RUGBY SEVENS TO DEFEND TITLE SATURDAY

PETERBOROUGH, Ont -- Humber rugby sevens (16-0, 1^st OCAA) returns to the pitch this weekend looking to defend its 2016 OCAA Championship. The Hawks enter the tournament as the top-seeded program after clinching its second consecutive regular season title.

About Humber
Humber owns a 32-2 (.941) record since rugby sevens were introduced to the OCAA last season.

Last November, the Hawks claimed the inaugural provincial championship, outscoring its opponents 102-0 along the way.

The Matchup
As the top seed, Humber received an automatic bye into the semifinal round and will play the winner of the Algonquin-Loyalist quarter-final showdown at 10 a.m.

Scouting Algonquin
The Algonquin Thunder (8-7-1, 4^th OCAA) finished fourth in its first season in rugby sevens and is led offensively by Ashley McKenzie, who finished 13^th in the league in scoring with 55 points.

In two matches against Algonquin this season, the Hawks finished 2-0, outscoring the Thunder 60-5.

Scouting Loyalist
The Loyalist Lancers (7-9, 5^th OCAA) enter the playoffs as the fifth seed, finishing the season with a point differential of -23. Offensively, the Lancers were led by Kierstyn Bennett, who scored 90 points – the second highest total in the league.

Against Loyalist this season, the Hawks went 2-0 and outscored the Lancers 61-10.

In two matches this season, the Lancers and Thunder split the season series, 1-1, with Loyalist taking the last match 7-5.

Records on Records
Christina Branch scored 180 points this season, establishing a new single-season record for the OCAA. Along with the points total, Branch set a new record with 40 converts, surpassing former Humber all-star Charli Mocon's record of 24.

Christina Branch is also the OCAA all-time leading scorer with 277 points, as Michaela Knowles from Conestoga falls to second with 223 career points.

League Leaders
Along with Branch, Humber rugby had three other players ranked in the top-15. Cheyenne De Luca finished fourth in scoring with 85 points, and her 17 tries were the second-most in the league.  Deandra Medford finished tenth with 67 points, while Daniella Grant finished 12^th with 55 points.

More Records
Last season Humber scored 511 points and allowed 109 points against.  This season the Hawks' offence scored 531 points, while only allowing 68, making both new OCAA records.

At the Helm
Now in his fifth year as head coach, Dale Essue led the Hawks to the 2014 OCAA Rugby 15 title, and the rugby sevens title last year.  All-time, Coach Essue owns a 53-5 (.914) record.