X-Women defeat Huskies in final regular season game

HALIFAX, NS – The STFX X-Women defeated the Saint Mary's Huskies 60-12 in Atlantic University Sport women's rugby action on Friday night at Huskies Stadium in the final regular season game.

The X-Women got off to an early start with Jessie Penney stuffing it in for a try, and Alison LeBlanc nailing the conversion to give the visitors an early 7-0 lead.

STFX added to their lead in the 16^th minute, when Zoe Lenci scored a try, and Macy McDonell added the conversion, extending the lead to 14-0.

But the Huskies answered in the 20^th minute thanks to a pair of seniors - Katherine Fairbrother made a nice run for the try, and Isabel Goncalves nailed the conversion to cut the lead to 14-7.

The X-Women were able to respond in the 29^th minute with a try from LeBlanc, who missed her own conversion as the visitors lead grew to 19-7.

But right before halftime, the Huskies cut into the lead once again thanks to a try from a senior, as Rian Murphy plunged across the try line to cut the lead to 19-12.

The second half was all X-Women, as they scored four consecutive tries over a 10-minute span. Val Von Muehrdolfer scored in the 43^rd minute, with a Macy McDonell conversion extending their lead to 26-12.

Ainsley McDonell added a try in the 47^th minute, and two minutes later, Isla David broke out on a long run for the try, extending the lead to 36-12. In the 53^rd minute, Ainsley McDonnel scored another try, with LeBlanc hitting the conversion to make it 43-12.

The Huskies were able to shore up their defence and make some big stops at the try line, but STFX broke through twice more in the final 10 minutes, with Lauren Ruff scoring a try in the 73^rd minute, and David scoring back-to-back tries in the 77^th and 80^th minutes, with LeBlanc hitting the conversion on the latter to secure the 60-12 victory.

Isla David was named Player of the Game for the X-Women, while Katherine Fairbrother was named Player of the Game for the Huskies.

The Huskies season comes to an end with an 0-6 record, while the X-Women finish the campaign 5-0-1 and will automatically advance to the AUS championship final, which will be played on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. in Antigonish, N.S.

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Recap by Allan April / Saint Mary's Huskies Athletics

SCORING SUMMARY:
SMU 12-0: 12
STFX 19-41: 60

First half:
STFX #16 Jessie Penney try 8^th minute (#15 Alison LeBlanc convert)
STFX #1 Zoe Lenci try 16^th minute (#12 Macy McDonell convert)
SMU #12 Katherine Fairbrother try 20^th minute (#11 Izzy Goncalves convert)
STFX #15 Alison LeBlanc try 29^th minute
SMU #5 Rian Murphy try 40^th minute

Second half:
STFX #17 Val Von Muehrdolfer 43^rd minute (#12 MacMcDonell convert)
STFX #10 Ainsley McDonell 47^th minute
STFX #14 Isla David 49^th minute
STFX #10 Ainsley McDonnell 53^rd minute (#15 Alison LeBlanc convert)
STFX #2 Lauren Ruff 73^rd minute
STFX #14 Isla David 77^th minute
STFX #14 Isla David 80^th minute (#15 Alison LeBlanc convert)

Players of the Game:
STFX: #14 Isla David
SMU: #12 Katherine Fairbrother