Despite a bus breakdown and a 15-minute warm-up, Cowichan's women's rugby team managed a close game against Kamloops in the battle for first place in the province last weekend, and almost certainly would have won if they'd had a kicker in their midst.
The team had an early start to the day, and was making good time in the bus until they ended up sidelined on the Coquihalla Highway when smoke started puffing out of the back of the bus.
"We thought we had to forfeit the game, but thankfully the tow truck driver was able to fix the bus enough to get us back on the road," Cowichan captain Sherry Spence said.
Arriving in Kamloops with enough time for a brief warm-up, Cowichan managed to score six tries in the game, but had no one to kick converts.
"If you scored, you had to kick," Spence said. "[We had] a few close dropkicks, but none that went over."
Brandi Van Eeuwen and Carolyn Gudmundseth scored twice, and Jessica Wilton and Stacey Collison each had one try. Gudmundseth and Spence were named Players of the Game.
The loss dropped Cowichan into second place in the BC First Division, just behind Kamloops, but the team will still have home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Cowichan will host Maple Ridge in the B. C. semifinals this Saturday at 11: 30 a. m.