EDMONTON – The No.1 ranked University of Alberta Pandas rugby team fell into an early hole against the No.9 Calgary Dinos, and suffered a 19-15 loss in their only home game of the season, Sunday afternoon at Strathcona Druids Rugby Park in Sherwood Park.
 
Although both Alberta and Calgary finished the regular season with identical 3-1 records, as well as 15 points each, the Dinos clinched first place in Canada West thanks to Sunday's win over Pandas. Calgary now heads into the Canada West championship tournament as the top seed, while Alberta, the defending CIS and Canada West champion, enters as the No. 2 seed, and will meet No. 3 seed UBC in the opening game of the conference championship. Victoria is the fourth team in the conference tournament, which begins October 17 in Calgary. The gold medal game will be on Sunday, Oct. 19, and only the Canada West champions will advance to the CIS championship, which runs Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Guelph, On.
 
Calgary came out of the chute hard on Sunday, using their physical front row to generate hard working tries from Jade Menin, Natasha Loucks and Elysa Sandron, as well as two converts from Kate Scotland. The Dinos dominated the majority of the first half against Alberta, as they owned the ball in the Pandas' half of the field, and made their hosts pay for the slow start en route to their first-ever victory over the Pandas.
 
But, as the first half started winding down Amy Speers broke free and rushed in for a try for the hometown Pandas, making the score 19-5. Rebecca Fairbairn, who missed a tough angled convert attempt, nailed a penalty goal just before the half-time whistle to make the score 19-8, and more importantly give Alberta some momentum heading into the final 40 minutes.
 
That momentum carried over into the second half as just two minutes in the Pandas drove deep into the Calgary zone and recorded another try, this time from Stacie Becker, while Rebecca Fairbairn added a convert to make the score 19-15.
 
From that point on, Alberta owned the ball and looked to be wearing down the Dinos. Alanna Fittes had several long, physical runs in the second half, often stiff-arming and evading would-be Dino tacklers, but the Pandas couldn't find another try. Alberta hampered themselves on a few occasions with inaccurate passing that stalled forward progress, as well as critical fumbles in the Calgary zone.
 
The Pandas looked to have scored another try midway through the second half, but the official ruled the ball never touched the ground, leaving the Pandas four points behind Calgary.
 
Although they continued to push, Calgary was able to grind out the win with strong defence, and key ball possession in the final minutes.
 
The Canada West championship begins on Friday, Oct. 17 in Calgary. The Pandas will meet the UBC Thunderbirds, while the host Dinos will play the Victoria Vikes. The winners will meet in the gold medal game on Sunday, while the semi-final losers will play for conference bronze on Sunday as well.

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