Thunderbirds fend off Vikes to take home first national banner
A second half try by UBC’s Charity Williams lifted the Thunderbirds to an 8-3 victory over the Victoria Vikes to capture the gold at the 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship in Charlottetown.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring early when Savannah Bauder converted on a penalty just four minutes into the game, giving UBC a 3-0 lead.
Both teams struggled to establish offensive momentum. With UBC repeatedly penalized for infringements, providing Victoria with multiple opportunities. However, Victoria couldn’t capitalize, as a missed penalty goal attempt by Vanessa Chiappetta in the 10th minute kept the Vikes off the board.
In a first half that saw Victoria dominate possession, both sides had their moments but were held scoreless by staunch defensive efforts. UBC’s Rachel Smith notably held up Maddy Grant over the goal line late in the half, preserving the Thunderbirds’ slim lead as they went into halftime up 3-0.The second half mirrored the defensive struggle of the first until the 65th minute, when UBC’s Charity Williams found a gap on the right side and crossed the line for the game’s first and only try. Bauder’s missed conversion left the score at 8-0.Victoria narrowed the gap shortly after with a successful penalty goal by Chiappetta in the 68th minute but couldn’t break through UBC’s defense in the closing stages.
With the victory, the Thunderbirds claim their first national title in program history, while the Vikes earned their second-straight silver medal, tying their program’s top tournament finish.
Players of the Game
UBC: Jordan McLeod
Victoria: Maddy Grant
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: UPEI
TOURNAMENT MVP: Rachel Smith (UBC)
Scoring Summary
First Half
4' - UBC PENALTY GOAL - Savannah Bauder 3-0
Halftime - UBC 3 VICTORIA 0
Second Half
65' - UBC TRY - Charity Williams (CONV missed by Savannah Bauder) 8-0
68' - VICTORIA PENALTY GOAL - Vanessa Chiappetta 8-3
Final Score - UBC 8 VICTORIA 3
Tournament All-Star team
- Sophie McDonald (OTT)
- Jordan McLeod (UBC)
- Alysia Comtois (OTT)
- Izzy Page (QUE)
- Ketsia Kamba (OTT)
- Brooklyn Feasby (GUE)
- Siobhan Sheerin (QUE)
- Rachel Smith (UBC)
- Justine Blatt-Janmatt (VIC)
- Savannah Bauder (UBC)
- Adia Pye (UBC)
- Lizzie Gibson (QUE)
- Maddy Grant (VIC)
- Maya Addai (VIC)
- Carissa Norsten (VIC)