UBC Win National Title in Women’s University Rugby
It was the first women’s rugby national title for a BC university and hence the first title for UBC. UVic are silver medalists for the second year in a row. After high scoring matches all week, the final was a defensive contest with only one try scored.
The match video and match report from USports is posted below.
Match Report
Thunderbirds fend off Vikes to take home first national banner
A second half try by UBC’s Charity Williams lifted the Thunderbirds to an 8-3 victory over the Victoria Vikes to capture the gold at the 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship in Charlottetown.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring early when Savannah Bauder converted on a penalty just four minutes into the game, giving UBC a 3-0 lead.
Both teams struggled to establish offensive momentum. With UBC repeatedly penalized for infringements, providing Victoria with multiple opportunities. However, Victoria couldn’t capitalize, as a missed penalty goal attempt by Vanessa Chiappetta in the 10th minute kept the Vikes off the board.
In a first half that saw Victoria dominate possession, both sides had their moments but were held scoreless by staunch defensive efforts. UBC’s Rachel Smith notably held up Maddy Grant over the goal line late in the half, preserving the Thunderbirds’ slim lead as they went into halftime up 3-0.The second half mirrored the defensive struggle of the first until the 65th minute, when UBC’s Charity Williams found a gap on the right side and crossed the line for the game’s first and only try. Bauder’s missed conversion left the score at 8-0.Victoria narrowed the gap shortly after with a successful penalty goal by Chiappetta in the 68th minute but couldn’t break through UBC’s defense in the closing stages.
With the victory, the Thunderbirds claim their first national title in program history, while the Vikes earned their second-straight silver medal, tying their program’s top tournament finish.
Players of the Game
UBC: Jordan McLeod
Victoria: Maddy Grant
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: UPEI
TOURNAMENT MVP: Rachel Smith (UBC)
Scoring Summary
First Half
4′ – UBC PENALTY GOAL – Savannah Bauder 3-0
Halftime – UBC 3 VICTORIA 0
Second Half
65′ – UBC TRY – Charity Williams (CONV missed by Savannah Bauder) 8-0
68′ – VICTORIA PENALTY GOAL – Vanessa Chiappetta 8-3
Final Score – UBC 8 VICTORIA 3
Tournament All-Star team
Sophie McDonald (OTT)
Jordan McLeod (UBC)
Alysia Comtois (OTT)
Izzy Page (QUE)
Ketsia Kamba (OTT)
Brooklyn Feasby (GUE)
Siobhan Sheerin (QUE)
Rachel Smith (UBC)
Justine Blatt-Janmatt (VIC)
Savannah Bauder (UBC)
Adia Pye (UBC)
Lizzie Gibson (QUE)
Maddy Grant (VIC)
Maya Addai (VIC)
Carissa Norsten (VIC)
Gold Medal Match
UBC and UVic Through to Finals at Women’s National University Championships
A BC university has never won the women’s university rugby title, it’s a strange fact considering a BC university has never lost a men’s university rugby title. However on Sunday two BC universities will compete for the women’s rugby title assuring that history is made.
UVic have been the giant slayers, first dispatching #2 Laval in the quarter-finals and today dispatching #1 Queen’s in the semi-finals, 17-14. UBC have had an easier route being the higher ranked team going into the competition, they defeated host PEI in the quarters and today made short work of Ottawa, 47-17.
UVic v Queen’s Match Video
UBC v Ottawa Match Video
Match Report UBC v Ottawa
UBC Thunderbirds down Ottawa, secure berth in U SPORTS championship
Charity Williams and Adia Pye each scored a pair of tries to propel their UBC Thunderbirds to a 47-17 semifinal win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees 47-17 at 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship in Charlottetown.UBC dominated early, with Charity Williams breaking through the Gee-Gees defense in the 9th minute to score the game’s first try, followed by Savannah Bauder’s conversion. Minutes later, Adia Pye scored a 60-metre try, putting UBC up 14-0.
Ottawa fought back in the 19th minute, as Emma Wade scored following a well-executed ruck, but the conversion attempt was blocked, keeping the score at 14-5. UBC’s defense held firm, leading 14-5 at the break.
The second half opened with another Williams try, converted by Bauder to extend UBC’s lead to 21-5. Pye added her second try shortly after, and UBC surged ahead 26-5. Although Sophie McDonald crossed the try line for Ottawa in the 43rd minute, UBC responded quickly with a penalty try and another score by Kiki Idowu, solidifying their control.
In the 57th minute, both teams saw yellow cards, one for Ottawa’s Victoria Hough and another for UBC’s Vela Baravian. Ottawa managed another try through Anna Dodge, but UBC’s Vela Baravian sealed the win with a try in the 68th minute.
The Thunderbirds advance to the Gold Medal game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, taking on the winner of Queen’s and Victoria, while Ottawa will play for Bronze at 12 p.m. ET.
Players of the Game
Ottawa: Sophie McDonald
UBC: Rachel Smith
Scoring Summary:
9′ – UBC Try: Charity Williams (Savannah Bauder convert)
12′ – UBC Try: Adia Pye (Bauder convert)
19′ – Ottawa Try: Emma Wade (conversion failed)
37′ – UBC Try: Charity Williams (Bauder convert)
39′ – UBC Try: Adia Pye (conversion failed)
43′ – Ottawa Try: Sophie McDonald (Victoria Hough convert)
47′ – UBC Penalty Try
53′ – UBC Try: Kiki Idowu (Bauder convert)
58′ – Ottawa Try: Anna Dodge (conversion failed)
68′ – UBC Try: Vela Baravian (Brooklyn Roddham convert)
Match Report UVic v Queen’s
UVIC sets up all-Canada West final defeating Queen’s 17-14
A second-half try by Vanessa Chiappetta helped the Victoria Vikes survive a late push from the Queen’s Gaels and secure a 17-14 win in the semifinal, punching their ticket to the gold-medal final of the 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship in Charlottetown.
Victoria struck first, with Maddie Grant breaking multiple tackles to score a try in the 12th minute. However, Queen’s responded shortly after as Siobhan Sherrin grounded the ball following a series of disciplined phases near the Vikes’ try line. Lizzie Gibson’s conversion gave the Gaels a slim 7-5 lead.Victoria regained control late in the first half with a try from Chloe Hill-Huse off a well-executed lineout play. Vanessa Chiappetta’s conversion pushed the Vikes ahead, 12-7, at halftime.
The second half saw Victoria extend their lead when Chiappetta capped off a cross-field drive with a try near the right-hand flag in the 43rd minute. Although her conversion missed, the Vikes held a 17-7 advantage.
Queen’s mounted a comeback with Sherrin’s second try at the 61st minute, and Gibson’s conversion brought the Gaels within three points. Despite a strong final push, Queen’s couldn’t penetrate Victoria’s defense, with a late penalty sealing their fate. Chiappetta’s kicking proved inconsistent in windy conditions, but her scoring contributions were pivotal for the Vikes.
The Victoria Vikes will face the UBC Thunderbirds on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET in the gold medal game, while Queen’s will play Ottawa for bronze at 12 p.m. ET.
Players of the game
Victoria: Justine Blatt-Janmaat
Queen’s: Lizzie Gibson
SCORING SUMMARY
First Half
12′ – VICTORIA Try: Maddie Grant (Conversion missed) – VICTORIA 5-0 QUEEN’S
24′ – QUEEN’S Try: Siobhan Sherrin (Conversion by Lizzie Gibson) – QUEEN’S 7-5 VICTORIA
31′ – VICTORIA Try: Chloe Hill-Huse (Conversion by Vanessa Chiappetta) – VICTORIA 12-7 QUEEN’S
Halftime
Victoria 12, Queen’s 7
Second Half
43′ – VICTORIA Try: Vanessa Chiappetta (Conversion missed) – VICTORIA 17-7 QUEEN’S
61′ – QUEEN’S Try: Siobhan Sherrin (Conversion by Lizzie Gibson) – VICTORIA 17-14 QUEEN’S
UBC and UVic Through to Semi-Finals of Women’s National University Championships: Match Videos
Two time defending champions Laval Rouge et Or have been knocked out of the championship race by the UVic Vikes who defeated Laval 28-14. UBC breezed through their quarter-finals with a 67-7 win over over host UPEI.
The semi-finals on Friday will see the Vikes take on top ranked Queen’s while UBC face Ottawa. The videos for each quarter-final match are posted below. The UBC v Ottawa match is 1pm ADT (9am PDT) and the UVic v Queen’s match is 3pm ADT (11am PDT).
Semi-final bracket
Pre-tournament rankings
UBC 67 – UPEI 7
UVic 28 – Laval 14
Ottawa 17 – Guelph 12
Queen’s 68 – Acadia 0
UVic Match Report from USports
Victoria stuns top-seeded Laval in women’s rugby quarterfinal upset
The No. 8-seeded Victoria Vikes upset top-seeded Laval Rouge et Or 28-14 in a thrilling quarterfinal clash at the Cavendish Farms U SPORTS women’s rugby championship Thursday at the UPEI Turf Field.
Victoria wasted no time asserting themselves, with Maddy Grant scoring an early try in the ninth minute. Vanessa Chiapetta followed up with a successful conversion, putting the Vikes ahead 7-0.
Moments later, Grant struck again, pushing the Vikes further ahead with a second try from five metres out. Chiapetta’s reliable foot made it 14-0 in favour of the Vikes.The Vikes continued their surge, with Carissa Norsten breaking through Laval’s defensive line in the 24th minute to add a third try. Chiapetta nailed her third conversion of the game, giving Victoria a commanding 21-0 lead at halftime.
Despite a brief rain shower as the second half began, the Vikes maintained their momentum. Chiapetta showcased her versatility in the 44th minute, scoring a try of her own on the left side and following it up with another successful conversion to extend Victoria’s lead to 28-0.
Laval attempted to rally, orchestrating a promising drive in the 52nd minute, only for Victoria’s defense to intercept and halt their advance. The Rouge et Or managed to get on the scoreboard in the 54th and 69thminute, with two tries from Anne Lamothe to bring the score to 28-14, but it was too late for a comeback.
With this win, Victoria advances to the semifinals and will face the winner of the Acadia-Queen’s quarterfinal, while Laval moves to the consolation bracket, bringing an early end to their title defense.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Laval: Alice Théberge
Vikes: Maddy Grant
Scoring Summary
UVIC – 9′ – Maddy Grant, Vanessa Chiapetta convert (UVIC 7-0)
UVIC 17′ – Maddy Grant, Vanessa Chiapetta convert (UVIC 14-0)
UVIC 24’ Carissa Norsten , Vanessa Chiapetta (UVIC 21-0)
UVIC 44’ – Vanessa Chiapetta, Vanessa Chiapetta convert (UVIC 28-0)
LAV 54’- Anne Lamothe, Adele Samson Convert (UVIC 28-7)
LAV 69’- Anne Lamothe, Adele Samson Convert (UVIC 28-14)
UBC Match Report from USports
UBC powers past Panthers to U SPORTS semi-final
The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds surged past the University of Prince Edward Island Panthers 67-7 in the second quarterfinal of the 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS women’s rugby championship on Thursday at Canada Games Alumni Stadium. UBC, ranked second, asserted control from the outset, with Rachel Smith opening the scoring in the fifth minute.
The Thunderbirds quickly added to their lead with tries from Brooklyn Roddham, Olivia Sarabura, and Mya Koleba, creating a 27-0 gap within the first 20 minutes. Roddham, pivotal in UBC’s success, scored 19 points through two tries and four conversions. Smith was also a standout, tallying 15 points with three tries in the 5th, 35th, and 44th minutes.
Other key contributors included Sarabura with two tries for 10 points and Lana Dueck and Adia Pye, each adding five points with a single try. UPEI’s lone response came in the 32nd minute from Emily Duffy, with Charlotte Branchflower converting to make it 34-7 at halftime. UBC continued to dominate in the second half, with Roddham sealing the victory in the 66th minute, bringing her personal total to 19 points in the match. The Thunderbirds’ offensive firepower saw them secure a convincing 67-7 win.
With the victory, UBC advances to Friday’s semifinal against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, while UPEI will face the Guelph Gryphons in the consolation bracket.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
UBC: Brooklyn Roddham
UPEI: Mia Fradsham
Scoring Summary
UBC – Rachel Smith 5’ (UBC 5-0)
UBC – Brooklyn Roddham 11’, Savannah Bauder convert (UBC 12-0)
UBC – Olivia Sarabura 13’ (UBC 17-0)
UBC – Mya Koleba 16’ (UBC 22-0)
UBC – Brooklyn Roddham 19’ (UBC 27-0)
UBC – Olivia Sarabura 29’, Brooklyn Roddham convert (UBC 34-0)
UPEI – Emily Duffy 32’, Charlotte Branchflower convert (UBC 34-7)
UBC – Rachel Smith 35’ (UBC 39-7)
UBC – Lana Dueck 41’, Brooklyn Roddham convert (UBC 46-7)
UBC – Rachel Smith 44’, Brooklyn Roddham convert (UBC 53-7)
UBC – Adia Pye 48’ (UBC 60-7)
UBC – Brooklyn Roddham 66’ (UBC 67-7)