Women’s Rugby
Consolation Final: Thunderbirds cruise to victory over Gryphons in Consolation Final
KINGSTON, ONT. - Laura Guay’s try in the 68th minute led the Laval Rouge et Or to a 32-26 victory over the Victoria Vikes in the bronze medal match of the 2021 U SPORTS women’s rugby Championship on Sunday at Nixon Field.
Guay’s second try of the day was enough for Laval to capture their first bronze medal in program history. The Rouge et Or entered the tournament as the defending champions, striking gold in 2019 and taking silver in 2017.
All-Canadian centre Audrey Champagne scored two penalty goals in the match while adding three converts for the Rouge et Or. Laurence Chabot also punched in a try for Laval in the winning effort.
Victoria’s Alexie Pusch matched Champagne’s impressive efforts, scoring a pair of penalty conversions, and adding a convert.
Despite an 80th minute try by Krissy Scurfield, the Vikes fell short of what would have been their first U SPORTS women’s rugby medal.
Summer Blackmore and Chanelle Edwards-Challenger also scored tries for the Vikes in the match.
The fourth-place finish marks the Vikes’ best result at the U SPORTS National Championship in program history.
Proud of our Vikes women’s rugby team for an amazing showing at the U SPORTS National Championships taking home 4th place in a hard fought battle vs Laval. Still, the highest finish in Vikes history. Way to go!!! https://t.co/OclheNaClm
— UVic Vikes (@uvicvikes) November 14, 2021
Nike Top Performers
- Laval: Corrine Frechette
- Victoria: Chanelle Edwards-Challenger
Scoring Summary
Laval 32 – Victoria 26
First Half
VIC – Try, Summer Blackmore (Alexie Pusch convert) 5’ 0-7
LAV – Try, Corrine St-Pierre (Audrey Champagne convert) 9’ 7-7
VIC – Try, Chanelle Edwards-Challenger (Convert unsuccessful) 15’ 7-12
LAV – Try, Laura Guay (Convert unsuccessful) 22’ 12-12
LAV – Try, Laurence Chabot (Audrey Champagne convert) 33’ 19-12
VIC – Penalty convert, Alexie Pusch 35’ 19-15
LAV – Penalty convert, Audrey Champagne 41’ 22-15
Second Half
LAV – Penalty convert, Audrey Champagne 48’ 25-15
VIC – Penalty convert, Alexie Pusch 55’ 25-18
VIC – Penalty convert, Alexie Pusch 64’ 25-21
LAV – Try, Laura Guay (Audrey Champagne convert) 68’ 32-21
VIC – Try, Krissy Scurfield 80’ 32-26
As the official Rugby Ball Supplier of U SPORTS, Gilbert Rugby Canada will provide match balls and other prizing to the 2021 U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship Presented by Queen's University from Nov. 10 - Nov. 14 at Nixon Field.