The Varsity Blues women’s rugby squad was looking to make an impact at the CIS Women’s Rugby Championships this past weekend at U of T’s Scarborough campus. After a mediocre season, where the team recorded three wins and two losses, the Blues were trying to wrap up the 2002-03 campaign with some spice.
Things didn’t go in their favour, as they ran into a red-hot McGill team on the opening day of competition. McGill dismantled the Blues handily, 24-0. The Martlets, who won the Quebec division (QSSF) crown earlier this season, scored 19 of their points in the game’s opening 15 minutes and held the hosts off the score sheet.
Later in the day, the Blues took on the Guelph Gryphons, hoping to slip through with a win and move on to the medal rounds. U of T and Guelph battled to an 8-8 tie in the final round robin match of the tournament. Both teams finished with a 0-1-1 record in pool B, but it was Guelph who advanced to the semi-finals. The loss crushed any hopes U of T had of winning a national medal this year.
U of T then played St. Francis Xavier, trying to secure at least fifth place with a win. But the Blues’ lack of offensive grit was its downfall once again. St. Francis beat U of T 5-0, leaving the Blues in sixth place. The University of Alberta Pandas jumped out to a 24-0 lead and cruised to their fourth straight gold medal at the championship, defeating the Western Mustangs 38-6, while McGill took the bronze medal by beating Guelph 30-3.
