On Friday, March 31, Chatelech Girls Rugby hosted four teams from North Vancouver and West Vancouver in the first-ever Girls 7’s Jamboree.
The teams involved have been participating in a series of playdays; the first occurred on March 3 at Handsworth. West Vancouver, Rockridge, Handsworth and Windsor brought their squads for an afternoon of 7’s competition. Chatelech played three matches, facing Windsor, and two extremely strong Handsworth sides. The girls lost 15-10 and 15-10 to Handsworth, but in their middle match against Windsor, won 15-0.
Mike Clucas has the team of 20 girls practising hard and it is paying off as they are improving rapidly and tasting some success this year. Tiffany Baldwin shone on offence, scoring all but two tries on Friday, racing down the sideline leaving opponents in her wake. Scrum half Maddy Clucas scored a try and led the offence with her astute distribution of the ball. Jessica Nelson has been leading on both sides of the ball, scoring a try and also bringing down opponents in key tackles. Ella Campbell’s fearless tackling and Zoe Younghusband’s powerful runs with opponents draped all over her were the highlights of the day.
The Lower Mainland teams left happy and impressed by the event, looking forward to next year.
The Chatelech girls are off to Victoria’s Scrum Fest at Claremont Secondary this weekend, and the team has been fundraising like crazy to bring the costs down. Thanks to Your Independent Grocer, the S.C. Women’s Soccer League and the community as a whole for aiding in the girls’ efforts. Coach Clucas has been inspired by watching the girls thrive with the support of faculty and administration at Chatelech and the incredible support of the community.
– Submitted
