UBC Thunderbirds down Ottawa, secure berth in U SPORTS championship
Charity Williams and Adia Pye each scored a pair of tries to propel their UBC Thunderbirds to a 47-17 semifinal win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees 47-17 at 2024 Cavendish Farms U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship in Charlottetown.UBC dominated early, with Charity Williams breaking through the Gee-Gees defense in the 9th minute to score the game’s first try, followed by Savannah Bauder’s conversion. Minutes later, Adia Pye scored a 60-metre try, putting UBC up 14-0.
Ottawa fought back in the 19th minute, as Emma Wade scored following a well-executed ruck, but the conversion attempt was blocked, keeping the score at 14-5. UBC’s defense held firm, leading 14-5 at the break.
The second half opened with another Williams try, converted by Bauder to extend UBC's lead to 21-5. Pye added her second try shortly after, and UBC surged ahead 26-5. Although Sophie McDonald crossed the try line for Ottawa in the 43rd minute, UBC responded quickly with a penalty try and another score by Kiki Idowu, solidifying their control.
In the 57th minute, both teams saw yellow cards, one for Ottawa’s Victoria Hough and another for UBC’s Vela Baravian. Ottawa managed another try through Anna Dodge, but UBC's Vela Baravian sealed the win with a try in the 68th minute.
The Thunderbirds advance to the Gold Medal game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, taking on the winner of Queen’s and Victoria, while Ottawa will play for Bronze at 12 p.m. ET.
Players of the Game
Ottawa: Sophie McDonald
UBC: Rachel Smith
Scoring Summary:
- 9' – UBC Try: Charity Williams (Savannah Bauder convert)
- 12' – UBC Try: Adia Pye (Bauder convert)
- 19' – Ottawa Try: Emma Wade (conversion failed)
- 37' – UBC Try: Charity Williams (Bauder convert)
- 39' – UBC Try: Adia Pye (conversion failed)
- 43' – Ottawa Try: Sophie McDonald (Victoria Hough convert)
- 47' – UBC Penalty Try
- 53' – UBC Try: Kiki Idowu (Bauder convert)
- 58' – Ottawa Try: Anna Dodge (conversion failed)
- 68' – UBC Try: Vela Baravian (Brooklyn Roddham convert)