Women’s Rugby News

VICTORIA (U SPORTS) – Tournament MVP Audrey Champagne scored nine of her game-high 12 points in the first half as the Laval Rouge et Or cruised to a 22-5 victory over the Queen’s Gaels on Sunday to capture the university’s second Molinex Trophy as U SPORTS Women’s Rugby champions.

Laval previously captured the U SPORTS Women’s Rugby championship title in 2019 and, after a cancelled season in 2020, was dethroned as champions in last year’s semifinal round by the eventual champions from Queen’s.

Laval dominated the opening 40 minutes of play, taking a 9-0 lead to the locker room thanks to Champagne’s three penalty goals.

Queen’s responded with a solid drive in the opening minutes of the second half as Madison Donnelly reached the try line in the 43rd minute to cut the Laval advantage to 9-5, but it was as close as the defending champions could come to the Rouge et Or.

Alexina Tardif-Samson replied six minutes later to extend the lead to 14-5, followed by Champagne’s final penalty goal in the 57th minute. Cécile Leclerc wrapped up the scoring on a one-metre dive off a lineout in the 75th minute to put the exclamation point on the victory.

With this win, Laval ends their season with an undefeated record of 11-0-0, while Queen’s ends their year at 10-1.

 

SCORING SUMMARY

First Half

5’ Laval PG #12 Audrey Champagne 3-0 Laval

8’ Laval PG #12 Audrey Champagne 6-0 Laval

33’ Laval PG #12 Audrey Champagne 9-0 Laval

 

Second Half

43’ Queen’s try #13 Madison Donnelly (#7 convert missed) 9-5 Laval

49’ Laval try #15 Alexina Tardif-Samson (#12 convert missed) 14-5 Laval

57’ Laval PG #12 Audrey Champagne 17-5 Laval

75’ Laval try #17 Cécile Leclerc (#12 convert missed) 22-5 Laval

 

Nike Top Performers

  • Laval: Corinne Fréchette
  • Queen’s: Jaden Walker

CHAMPIONSHIP MVP

  • Audrey Champagne, Laval

Championship All-Star Team

  • Gabrielle Piquer, Laval
  • Taylor McKnight, Guelph
  • Mya Brubacher, Queen’s
  • Andréanne Valois, Laval
  • Ketsia Kamba, Ottawa
  • Siobhan Sheerin, Queen’s
  • Lea Ouellet, Laval
  • Emily Clark, Guelph
  • Corinne Fréchette, Laval
  • Claire Gallagher, Ottawa
  • Lucie Romeo, Victoria
  • Audrey Champagne, Laval
  • Maggie Banks, Queen’s
  • Kally King, UBC
  • Jayden Walker, Queen’s

R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award:

  • UPEI Panthers