Provincial Champs

Shawnigan's iron women are champions of the Province.

The Girls XV claimed its first-ever Provincial AAA Championship this weekend, earning a series of convincing victories in Williams Lake.

Heading into the tournament as Island champs, the girls opened with a 64-12 win over Abbotsford. Maggie B. and Sammy L. both scored four tries in the opener, while Chloe S. scored two tries and added six conversions.

Advancing to the semifinals, the girls faced Yale – the only team that had beaten them in their 3rd place finish in 2017. This semi proved to be a fierce battle, with Maggie B. notching three tries and Shawnigan prevailing 40-14.

For the third game in as many days, Shawnigan advanced to the final against perennial favorite Carson Graham Secondary. Opening with fire, the girls scored early and often, winning 58-7. Try scorers in the final included Maggie B. (4), Chloe S. (4 plus 4 conversions), Maddie N. and Sammy L.

"This is the best showing of high school girls rugby I have ever seen," Coach Shannon Atkins says of Saturday's convincing victory. "They started firing on all cylinders, and they never stopped. Our captains, Hazel B. – who was awarded the President's 15 jersey – Tobi A. and Avery C. led by example the whole tournament and were inspirational to rest of the players." Coach Atkins adds that the group "exceeded expectations and put on an amazing performance of beautiful rugby. We are all so proud of them!"

2018 marked the second year Shawnigan had entered the AAA ranks of girls rugby. In 2017, the squad finished third in the Province. This year also brought a second-place finish for the senior girls and a B.C. title for the junior girls at the Provincial Rugby Sevens tournament.

The 1st XV and the Junior boys (the Colts) head to their Provincial Championships May 30-June 1 at Abbotsford's Rotary Stadium.