Butcher
Program Manager - Val Swift

ABOUT THE ONTARIO BLUES

The Ontario Blues program is the high performance representative program for male and female rugby players in Ontario. Rugby Ontario is represented at the provincial level by the Ontario Blues High Performance program. The program includes representative teams from Under-15 to Senior in both Women’s and Men’s Fifteens. Specifically, the program is designed to develop and showcase rugby players for Canadian representative national teams.

ABOUT RUGBY ONTARIO

Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to establish a stronger identity for rugby in Ontario by promoting the sport’s core values and by fostering a culture of inclusiveness and excellence on and off the field of play.

To learn more, visit https://www.rugbyontario.com/