November 8, 2004

Western wins CIS women's rugby championship

The Mustangs, which upset five-time defending champion Alberta in the semi-final round, captured the Molinex Trophy with a 12-8 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues at the 2004 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship on Sunday afternoon.

Western claims a first CIS title since winning the men's hockey and women's track and field championships in 2001-02.

The Mustangs are only the third team to bring home the CIS women's rugby banner since the inception of the championship in 1998. The Guelph Gryphons had claimed the inaugural tournament before the Pandas went on their five-year winning streak.

The Varsity Blues were making their second appearance at the women's rugby nationals. They finished sixth in 2002.

Western's Sarah DeLeeuw, from Barrie, Ont. was named most valuable player of the tournament. The third-year flyhalf, who converted one try in the final, scored 13 points on one try and four converts over the weekend.

One week after defeating Toronto 28-7 in the OUA final, the Mustangs built a 12-3 halftime lead and were able to hold on for the historical victory.

All-Canadian Barbara Mervin (Peterborough, Ont.) gave Western a 5-0 lead, but Shannon Smith (Montreal) brought the Blues to within two points with a penalty goal. Sophomore Cassandra Emmett (Brantford, Ont.) made it 12-3 Mustangs after 40 minutes with a try, which was converted by DeLeeuw.

Fullback Lindsay Bernrot (Mississauga, Ont.) reached the end zone for Toronto in the second half to round out the scoring.

Player-of-the-game honours went to Rachel Park (Shakespeare, Ont.) for Western, and Robyn Waher (Niagara Falls, Ont.) for Toronto.

Tournament all-stars

MVP: Sarah DeLeeuw, Western

Prop - Allison Lamoureux, Western Prop - Summer Yeo, Alberta Hooker - Ashley MacDonald, UPEI Lock - Dianna Berezowski, Alberta Lock - Megan Gibbs, Western Flanker - Jill Martin, Alberta Flanker - Leigh Nevermann, Toronto #8 - Barbara Mervin, Western Scrumhalf - Jocelyn Barrieau, McGill Flyhalf - Sarah DeLeeuw, Western Centre - Jayne Cation, Western Centre - Lindsay Bernrot, Toronto Wing - Adriana Footz, Alberta Wing - Kathryn Higgins, StFX Fullback - Heather Moyse, Toronto

Scoring Summary

UWO - 12-0:12 TOR - 3-5:8

First half UWO - Barbara Mervin try (convert missed), 5-0 TOR - Shannon Smith penalty goal, 5-3 UWO - Cassandra Emmett try (Sarah DeLeeuw convert), 12-3

Second half TOR - Lindsay Bernrot try (convert missed), 12-8

For complete info on the 2004 CIS women's rugby championship: www.cisport.ca/e/championships/w_rugby/2004

SEEDING, STANDINGS & RESULTS

Seeding:

1. Alberta 2. Western Ontario 3. St. Francis Xavier 4. McGill 5. Toronto 6. UPEI

Pool A: Alberta, McGill, Toronto

Pool B: Western Ontario, St. Francis Xavier, UPEI

FINAL ROUND ROBIN STANDINGS

Pool A GP W L T PF PA Pts

Toronto 2 1 0 1 20 0 7 Alberta 2 1 0 1 21 3 6 McGill 2 0 2 0 3 41 0

Note: Toronto gets 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more in same game.

Pool B

Western 2 2 0 0 41 0 9 StFX 1 1 1 0 22 29 4 UPEI 2 0 2 0 0 34 0

Note: Western gets 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries or more in same game.

SCHEDULE / RESULTS Friday, Nov. 5

Alberta 0, Toronto 0 Western 12, UPEI 0 Toronto 20, McGill 0 StFX 22, UPEI 0 Alberta 21, McGill 3 Western 29, StFX 0

Saturday, Nov. 6

Semi-final: Toronto 27, StFX 8 Semi-final: Western 25, Alberta 12 5th Place: McGill 19, UPEI 10

Sunday, Nov. 7

Bronze medal game: Alberta, 39 StFX 12 Gold medal game: