After going 1-2 in the Vancouver Island exhibition season, the Cowichan Rugby Football Club's senior women's team opened the province-wide First Division regular season last Saturday by beating their arch-rivals, the Nanaimo Hornets 51-14 at Piggie Park.
It helped to have the team at full-strength.
"Cowichan brought out a full squad this time, and it showed on the score board," captain Sherry Spence said.
Six different players recorded points for Cowichan, led by Carolyn Gudmundseth, who had four tries. Rebecca Kerswell had two tries and two converts, Quinn Battie, Amoray Aloisi and Jenna Bugden scored one try apiece, and Michelle Moore kicked one convert.
"A tough game nonetheless," Spence said. "A lot of big hits and hard running by both sides. It was Cowichan's great off-loading in tacking and strong rucking that won them the game." The defending provincial First Division champions, Cowichan will head to Kelowna this Saturday for their first road game.