Missing many players this past Saturday, the Comox Valley Kickers women’s team hosted Port Alberni Black Sheep in Vancouver Island Senior Women rugby action.
Having to play one girl down due to injury automatically gave Port Alberni the advantage, and it took Comox a few minutes to adapt to the game. Jane Cruttenden from Port Alberni found her way through the gaps on the feild and scored the first try. From that point it didn’t take long for Comox to get into it and make their way down the field. With great offloading on the Kickers side, winger Michelle Hamilton was able to outrun Port Alberni defence – even with her ankle injury. – to make the score 7-5.
An overlap and missed tackles allowed Port Alberni’s Krystal Tourangeau and Keanna Mullen to both score trys. Scrums were dominated by Comox, and the pressure from scrumhalf Allison Bligh made it difficult for Port Alberni to get a clean ball out.
Comox hooker, Lindsay Mallette, scored for Comox driving through Port Alberni's defence. Comox ran the ball down the field again, with the back line working well together. Taking advantage of Port Alberni pinching in on their try line, inside centre Lisa Breuer ran the ball to the outside corner. Try given.
Being down only four points, the Kickers kept up the pressure. With only a few minutes left Port Alberni captain Cruttenden chip-kicked the ball over Comox’s defence and scored the final try in a 28-17 Black Sheep victory.
“The Comox girls did great today," said Aimee Burley. "It was such a tight race for being short a player. There had to be some changes in the roster for today but they have been working hard at practice, especially our backs and today it really showed.”
Man of the Match honours went to Meghan Clarkston and Lisa Breuer.
LINEOUTS The Comox Valley Kickers women’s team would like to thank their sponsor IG Insurance without whom women’s rugby would not flourish in the Valley ... VISW standings in Scoreboard on B13 ...
– Comox Valley Kickers