A crucial try by Cowichan Secondary School star Hannah Morten helped B.C.'s U18 women's rugby team capture the Canadian title, one of four gold medals won by the province at the National Championship Festival that wrapped up in Calgary last Sunday.
B.C's U18 women were trailing defending champions Ontario 7-0 at halftime of the final game, but Morten's try and a conversion by teammate Chantal Maclean forced overtime, and Maclean won the game with a penalty goal.
Morten was one of several Cowichan Valley products on the B.C. U18 women's team, joined by her co-captain Nicole Crowley, former Cow High teammate Adrienne Saari, and Brentwood College players Ciel Arbour-Boehme, Jenn Lemon, Brooklyn Navarrete and Avi Sharabi.
Also winning gold were the U18 men's team, which included Shawnigan Lake School graduate Wesley Wong, the U16 men's BC 1 team, which included Cow High's Kyle Joe, and the U17 men, who topped the field in the U18 men's Tier 2 tournament.
The U16 women's team, with Valley products McKenzie Saysell and McKenna Haz, claimed the silver medal in their tournament, while the U16 men's BC 2 team, which included Alex Hedley, Karl Mattison, Connor McGarry, Nicholas Mouret and Seth Purdey, finished fourth in their tournament.