A decisive win over a surprise opponent gave the Cowichan Rugby Football Club’s U16 girls team the gold medal at a sevens tournament in Kamloops last weekend.
“The group of 14 girls that went to Kamloops won their first of many gold medals, I would say,” Cowichan coach Sherry Spence commented. “They are a young U16 team and have so much talent, and are very committed to learning and working hard.”
Cowichan was supposed to face Abbotsford in the championship final, but Abbotsford had sustained too many injuries in round-robin play and had to back out, opening a spot for the Kootenay team.
The Cowichan girls had finished second behind Abbotsford in pool play, with only two losses. Saturday saw Cowichan beat Prince George, Capilano and Salmon Arm before losing 19-15 to Abbotsford at the end of the day.
Sunday started off with another close loss as Kootenay beat Cowichan 15-12, but Cowichan rebounded from that to beat Bayside and earn a berth in the gold-medal match.
Facing one of the two teams that had defeated them in the round robin, Cowichan won the rematch 29-5 thanks to two tries by Maxine O’Leary and one each by Mia Eagar, Jaxon Baker and Deanna Cvitanovich. Cvitanovich also slotted a convert.
Eagar was named tournament MVP.
“Mia is such a powerful runner and is always exciting to watch,” Spence said.
The Cowichan club also sent three U18 players to Kamloops, where they suited up for the Comox Kickers.
“That division was very experienced and the ladies didn’t end up where they would have liked to in the standings but the three Cowichan players had awesome tournaments,” Spence said.
A group of Cowichan U14 players also competed as part of a North Island team.
“This was such a great experience for these young rugby players, and again this group of girls are first-year u14s playing against some teams that are on the older side of u14,” Spence noted. “The girls didn’t end up winning, but there were some standout moments from each of the girls.”
The junior girls will now move to the XVs portion of the season, beginning with a home game against Nanaimo at noon on Sunday.