Game Report: Sat. June 4, 2005

Women's First Team
Playing some of their best rugby in the past year, the Aurora Barbarians beat Yeomen 1 by a score of 12 – 10. There’s no understating how important this victory was. The Yeomen had defeated the Irish in game one of the season and, on paper at least, appeared poised to regain their former dominance. They certainly had the speed in their backs to score fast-breaking tries.

The Barbs all but shut that down yesterday. Aurora conceded a try early in the first half, but essentially controlled the rest of the match. The Barbs won all of their own lineouts and scrums and the majority of their opponent’s. The forwards pounded the ball all day and the backs shut down the Yeoman runs. Shortly before halftime, Aurora scored the answering try to tie the score.

In the second half, the forwards put a try across and converted it. The Yeomen managed to keep it close with desperation kicks and chases up the field. With five minutes to go, they managed to score in the corner but couldn’t convert. Aurora kept the ball penned up in the Yeomen half and finished with a well-earned victory.

Scoring the Barbs’ tries were fly-half, Jen Kearney and 8-man, Nathalie Bendavid. Fullback Melissa Bruneau’s golden boot put the convert across which secured the victory. Aurora next faces the Toronto Scottish on June 18.

Womens Second Team
The Aurora women’s second team romped to a 56 – 0 victory over Yeomen 2. The Yeomen played short of a full team, but did rotate in some of their first team players, which kept the Barbs honest.

While there were a lot of tries, they were all earned. Leading the scoring was junior phenom Katie Quinn, who ran in four tries before departing early in the second half to have her wisdom teeth removed. Close behind her was Tara Doctorow with three tries of her own and two converts. Melissa Watson, Sarah Moussadji and Captain Kim Jack all scored one for good measure.

This is a team with excellent depth and has quickly established itself as the league benchmark. The seconds are undefeated and have picked up bonus points in two of three games.