LETHBRIDGE – In a defensive battle for the full 80 minutes, the Lethbridge Pronghorns relied on a stoppage-time try from freshman Jorja Salmon to upend the University of Calgary Dinos women's rubgy team 15-10 to close out the Canada West season.
With the win, the Pronghorns split the season series with Calgary and improve to 2-4-0 on the season but will not advance to the Canada West final four. Entering the game, the Pronghorns needed to beat the Dinos by more than 18 points and hope that the Dinos would lose their season finale versus the Alberta Pandas next weekend.
The Dinos, who beat the Pronghorns 36-17 during the opening game of the season, fall to 2-3-0 with a final game at home next weekend. With a win over the Pandas next weekend, the Dinos will face the second-place Victoria Vikes in the Canada West semi-finals at the end of the month.
Playing in her final game as a Pronghorn Savanna Collison led the Pronghorns with two tries while Salmon scored her first career try to give the Pronghorns the win. Calgary received tries from Delany Aikens and
Erin Geddie.
Calgary pushed the Pronghorns deep into their end early on and off a pair of penalties and kicks for touch, the Dinos turned a line out into a threatening opportunity only six minutes into the game. Lethbridge defended well with their backs to the goal line and was able to push the Dinos back out towards midfield.
Still pushing forward, the Dinos looked as if they had gotten into the endzone in the 11th minute, but the Pronghorns were able to hold the ball up and force a scrum.
After playing defence for the first 20 minutes, the Pronghorns finally went on the offensive and with Calgary down a player due to a yellow card pushed deep into Calgary territory. The Pronghorns threatened within feet of the touch line, but a penalty ended the threat.
Weathering the Pronghorns' attack, the Dinos pushed the ball up the field with only five minutes remaining in the half. Off a kick play, Delany Aikens beat all Pronghorn defenders to the ball bouncing in the end zone and touched down the ball for the game's opening try.
Looking to respond, the Pronghorns did enter the end zone in injury time, however, the Dinos defenders were able to hold the ball up and carry the 5-0 lead into the half.
Out of the break, the Pronghorns retained possession of the Dinos' opening kick and had a line out deep in the Dinos' end, but another penalty turned the ball over only five yards short of the end line.
Following another penalty, the Pronghorns were rewarded with a try in the 49th minute as fifth-year Pronghorn Savanna Collison scored her team-leading sixth try of the season to tie the game at five.
The Dinos responded just over 10 minutes later. A long sequence of possession and quality movement back and forth across the field led to a try from
Erin Geddie. The unconverted try regained the Dinos five-point lead at 10-5.
Showing some resiliency, the Pronghorns pushed right back and were knocking on the door in the 65th minute and Collison pushed through for her second try of the night and tied the game at 10.
With time winding down the Pronghorns pushed for a late try, working the ball from right to left and then back, looking for a hole in the Dinos' defence. Working in stoppage time the Pronghorns had a ball held up in the endzone for the second time of the night, setting up Salmon's heroics.
Keeping the ball in play and stoppage time going, the Pronghorns threatened again for the winning score and after a long push from Collison, Lethbridge was within feet of the endzone and first-year back row Jorja Salmon was able to punch in the winning try to send off four graduating players with a season-ending win.
Scoring Summary
1 2 F
CGY 5 5 10
LET 0 15 15
First Half
37' – CGY –
Delaney Aikens Try – 5-0 CGY
Second half
49' – LET – Savanna Collison Try (Convert Missed) 5-5
61' – CGY –
Ashlynn Smith Try (Convert Missed) 10-5 CGY
65' – LET – Savanna Collison Try (Convert Missed 10-10
80' – LET – Jorja Salmon Try (Convert Missed) 15-10 LET
