Rugby 7s: UBC leads after day one, three-way battle for second takes shape

Recap by Aly Andersen, UofA Athletics

EDMONTON - Protected from the elements, six teams from Canada West hit the field running for Day 1 of action on Saturday inside the Dome at Foote Field for the first of three Canada West Rugby 7s tournaments.

The two-time reigning Canada West Rugby 7s Champion UBC Thunderbirds sit comfortably atop the standings going 3-0. At the same time, the Trinity Western Spartans, Victoria Vikes and Alberta Pandas found themselves in a three-way tie for second with matching 2-1 records.

Leading their way to success for the Thunderbirds was a line-up enriched with skill as eight players inked their names on the scoresheet, seven of whom scored tries in their 41-5 win over the Calgary Dinos in round two. Second-year T-Bird Adia Pye took charge with five total tries in the afternoon to lead all players while teammates Skye Farish and Kiki Idowu each added four on the day.

Highlighting Day 1 of action was the TWU Spartans upsetting the Victoria Vikes, taking down the typical rugby powerhouse in a 12-5 victory thanks to consistent defence, limited mistakes and a blistering fast second-half effort by veteran Danika Dool for the game-winning try.

In an exciting end to the day, the Vikes were pressed by the Dinos as Bomi Lawal found the endzone with two unanswered tries to put the Dinos ahead early in the second half. Makayla Joseph followed suit to increase the Dinos lead. However, not going down easy, Kira Peary secured her third try of the afternoon for the Vikes to close the gap before teammate Remee Brown completed the late comeback with 39 seconds remaining on the clock to avoid a second upset loss.

Keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats, the Vikes, Spartans and Pandas will have their work cut out for them on Day 2 as they chase the Thunderbirds. The Pandas and Spartans will spar in the final round of action on Sunday, while the Vikes will take on their West Coast rivals, the Thunderbirds, to close out the tournament.

All teams will cap off group play tomorrow, with Dinos and Spartans opening Day 2 of excitement at 10:00 a.m. MST with the final round of action beginning at 12:38 p.m. MST.

RUGBY 7s STANDINGS

* Win - 4 Points / Draw - 2 Points / Loss - 1 Point / No Show - 0 points

ROUND 1

Game 1: UBC Thunderbirds (40) vs Lethbridge Pronghorns (5)

Scoring Summary:

UBC try - #11 Adia Pye (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 7-0 UBC

UBC try - #7 Skye Farish (convert missed) 12-0 UBC

UBC try - #1 Kiki Idowu (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 19-0 UBC

LET try - #6 Zina Umeh (convert missed) 19-5 UBC

HALF

UBC try - #1 Kiki Idowu (#12 Lana Dueck convert) ​ 26-5 UBC

UBC try - #11 Adia Pye (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 33-5 UBC

UBC try - #15 Shalaya Valenzuela (#12 Lana Dueck convert) ​ 40-5 UBC

Game 2: Trinity Western Spartans (12) vs Victoria Vikes (5)

Scoring Summary:

TWU try - #7 Kelsa Kempf (convert missed) 5-0 TWU

VIC try - #7 Shaye Ogurek (convert missed) 5-5

HALF

TWU try - #3 Danika Dool (#4 Issy Scholtens) 12-5 TWU

Game 3: Alberta Pandas (26) vs Calgary Dinos (0)

Scoring Summary:

ALB try - #12 Kate Alcock (#12 Kate Alcock convert) 7-0 ALB

ALB try - #9 Stephanie Hovdestad (#12 Kate Alcock convert) 14-0 ALB

ALB try - #20 Helena Linklater (#12 Kate Alcock convert) 21-0 ALB

HALF

ALB try - #24 Emilee Randolph (convert missed) 26-0 ALB

ROUND 2

Game 4: Trinity Western Spartans (31) vs Lethbridge Pronghorns (7)

Scoring Summary:

TWU try - #15 Hailey Hibbs (#4 Issy Scholtens convert) 7-0 TWU

TWU try - #5 Jenna DeGreef (convert missed) 12-0 TWU

LET try - #6 Zina Umeh (#6 Zina Umeh convert) 12-7 TWU

HALF

TWU try - #6 Ava VanSanten (convert missed) 17-7 TWU

TWU try - #3 Danika Dool (#4 Issy Scholtens convert) 24-7 TWU

TWU try - #5 Jenna DeGreef (#5 Jenna DeGreef convert) 31-7 TWU

Game 5: UBC Thunderbirds (41) vs Calgary Dinos (5)

Scoring Summary:

CGY try - #14 Bomi Lawal (convert missed) 5-0 CGY

UBC try - #10 Tia Jordo (#7 Skye Farish convert) 7-5 UBC

UBC try - #1 Kiki Idowu (convert missed) 12-5 UBC

UBC try - #15 Shalaya Valenzuela (convert missed) 17-5 UBC

HALF

UBC try - #11 Adia Pye (#7 Skye Farish convert) 24-5 UBC

UBC try - #7 Skye Farish convert (convert missed) 29-5 UBC

UBC try - #14 Brooke Roddham (convert missed) 34-5 UBC

UBC try - #6 Mya Koleba (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 41-5 UBC

Game 6: Victoria Vikes (31) vs Alberta Pandas (5)

Scoring Summary:

VIC try - #6 Vanessa Chiappetta (#6 Vanessa Chiappetta convert) 7-0 VIC

VIC try - #4 Kira Peary (#6 Vanessa Chiappetta convert) 14-0 VIC

ALB try - #24 Emilee Randolph (convert missed) 14-5 VIC

HALF

VIC try - #7 Shaye Ogurek (#6 Vanessa Chiappetta convert) 21-5 VIC

VIC try - #4 Kira Peary (convert missed) 26-5 VIC

VIC try - #11 Macie Wiebe (convert missed) 31-5 VIC

ROUND 3

Game 7: UBC Thunderbirds (34) vs Trinity Western Spartans (7)

Scoring Summary:

UBC try - #10 Tia Jordo (convert missed) 5-0 UBC

UBC try - #10 Tia Jordo (convert missed) 10-0 UBC

UBC try - #11 Adia Pye (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 17-0 UBC

HALF

UBC try - #11 Adia Pye (#12 Lana Dueck convert) 24-0 UBC

TWU try - #5 Jenna Degreef (#4 Issy Scholtens convert) 24-7 UBC

UBC try - #1 Kiki Idowu (convert missed) 29-7 UBC

UBC try - #14 Brooke Roddham (convert missed) 34-7 UBC

Game 8: Alberta Pandas (26) vs Lethbridge Pronghorns (12)

Scoring Summary:

ALB try - #3 Bea Herrerra (#12 Kate Alcock convert) 7-0 ALB

ALB try - #2 Maria Sawiak (#12 Kate Alcock convert) 14-0 ALB

ALB try - #15 Riley Reid (convert missed) 19-0 ALB

HALF

LET try - #3 Mackenzie Hutten (convert missed) 19-5 ALB

LET try - #6 Zina Umeh (#6 Zina Umeh convert) 19-12 ALB

ALB try - #7 Keira Skrenek (#7 Keira Skrenek convert) 24-12 ALB

Game 9: Victoria Vikes (19) vs Calgary Dinos (15)

Scoring Summary:

VIC try - #12 Gwynnie Fry (#13 Elle Douglas convert) 7-0 VIC

CGY try - #14 Bomi Lawal (convert missed) 7-5 VIC

HALF

CGY try - #14 Bomi Lawal (convert missed) 10-7 CGY

CGY try - #13 Makayla Joseph (convert missed) 15-7 CGY

VIC try - #4 Kira Peary (#6 Vanessa Chiappetta convert) 15-14 CGY

VIC try - #14 Remee Brown (convert missed) 19-14 VIC