CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Two years, two titles.
The Charlottetown Rugby Football Club (CRFC) capped off a perfect season Saturday by repeating as Nova Scotia Rugby tier A senior women’s champs.
And the club added a second title Saturday as its tier B squad won in its first year of operation when the Windsor Hants County Machine forfeited the final.
“It’s a pretty incredible feeling,” said Rebecca Chapman, who plays the number eight position for the tier A squad. “Both our Division Two and Division One girls, regardless of the situations that we won, we both worked for this and are incredibly proud of each other.”
The 24-year-old Souris native said it shows the level of play on the Island and the depth the province has.
“We have two separate teams that won two separate championships and that's an incredible feat for a small province and a small club.”
CRFC defeated Enfield 54-10 to capture the top tier crown Saturday and the turning point came early.
Chapman scored about a minute in, but Enfield came right back and was knocking on the door for an equalizing try and the potential to take the lead with the convert.
Enfield pinned CRFC inside its own 22-yard line for close to 10 minutes, but never got to the goal-line.
“It was crucial,” CRFC coach James Voye said. “I think that defensive stand was probably sort of what broke their back. . .
“We defended hard, tackled, rucked, earned a turnover and then kind of marched right back down the field and scored and that kind of seemed to be the momentum shift we needed.”
CRFC scored three tries in 14 minutes to take command of the game and went to halftime leading 27-5. They scored six minutes into the second half and didn't let Enfield back into the contest.
“Enfield is a really hard-hitting team and I think for us it was just (important to) stick strong with our defence and really use our offence, get wide and get around them,” said captain Emily Keen, a 23-year-old scrum half from Marshfield.
“This whole season was (about) getting two teams in. To have both of them finish at No. 1, it feels pretty good.”
She pointed to the dedication of the squad to their success with 50-plus women showing up for weekly practices.
Another key is its familiarity.
Many of the players came through high school programs across Prince Edward Island, played provincial ball and either play or played with the UPEI Panthers.
It showed in the crisp, precision passes where players were offloading the ball knowing their teammate will be there.
“We do have a contingent that grew up in P.E.I. rugby and Panthers rugby and because we played together, some of us for like seven or eight years, that's why we’re able to execute how we do on the field,” Chapman said. “We know each other so well.”
And, she said, they've been fortunate to a great support staff including Craig Inward, Sumara Profit and Voye.
“He’s turned, not just CRFC, but P.E.I. Rugby into a competitor on an Atlantic and national scale,” she said of Voye.
Chapman said she and her teammates are grateful for all those in the rugby community, past and present, who have been behind them since Day 1.
“They come out to every game to support us,” she said. “They send us messages. They tell us how proud they are of us. They've been an incredible support these two years.”
Voye said the girls deserve it as the young women are working, trying to save money for university or doing placements for their education. Yet, they still find time to practise and play each week.
“You have to travel, you have to pay bridge fares, you have to spend nights in hotels, it is a big commitment,” he said. “To the credit of these girls, we’re the one team in the league that is able to travel everywhere and have a full roster.”
Scorers
A look at the scoring from Saturday’s Nova Scotia Rugby tier A championship between the Charlottetown Rugby Football Club (CRFC) and Enfield:
First half
CRFC – Rebecca Chapman, 5-0.
CRFC – Niki Triantafillou, 10-0
CRFC – Danielle Lacey (Alysha Corrigan convert), 17-0.
CRFC – Rebecca Chapman, 22-0.
CRFC – Sidney Corrigan, 27-0.
Enfield – Amy Fraser, 27-5.
Second half
CRFC – Tara Campbell, 32-5.
CRFC – Terrisa Lynch, 37-5.
CRFC – Tara Campbell, 42-5.
Enfield – Adrianne Macdonald, 42-10.
CRFC – Tara Campbell, 47-10.
CRFC – Lauren Sheidow (Alysha Corrigan conver), 54-10.
CRFC coach James Voye said: “The way that these girls come together and play for each other and buy into what we’re running for systems is pretty impressive. . . They work so hard and play so hard it’s just fun to watch them.”
