British Columbia U-17 Womens rugby team completed their California tour 3 convincing wins. With no National Tournament for this age level, BC Rugby decided to continue the program and travel to southern California to play local club teams.
The team arrived in Anaheim on Wednesday, August 11th and had an intensive 3 day training camp prior to their first game on Saturday, August 14th.
Game #1 versus Fallbrook Rugby Club
Fallbrook Rugby Club are 2010 California State Champs and finished 2nd at the United Stated Rugby Nationals in the spring.
The game started off on the right foot for the younger BC girls. Alex Harden (Carson Graham) scored on a brilliant 60 metre run in the that was created by hard running through a gap from Meghan Wellis (Semiahmoo).
Fallbrook responded to this opening pressure by scoring a try. The BC girls were definitely in a game with a rugby side that was well drilled. The first 35 minutes were a tough a battle for both teams. This was evident when Madison Burrows (Robert Bateman) was forced to come off due to a major cut above her eye. The score at half was 5 to 5.
At halftime, the girls were able to come to the conclusion that they could play with the older and bigger Fallbrook team. The second half started off great for BC has Alex Harden scored her 2nd try of the game. This seemed to deflate the Fallbrook team as Caitie Ryan (Sa-Hali) scored shortly after with Sarah Gordon (Lord Tweedsmuir) making the conversion. With constant pressure by the BC team, Natalie Teteris (Abbotsford Collegiate) scored two late tries to round the scoring and the final score being 27 to 5 for BC.
Try scorers
Alex Harden 2
Caitie Ryan 1
Natalie Teteris - 2
Player of the match that was awarded by Fallbrook Rugby Club went to Meghan Wellis.
Game #2 versus Back Bay Rugby Club
Back Bay Rugby Club is located in the town of Newport Beach and have a very competitive team.
Unfortunately, to Back Bay unable to field a full squad, the game played was 13 aside. The players and staff were disappointed that a 15 aside game was not being played, but the four captains of the team Nicola Jones (Carson Graham), Shannon Kelly (Shawnigan Lake), Alexis Myhre (Williams Lake) and Sarah Gordon were able to get the rest of the team focused. Their team talk obviously motivated the girls from BC has they scored early and often. In the end, Back Bay did not provide much of a resistance with the final score being 73 to 0 for BC.
Try scorers
Natalie Teteris 4
Nikki Soulsby (Sentinel) 3
Sarah Gordon 2
Kaelyn Palmer (Cowichan) 1
Carli Shott (Carson Graham) 1
Conversions
Sarah Gordon 4
Jessica Neilson (Carson Graham) 5
Player of the match selected by Back Bay was Natalie Teteris.
Game #3 vs Hawaiian Gardens Rugby Club
The final game of the tour was against Hawaiian Gardens Rugby Club that is based in the city of Hawaiian Gardens (South Central Los Angeles). This team was formed in the last 5 years to help young women become active and participate in a team sport. Many of the young women that play for this club face the real possibility of going down the wrong path that so many young people in South Central Los Angeles go. Our day started off with official reception with the Mayor of Hawaiian Gardens and a tour of their city facilities. The BC team was able to get a sense of how the Mayor is really trying to make a change for the youth of his city. After the reception, we kicked off against Hawaiian Gardens. Unfortunately, it was not much of game for our BC girls as the rugby experience of the girls came through. The final score of the game was 82 to 0.
Try scorers
Ciara Malone (Meraloma) 1
Shannon Kelly 1
Alex Harden 1
Alexis Latimer (Gleneagle) 1
Lauren Arthur (Abbotsford Collegiate) 1
Lizzie Adams (Shawnigan Lake) 1
Brittany Brabant (Merritt) 1
Meghan Wellis 1
Sarah Gordon 1
Caitie Ryan 1
Natalie Teteris - 2
Samantha Kreeger (G.P. Vanier) 1
Nicole McKenna (Cowichan) 1
Conversions
Jessica Neilson 4
Madison Burrows 1
Sarah Gordon 1
The staff of the team would like to congratulate the girls for playing great rugby even though there were many speed bumps they faced over the week long tour.
Players of the match selected by Hawaiian Gardens were: Alex Harden (backs) & Shannon Kelly (forwards).
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BC U17 Women Touring Party
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PLAYER NAME:
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HIGH SCHOOL
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CLUB
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Kristy Fielding
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Cowichan
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N/A
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Kaelyn Palmer
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Cowichan
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N/A
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Genevieve Bittorf
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Carson Graham
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Capilano RFC
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Nicola Jones
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Carson Graham
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United RFC
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Nicole McKenna
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Cowichan
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United RFC
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Jessica Hartle
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Port Moody
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Cowichan RFC
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Alexis Latimer
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Gleneagle
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N/A
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Rebecca Saari
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Cowichan
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N/A
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Rachel Barratt
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Shawnigan Lake
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Capilano RFC
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Shannon Kelly
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Shawnigan Lake
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N/A
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Nicole Soulsby
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Sentinel
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N/A
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Sommer O'Shaughnessy
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Sentinel
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N/A
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Alyson Wood
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GP Vanier
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N/A
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Madison Borrows
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Robert Bateman
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N/A
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Jenna Bugden
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Cowichan
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N/A
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Alexis Myhre
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Williams Lake
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Meraloma RFC
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Brittany Brabant
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Merritt
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N/A
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Jess Neilson
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Carson Graham
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Meraloma RFC
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Natalie Teteris
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Abbotsford Collegiate
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N/A
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Lauren Arthur
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Abbotsford Collegiate
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N/A
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Lizzie Adams
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Shawnigan Lake
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Bayside RFC
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Alex Harden
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Carson Graham
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N/A
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Sarah Gordon
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Lord Tweedsmuir
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N/A
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Meghan Wellis
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Semiahmoo
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Meraloma RFC
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Carli Shott
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Carson Graham
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N/A
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Ciara Malone
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Magee
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N/A
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Samantha Kreeger
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GP Vanier
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N/A
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Caitie Ryan
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Sa-Hali
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N/A
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Brad Baker
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Coach
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Rick Pimlott
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Assistant Coach
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Asuka Kusano
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Manager
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Jennifer Kadgien
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Therapist
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