HAWKS VIE FOR FIRST EVER OCAA WOMEN’S RUGBY 7’S CROWN
OAKVILLE, ON: The Humber Hawks, participating in the new OCAA women's rugby 7's league, will look to be the first ever winners of the OCAA title on Saturday in Oakville at Sheridan College.
The Hawks (14-2), 2016 Division champions, will square off with the host Sheridan Bruins (3-13), at 11:00 am, in the first semi-final. Second place Conestoga (12-4), will then take on the third ranked Seneca Sting (8-8) at 11:45 am. The semi-final losers will play for bronze at 1:15 pm, while the winners will vie for gold at 2:00 pm.
The playoff game times are a little different from regular season play, as teams will play 2-10 minute halves instead of the regular 2-7 minute periods.
As mentioned above, Humber enters the championships as the number one seed. Their only two losses were suffered at the hands of the second place Condors. Conestoga defeated Humber in the first two meetings, and actually had the league lead after two rounds of play. The Hawks responded in the last two meetings, winning both games by a total score of 75-12.
The Hawks have scored more than 200 more than their closest rival, and have surrendered more than 100 less.
In the last meeting between Humber and Sheridan, the Bruins lost by a score of 22-10, which was the closest battle between the two teams on the season.
Humber has four names among the top six scorers in the lead, led by second place Charli Mocon and her mark of 79 points. Christian Branch sits in third, with 76 points. Daniella Grant (5th) and Kareece McGregor (6th), both have scored over 50 points on the season. Sheridan's Carah Hager checks in with 25 points, good enough for a top ten standing.
The semi-final, as well as the medal games, line up to be very competitive. Factors that may come into play may be teams fitness levels and depth, as the extended the periods may put a stress on the teams.
Humber looks as the team to beat, but Conestoga is 2-2 with them, and the Condors boast the league points leaders in Michaela Knowles (130 pts).
