The Crew held off another challenge from the Blue Steel Brew to win the Top Flight division at Sun Bowl XXXII and complete the Triple Crown of Cowichan women’s football.
BSB were the only team to beat the Crew during the Cowichan Women’s Football League regular season, but the Crew still emerged as regular-season champions. BSB then gave the Crew a challenge in the CWFL final, but the Crew prevailed there 44-18. The teams met again in the final at Sun Bowl last Sunday, and this time the Crew won 7-0 in a defensive showdown.
“This years Sun Bowl tournament was truly up for grabs,” the Crew’s Janelle Mould said. “We had some really tight games but found our way to win. We couldn’t be happier with the win. Pulling out the triple title season sure feels good.”
The Crew was bolstered for Sun Bowl by the addition of Dani Robb, who combined with fellow rugby product Nenagh McCulloch to give the team a young one-two punch on defence.
“[Robb] had never played football before the weekend,” Mould noted. “She put pressure on the quarterbacks and it allowed us to use Nenagh’s speed and aggressiveness on the inside. Thank god for young people with speed. And both great people, so coachable.”
Crew quarterback Jackie Harrison was named tournament MVP.
“I was quite shocked that I was chosen out of so many great players that were at the tournament,” she said. “I love the game of football and was lucky enough to have a couple of great coaches over the past 17-ish years to help me understand the game.
“I’ve also been fortunate enough to have several amazing receivers that make me look good too,” Harrison added with a laugh.
Sun Bowl organizer Chris Mann acknowledged that the event’s name missed the mark a little this time around.
“It was a bit of a Drizzle Bowl this year,” he said. “Yet everyone had a great time. The weather really was ideal for playing football and especially that many games.”
The tournament drew 17 teams this season, including several from Victoria and Vancouver, but CWFL teams swept the three division finals. Moo’s Law beat the Vancouver Sirens 14-0 to take the Almost Top Flight division, while the Winter Trucking Storm won the Grounded final 13-0 over the Vancouver Kaos.
Rikki Wylie of the Shehawks, Jaimie Olson of the Law and Amy Acheson of the Xtreme shared Outstanding Offensive Player honours, while the Crew’s Marilou Sullivan was named Best Defensive Player along with Ajia Salvador of the Dragons and Diana Lay-Bourgeot of the Pink Panthers. BSB was named Most Sportsmanlike Team, while the Victoria Dragons won the Spirit Award for their tribute to the Swarm, one of the original teams from Sun Bowl I.
Mann also had special thanks for the City of Duncan Parks crew for maintaining McAdam and Rotary parks, Riot Brewing for operating the beer gardens, Cowichan Minor Football for running the concession stand, and the referees for their contributions. Sun Bowl T-shirt and koozie sales raised more than $1,500 for the family of former ref Peewee Klaassen, who died earlier this spring.
“Bruce Klaassen was a ref for our tournament for many years and was missed by everyone for his outstanding job on the field and his friendly smile and great attitude off the field,” Mann said.