Girls Rugby Finals

The Carson Graham Eagles are flying high once again, thanks to a dramatic 11-10 win over defending AAA Division champions, GP Vanier Towhees, in the Provincial Final on Saturday in Kamloops.

Following a convincing win over South Kamloops in the opening round of the provincial playoffs, the Eagles were tested by Semiahmoo in Thursday’s semi-final/

In doing so they managed to come away with a exhilarating 13-8 overtime victory to set up their shot at a provincial championship.

In the final, Devan Baker’s try with under five minutes to play proved to be the decisive marker, as the Eagles were able to see off a furious late push from the Towhees – my old school stomping grounds in Courtenay.

The win marks a return to the pinnacle of AAA Girls’ Rugby for the Eagles, who last won the title in 2012.   “It was an awe inspiring weekend for the Team,” said Eagles Coach, Brad Baker. “The girls have been battling hard to raise their level of game prior to the tournament.

After beating Semiahmoo in double overtime in the semi-final, the girls were determined to take it to the next level. The staff asked the girls to dig deep and feel the pride of wearing the Carson Graham jersey.

We only had 3 grade 12’s on the field and a grade 9 starting at hook – we needed them all to play for each other and they did. The motto for the week was to always remember that the jersey that you put on is for you to represent all the girls that have played for Carson Graham in the past.”

In the AA Division, Shawnigan Lake School looked confident in all three of their playoff matches, notching a 34-7 win over Abbotsford in the final.

The victory came on the heels of a massive 64-17 win over the defending 2015 champions from Brentwood College School in the semi-final.

The Girl’s AA title formed part of a hugely successful weekend for the Stags, whose Junior Varsity Boys and Senior Boys both won titles in their respective provincial championships over the weekend as well.

The Kamloops rugby faithful equally had cause to celebrate, as the home-town NorKam Secondary Saints dispatched the Armada from Alberni District Secondary School by a score of 35-17 in the Division 2 Final.

“Our team relied on two things this year – pure grit up the middle and outside speed,” said Saints Coach Susan Kabotoff. “We had a small team and small numbers but in the end, we were able to play our game. We couldn’t be more proud.”

Day 3 Results – championship round

AAA

1st / 2nd: Carson Graham 11-10 GP Vanier

3rd / 4th: Yale defeat Semiahmoo

5th / 6th: Cowichan defeat Earl Marriott

7th / 8th South Kamloops 27-22 Salmon Arm

AA


1st / 2nd: Shawnigan Lake 34-7 Abbotsford

3rd / 4th: Lake City 44-5 Brentwood

5th / 6th: Robert Bateman 44-15 Valleyview

7th / 8th: Houston 51-0 Westsyde

Tier 2 

1st / 2nd: Norkam 35-17 Alberni

3rd / 4th: Mission 25-5 Gleneagle

5th / 6th: Handsworth 37-10 Merritt

7th / 8th: Smithers 29-0 Duchess Park

Day 2 Results – semi-final round

AAA

Cowichan 68–22 South Kamloops

Carson Graham 13–8 Semiahmoo

GP Vanier 32–25 Yale

Earl Marriott 29–10 Salmon Arm

AA

Shawnigan 64–17

Brentwood Valleyview 29-5 Houston

Robert Bateman 44–12 Westsyde Abbotsford 31–26 Lake City   Tier 2 Alberni 38–22

Gleaneagle Handsworth 60–5 Duchess Park Norkam 24–5 Mission

Day 1 results: quarter-finals

AAA Carson Graham 83-10 South Kamloops

Yale 50–5 Salmon Arm

GP Vanier 34–10 Earl Marriott

Semiahmoo 20–5 Cowichan

AA

Abbotsford 59-0 Westsyde

Shawnigan Lake 91-5 Houston

Brentwood 21-17 Valleyview

Lake City 22-15 Robert Bateman

Tier 2 Mission 54-0 Duchess Park

Alberni 60-20 Smithers

Norkam 39-5 Handsworth

Gleneagle 45-5 Merritt

Thanks to Brendan Munro, Communications Manager – BC Rugby for the info.