October 29, 2025

Dominant second half propels Vikes into national semifinals

The top-seeded Victoria Vikes are through to the semifinals of the 2025 CGIS U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship, Presented by The Rec Room Granville after delivering a commanding 41-8 victory over the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the tournament's opening quarterfinal at Thunderbird Stadium in Vancouver.

The match started at a blistering pace, with the Canada West champions seizing control immediately. Just three minutes in, scrum-half Justine Blatt-Janmaat dotted down for an early try, swiftly converted by fly-half Olivia Newsome to give UVic a 7-0 lead.

The Gee-Gees, to their credit, weathered the early storm and fought their way back into the contest. A penalty goal from Claire Bennett in the 16th minute got them on the board, and just three minutes later, flanker Tian Wiens crashed over for a try that gave the RSEQ finalists a brief 8-7 lead, stunning the Vikes.

UVic’s response was swift and decisive. Before the half-hour mark, prop Soleil Brooks powered over the line to reclaim the lead. Newsome’s conversion re-established a six-point cushion at 14-8, a lead the Vikes took into the halftime break.

Any hopes of an Ottawa comeback were extinguished by a double from UVic’s Larah Wright early in the second half. Just four minutes after the restart, the fourth-year Number 8 extended the Vikes’ lead to 19-8 with her first try of the game. Two minutes later, she had a second which ,after another Newsome conversion, stretched the lead to 26-8.

From there, the Vikes never looked back. Olivia Newsome added a penalty goal in the 50th minute to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and the tries continued to flow. Replacement Piper Walsh scored in the 65th minute, and in the final moments of the match, ShonDreya Smardon put an exclamation point on the performance with UVic's sixth try of the day. Newsome was nearly flawless off the tee, finishing with a personal haul of 16 points from four conversions and a penalty goal.

Wright earned player-of-the game honours for Victoria, while rookie winger Grace Dingwall was the player of the match for Ottawa.

The Vikes now advance to the national semifinals against either Guelph or STFX, their comprehensive victory sending a clear message to the rest of the championship field. That game is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific) on Friday night. Ottawa will play in a consolation game on Friday at 11 a.m.