EDMONTON – Shoshanah Seumanutafa scored one try and made three converts, to go along with three tries and one convert from Savannah Bauder, as the UBC Thunderbirds captured the UAlberta Rugby 7s tournament title with a 28-7 win over the Calgary Dinos. 

UBC led from the start, racing out to a 21-0 lead over the Dinos inside the Dome at Foote Field, capping off a perfect 5-0 tournament in Edmonton. It marks the first 7s tournament the Thunderbirds have won since they captured this same event in 2019. 

The loss was the first of the opening weekend for the Dinos after starting the year 4-0. Calgary opened the year on Saturday with wins over Lethbridge (22-5) and Regina (52-5) before a significant 19-12 win over Victoria. The Dinos then toppled the host Alberta Pandas, 19-0, Sunday in the semifinals before the championship.

Following their semifinal loss to their provincial rivals, the Victoria Vikes rebounded with a 28-5 win over Alberta in the third place game. Kira Peary scored two tries and made four converts for Victoria in the bronze match. 

After defeating Brandon 46-0 in the first consolation semifinal, Lethbridge cruised past Trinity Western 31-0 to finish fifth. 

Regina earned their first win of the weekend in the seventh place game, edging Brandon 12-10 in arguably the game of the weekend. Myah Durperreault gave Regina a 12-10 lead in the second half, with the Cougars holding off the Brandon attack late to secure seventh place. 

The Victoria Vikes will host the next Rugby 7s tournament, February 11th and 12th. 

2023 UAlberta Tournament Standings
PLACE    TEAM    WIN    LOSS    POINTS
1    UBC    5    0    15
2    Calgary    4    1    12
3    Victoria    3    2    10
4    Alberta    2    3    8
5    Lethbridge    3    2    6
6    Trinity Western    2    3    4
7    Regina    1    4    2
8    Brandon    0    5    1

--

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Semifinal 1: Calgary Dinos (19) vs Alberta Pandas (0)
 
Scoring summary:
 
            1    2    T
CGY:    7    12    19
ALB:    0    0    0

CGY try - #8 Julia Omokhuale (#6 Katie Salverda convert) 7-0 CGY
HALF
CGY try - #5 Sofia Brussoni (#6 Katie Salverda convert) 14-0 CGY
CGY try - #8 Julia Omokhuale (convert missed) 19-0 CGY

FINAL ROUND

Final: UBC Thunderbirds (28) vs Calgary Dinos (7)

Scoring summary:
 
            1    2    T
UBC:    21    7    28
CGY:    0    7    7

UBC try - #6 Savannah Bauder (#5 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) 7-0 UBC
UBC try - #5 Shoshanah Seumanutafa (#5 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) 14-0 UBC
UBC try - #6 Savannah Bauder (#5 Shoshanah Seumanutafa convert) 21-0 UBC
HALF
CGY try - #4 Delaney Aikens (#6 Katie Salverda convert) 21-7 UBC
UBC try - #6 Savannah Bauder (#6 Savannah Bauder convert) 28-7 UBC

Canada West Rugby 7s Series:
Teams are awarded 15 points for a tournament win, 12 points for finishing 2nd, 10 points for finishing third, 8 points for finishing fourth, 6 points for finishing fifth, 4 points for finishing sixth, 2 points for finishing seventh, and 1 point for finishing eighth.
 
The University of Alberta (January 20/21) Victoria (February 11/12) and British Columbia (March 4/5) will host the three Rugby 7s tournaments in 2023.