CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos opened with 19 straight points and held on for a 19-12 win over the University of Alberta Pandas on Saturday afternoon at UCalgary Field 7.

Cassidy Jones, Berlyn Seselja, and Paige Miller scored tries for the Dinos, while Courtney Holtkamp countered with both tries for the Pandas.

"The big thing we worked on coming into today was our start," said Dinos Head Coach Simon Chi. "I thought we did a good job of that but might have run out of steam in the second half. We are playing in the toughest conference in Canada. Week in and week out there are no easy games and the game can change in a half."

After offensive sputters in the first halves of their games last weekend, the Dinos got off to a roaring start at home. The Dinos dominated physically and got the ball down the field quickly for a try from Jones in the fourth minute. It was the third try of the young season for the fifth-year prop.

"Cass is a steadying force for us and holds down the front row in an area that we need her. She brings a ton of toughness," noted Chi.

Seselja extended Calgary's lead in the 14th minute, while a convert from Isla Shill made it 12-0 – a score that held until halftime.

Two minutes into the second half, Miller recorded her second try of the season on another quick surge by the Dinos. Shill was successful on the convert, putting Calgary up 19-0.

From there, the Pandas controlled the play and kept the Dinos off the ball for the majority of the final 38 minutes. Alberta scored its first try in the 55th minute as Holtkamp broke through, notching the first points of the season for the Pandas after being shutout in their season opener versus the Lethbridge Pronghorns. 

Holtkamp added another late try with two minutes left in the game but Alberta was unable to complete the comeback.

"We are technically halfway through our season but at this time last week we were playing our first game," said Chi. "There are going to be some rough edges. There has been some good rugby so far, it is just about building on it."

The Dinos (2-1) are on the road next weekend as they visit Lethbridge on Saturday, Sept. 21, while the Pandas (0-2) make their annual trip to British Columbia for games on Sept. 20 against the Victoria Vikes and Sept. 22 versus the UBC Thunderbirds.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st Half
CGY – Cassidy Jones try (no convert), 4', 5-0 CGY
CGY – Berlyn Seselja try (Isla Shill convert), 14', 12-0 CGY

2nd Half
CGY – Paige Miller try (Isla Shill convert), 42', 19-0 CGY
ALB – Courtney Holtkamp try (no convert), 55', 19-5 CGY
ALB – Courtney Holdkamp try (Kate Manning convert), 78', 19-12 CGY

-UC-