By Aidan Cullis
A frigid and windy Sunday afternoon did nothing to stop Algonquin’s women’s rugby team from dominating Loyalist College in a 32-15 win. While on an unbeaten run in Sept. to the fall’s OCAA final, the team lost their thunder in the two previous games, which only made this game’s victory that much sweeter.
Dan Gauthier, head coach, attributes this to a change in tactics.
“The girls worked hard this week on their tackling and on getting low because we knew that Loyalist had some big girls and we certainly noticed better tackling than the previous two losses, but it still wasn’t consistent enough,” said Gauthier. “There was still lots of positive play and the girls certainly earned themselves a victory.”
With intense power and speed displayed, Venesha Adams brought in two tries, ringing in 10 points, while Sophie Bulger, Raquel Harris-Wright, Sarah Haynes, and Jasmine McGilivray each scored one try, for a total of 20 points. Sarah Knowles performed a convert, winning the team another two points. Altogether, it was an impressive win for the women that placed them second going into the playoffs.
Gauthier is confident that, under the right conditions, the team can win it all.
“If we can avoid too many injuries there is certainly the talent available to win a gold medal with our group,” he said. “The worry is that we are a much thinner group than last year, and so the injuries that we have endured this season have certainly played a factor in how the season has gone, but it has allowed other players the opportunity to get more game-time than they usually would have received, which has helped them gain experience.”
The Thunder’s Raquel Harris-Wright was very pleased with how the team played.
“We definitely came together this time. The last two games shook us a bit and we played rather scattered. I would say our confidence in one another was a major factor in this win. We came together and it showed,” said Harris-Wright. “From a defensive standpoint, the new tactics helped. Our defense was weak. But it isn’t so much strategy as it is avoiding falling apart. We came out hard and played with intensity and it’s about keeping that consistency.”
Harris-Wright cited the difference between this year’s and last year’s performance.
“We were also overly cocky in the last couple games. We have humbled out though. We realized we didn’t have the same teammates to rely on this year,” she said.
Also in relation to last year’s gameplay execution, Harris-Wright felt that the team was having a tougher go this round, but still has faith in the team’s abilities.
“Last year was easier, we had a bye because we finished first so we went straight into semis. We didn’t have to play the first round, which gave us extra time to prepare. We don’t have that this year,” she said. “I’m excited and nervous, but confident. We’re working harder this year.”
The women’s rugby will go toe-to-toe with Conestoga in the playoffs on Oct. 26.
