29-22 was the final score against Quebec, giving Nova Scotia’s U20 women’s rugby team a stunning victory against pretty sizable odds in the Eastern Canada Championships.
Amber Davison, coach of the team, said after winning bronze last year the Keltics were left wanting more.
“People think that we came into this tournament as underdogs,” Davison said. “But the girls were upset with the bronze, so I knew this year they’d be highly competitive.”
Davison said they went much more expansive with their game plan this year, working on their technique during a training camp, using video to improve their plays.
The Keltics ran hard and fast, brutal but also strategic. Rugby players from the U16 and other levels were watching along the sidelines, taking in the final game of the championship.
“We stepped up to play a big game, and Quebec challenged us to do that again and we did,” Davison said. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to win at home.”
It wasn’t an easy victory, Davison said, with intense moments throughout.
“We knew we would have to be feisty at the breakdown, and make sure we were completely clearing them off the rucks,” she said. “We knew we had to make our tackles because they have such hard runners.”
Davison said, with one of the gold medals in her hand, that it was a surreal experience to be at this point.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I’m unbelievably proud of the girls. They stepped up in every facet we asked them to,” she said.
Davison said she’s hoping this momentum will carry on in the future, making the Nova Scotia U20 team one to watch.
Samantha Lake, captain of the team, who also played rugby at Avon View High School.
“I couldn’t feel better, it’s something that our program has been closer and closer to over the years,” Lake said. “This is what we’ve been working for.”
Lake is playing in the provincial senior women’s rugby team as well as her third year of the St. Francis Xavier University’s team.
She said the victory didn’t belong to one or two players, but that it was truly a whole-team effort.
“We all brought what we needed to bring,” she added.
The Keltics fended off the Ontario team on July 15, securing a final match against Quebec.
The July 11-16 tournament started with warm-up games from July 11-13, with Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec teams having the opportunity to play two games apiece.
Davison thanked King’s-Edgehill School and the Town of Windsor for being such great hosts, and for producing such fantastic rugby players – as many of the top players hail from KES and Avon View High School in Windsor.
