ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The Victoria Vikes sailed to the front of the pack at the second stop of the Canada West Women’s Rugby Sevens Series on Saturday, but much is yet to be decided heading into Sunday’s final day.
The Vikes went a perfect 3-0 on Day 1 of the tournament, hosted by the University of the Fraser Valley, allowing just a single try over their three games. The highlight was a 26-5 victory over the series-leading UBC Thunderbirds, who won the first leg of the Canada West Sevens Series in Edmonton two weeks ago. The Vikes also chalked up wins over the Alberta Pandas (25-0) and the host Cascades (61-0). They rode a balanced attack over the course of the day, with Linnea Dalvi setting the pace with four tries, and Paige Farries, Renee Gonzalez, Maddy Aberg and Tayler Bailey scoring two apiece.
But with three more round-robin games yet to play on Sunday, Victoria still has work to do to nail down the tourney title. The Calgary Dinos and Lethbridge Pronghorns are lurking in second place with matching 2-0-1 records, and both have head-to-head match-ups with the Vikes on Sunday. UBC, meanwhile, is still in contention at 2-1-0.
Alberta (1-3-0), UFV (1-3-0) and UBC Okanagan (0-4-0) are out of contention for the title, but will be looking to climb the standings in their final matches.
The balance of the event will be played at Exhibition Park, with action kicking off at 9 a.m. Sunday. A full schedule is below.
Saturday results
Game 1: Victoria Vikes 25, Alberta Pandas 0
Scoring summary:
VIC: 10-15: 25
ALB: 0-0: 0
• VIC try – #3 Chanelle Edwards-Challenger (convert missed) – 5-0
• VIC try – #2 Renee Gonzalez (convert missed) – 10-0
Half
• VIC try – #10 Paige Farries (convert missed) – 15-0
• VIC try – #11 Nicola Smith (convert missed) – 20-0
• VIC try – #9 Linnea Dalvi (convert missed) – 25-0
Game 2: Victoria Vikes 26, UBC Thunderbirds 5
Scoring summary:
VIC: 12-14: 26
UBC: 5-0: 5
• UBC try – #1 Rori Wood (convert missed) – 5-0
• VIC try – #10 Paige Farries (#4 Brooke Bazian convert) – 7-5
• VIC try – #4 Brooke Bazian (convert missed) – 12-5
Half
• VIC try – #2 Renee Gonzalez (#4 Brooke Bazian convert) – 19-5
• VIC try – #12 Maddy Aberg (#4 Brooke Bazian convert) – 26-5
Game 3: Victoria Vikes 61, UFV Cascades 0
Scoring summary:
VIC: 26-35: 61
UFV: 0-0: 0
• VIC try – #12 Maddy Aberg (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 7-0
• VIC try – #8 Callie Harder (convert missed) – 12-0
• VIC try – #6 Tayler Bailey (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 19-0
• VIC try – #9 Linnea Dalvi (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 26-0
Half
• VIC try – #5 Ashah Payson (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 33-0
• VIC try – #6 Tayler Bailey (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 40-0
• VIC try – #9 Linnea Dalvi (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 47-0
• VIC try – #8 Linnea Dalvi (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 54-0
• VIC try – #14 McKenzie Pusch (#15 Alexie Pusch convert) – 61-0
Tournament standings – Day 1
TEAM WINS LOSSES TIES POINTS
VIC 3 0 0 12
LET 2 0 1 10
CGY 2 0 1 10
UBC 2 1 0 9
ALB 1 3 0 7
UFV 1 3 0 7
UBCO 0 4 0 4
NOTE: Teams are awarded four points for a win, two points for a draw, and one point for a loss.
Sunday schedule
9 a.m. – Lethbridge vs. Victoria
9:22 a.m. – Alberta vs. UBC Okanagan
9:44 a.m. – UBC vs. Calgary
10:50 a.m. – Lethbridge vs. Alberta
11:12 a.m. – Calgary vs. Victoria
11:34 a.m. – UBC vs. UFV
12:40 p.m. – UBCO vs. Victoria
1:02 p.m. – Calgary vs. UFV
1:24 p.m. – UBC vs. Lethbridge
