EDMONTON – The elite teams separated themselves from the pack on Saturday, as the first day of the Canada West Rugby 7s series got underway under the dome at Foote Field.

The Canada West 15s champion University of Calgary Dinos got off to a 2-1 start, opening with a 49-0 win over Thompson Rivers before recording a 40-10 victory over Fraser Valley. The Dinos dropped their final match of the opening day, falling 14-7 to the Lethbridge Pronghorns.

The Pronghorns and UBC Thunderbirds finished pool play with identical 3-0 records, advancing to tomorrow's semifinals. Victoria (2-1) and Calgary (2-1) each finished second in their respective pools, and will also advance.

Lethbridge needed a tight 14-7 win over Calgary, while UBC topped Victoria 21-19 in the final pool match thanks to a last second convert for each team to clinch first. 

With the addition of two new teams in Canada West, the format was switched to have two pools of four, with the top two from each qualifying for the semifinals. Alberta (1-2), UFV (1-2), Regina (0-3) and TRU (0-3) will play on the consolation side on Sunday. 

The Pronghorns will get the Victoria Vikes in the first semifinal at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, while UBC will get Calgary at 11:22 a.m. 

The host Pandas will face Thompson Rivers, while UFV and Regina clash on the consolation side tomorrow morning. The tournament final is slated for 3:06 p.m. on Sunday, with third, fifth, and seventh place matches preceding. 

Round 1
Game 2: Calgary Dinos (49) vs. Thompson Rivers WolfPack (0)

Scoring summary:
CGY: 21-28: 49
TRU: 0-0: 0

CGY try – #14 Angie Olukunmi (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 7-0
CGY try – #9 Tianna Janfield (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 14-0
CGY try – #13 Emma Newton (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 21-0
Half
CGY try – #15 Elysa Sandron (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 28-0
CGY try – #15 Elysa Sandron (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 35-0
CGY try – #14 Angie Olukunmi (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 42-0
CGY try – #15 Elysa Sandron (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 35-0

Round 2 
Game 6: Calgary Dinos (40) vs Fraser Valley Cascades (10)  

Scoring summary:
UFV: 5-5: 10
CGY: 21-19: 40

CGY try – #4 Taejah Thompson (#22 Berlyn Seselja Convert) – 7-0
CGY try – #4 Taejah Thompson (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 14-0
CGY try – #15 Elysa Sandron (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 21-0
UFV try - #14 Sophia Belsher (Convert missed) 21-5
Half
CGY try – #7 Carolyn Cafaro (Convert missed) – 26-5
UFV try – #14 Sophia Belsher (Convert missed) 26-10
CGY try – #14 Angie Olukunmi (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 33-10
CGY try – #7 Carolyn Cafaro (#15 Elysa Sandron Convert) – 40-10

Round 3
Game 10: Calgary Dinos (7) vs Lethbridge Pronghorns (14)

Scoring summary:
LET: 7-7: 14
CGY: 0-7: 7

LET try – #6 Genna Wright (#5 Caitlin Sears Convert) – 7-0
Half
LET try – #7 Hailey Driscoll (#5 Caitlin Sears Convert) – 14-0
CGY penalty try – #15 Elysa Sandron (Automatic Convert) – 14-7

Tournament standings - Day 1

Pool A
TEAM    WINS    LOSSES    TIES    POINTS
LET    3    0    0    12
CGY    2    1    0    8
UFV    1    2    0    4
TRU    0    3    0    0

Pool B
TEAM    WINS    LOSSES    TIES    POINTS
UBC    3    0    0    12
VIC    2    1    0    8
ALB    1    2    0    4
REG    0    3    0    0

* NOTE: Teams are awarded 4 pts. for a win, 2 pts. for a draw, and 1 pt. for a loss.

About the Canada West Women's Rugby Sevens Series: 
2019 marks the third season of the Canada West Women's Rugby Sevens Series, which has been made possible thanks to Canada West's partnership with B2ten and Rugby Canada. Through their joint support, B2ten and Rugby Canada are committed to helping Canadian female athletes pursue their athletic careers, including an opportunity to progress to the national team. The Canada West Women's Rugby Sevens Series champion will be crowned February 25 at the University of Victoria, as determined by cumulative series points. 2019 Canada West Women's Rugby Sevens Series tournament dates: University of Alberta (Jan. 19/20), University of the Fraser Valley (Feb. 2/3) and the University of British Columbia (March 2/3).

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