A week after the CIS rugby national championship tournament, winning silver is just as sweet as it ever was.
“I’m very proud of the result we had at nationals,” said Emily Ricketts, a fourth-year centre. “[Coming second] is still a little fresh but we had a great result. The game was close, we fought back-and forth.”
For the second time in school history, McMaster sits at second in the country. This time though, it is a little different. In 1998, Mac won silver hosting the inaugural tournament and the pool of talent was considerably smaller. That is not to diminish the accomplishments of the team from nearly two decades ago, but the road to a CIS podium finish is significantly more difficult than it once was. And the Marauders would not medal at nationals again until 2011. But the program is highly unlikely to suffer a similar drought.
“This is a great experience to build off of. We had four girls on our team who went to nationals in 2011, so we did not have a lot of players who had experienced that before – that pressure, that physical and mental stress,” said Ricketts.
Leading the program to the CIS championship game was head coach Shaun Allen. In his first year as head coach
of the program, Allen praised past coaches and athletes for helping set a foundation to make a run at the national tournament. The previous coach, Cam Mitchell, even Skyped Allen during the national tournament and watched the streams from his home in New Zealand.
Mitchell was just one member of the McMaster community who embraced the championship run. Both Allen and Ricketts said that support did not go unnoticed.
“There was really good support throughout the tournament and the weekend. The department and the other programs at the school did a great job supporting us and it felt like the McMaster family was behind us,” said Allen.
“It was great, it was really exciting. Women’s sports in gen- eral don’t get a lot of exposure, but this year, we had so much support,” said Ricketts.
Going forward, the team can return the majority of their roster. There are no fifth-year athletes and only two fourth years, per Marauders.ca. Ricketts also said that there is already a lot of buy-in for another championship run next year, and the squad is looking to get back into training.
In an athletic department teeming with programs capable of making championship runs, the Marauders women’s rugby program is the closest thing to a sure bet.
With a hungry group coming back next year, the hallway of DBAC could have a 2015 CIS championship banner to hang beside their 2014 provincial championship.
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The Marauders women’s rugby team was able to pull off a win against the Western Mustangs to score an OUA bronze medal in miserable weather conditions.
The weather posed a challenge for both teams, as the combination of torrential downpour and rugby cleats made the ground very muddy, which increased the number of errors throughout the game.
“There were increased handling errors which is never ideal and the ground was not very solid at all. I know that the forwards, especially the front row had a difficult time adjusting to the adverse conditions. But eventually we were able to modify our game and play more our style,” said Marauders captain, Cindy Nelles.
Although the weather was bad, Nelles was able to find some positives that put them at an advantage in the game.
“I think that the conditions although adverse did play out to our advantage because we are a team that can execute fancy plays but can also break it down to the nitty gritty rucks and mauls type of game that a rainy muddy field provides.”
The Marauders executed a number of those fancy plays to get to a score of 26-5 over the Mustangs, a win that brought Mac to it’s second bronze medal in a row.
This was Nelles first bronze medal, however, as she was injured for the bronze medal match last season. Although the medal did not match up with her season goals, she believes that they proved themselves in their game and out-played the Western team.
“It was not our ideal outcome seeing as how we had our hopes set on going to nationals, but we made the most of being in the bronze medal match against Western and we were able to physically dominate them, so as far as our performance in the game, I'm pleased,” said Nelles.
As captain of the team, Nelles felt as though she had a great season as well, and proved to do better than last year.
“Individually I am proud of my season, being one of the leaders on the team was a bit of an adjustment but I feel that I was able to balance that with making my return to Mac Rugby after having a rough season last year.”
Now, the captain will continue to train hard, in order to make the national senior women’s team.
“I really want to make it to that level and think that with the support here at McMaster, and all the training and guidance that athletes are provided here, it can really help me along that journey.”
As for the rest of the team, they will be gearing up to compete in a couple of indoor tournaments, and they will also be training for a tournament in BC in March.
“There are a few sevens tournaments scattered throughout the winter and I know we will be looking to assemble some players to attend those tournaments.”
The team will look ahead to the winter season to train hard, and hopefully qualify for the CIS Championships next year.
In the short and compact rugby season, the Marauders have been able to pull off a record of 4-3.
This mediocre record does not do the Maroon and Grey justice however, as they are up against two of the most talented teams in the country – notably the Queen’s Gaels and the Guelph Gryphons.
“The OUA has some very good competition,” said veteran captain, Cindy Nelles.
Although the OUA is stacked with exceptional teams and talent, however, Nelles believes that the Marauders have improved throughout the season, and can continue to improve their record in seasons to come, so that they can compete with the more dominant teams in the CIS.
“We definitely have room for improvement. We made huge gains throughout the season, from day one to even half-way throughout the season… we’ve just been on a steady climb. If we can continue that habit into next season or pick up where we left off this season, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
Nelles thinks that the 4-3 record is decent right now, but if this begins to be a trend for McMaster heading into next season, she won’t be proud of it.
“I think that next year, if we have this record, I won’t be satisfied,” added Nelles.
The Marauders third loss on the record was due to the dominant Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, Oct. 19, where the Maroon and grey faced a tough loss to the visiting team.
But the game was not all bad for the Marauders, as they still managed to hold their ground against the Gryphons, and they kept the team’s score to the lowest score they had all season- 20-0.
This fate is similar to what the Marauder’s faced last year in the quarter-finals, except their loss was of a greater differential. They lost 72-0 to the Gryphon team last season.
But Nelles feels as though seeing the Gryphon team so often has allowed them to become a lot more familiar with the way the Gryphon system works, and their style of play.
“The more you face a team, the more you learn a little bit of how they play, that makes you train to how they play…then you think you’ve stepped up your game, and then they change their game. It is just this constant cat and mouse effect,” said Nelles.
The Marauders managed to match the Gryphons game a lot better this season than last however, which spoke volumes about the continual improvement of the team.
“I think that says something about our team, and even just improvements from last year to this year. We’ve made huge gains,” said the captain.
One of these gains is confidence, which Nelles believes only grew over-time with experience.
“Through getting experience in the OUA, building those games and getting the chemistry going, I think that we’re a much more confident team in our skills and capabilities. I think that has helped us execute a lot of what we want to do on the field.”
This confidence has grown out of the development of the players, and the change of a young team, to an older one.
“Last year, we were a very novice team comprised mainly of first and second years. Each year we are getting more and more experience and I just think that will be huge for us,” added Nelles.
Before the team looks too far ahead, however, Nelles knows that they need to concentrate on defeating the Western Mustangs for an OUA bronze medal on home territory, which is a match that Nelles thinks the Marauders bring a lot to the plate for.
“I think that we definitely have strength in our forwards. Our forwards have been able to produce a fairly good scrum. In the backs, we definitely have some smart players back there. There are a few girls that are very good at making decisions and can execute. We definitely have a very aggressive team. I think that will bode well for us.”
The Marauders will bring their aggression and experience to the anticipated match against Western on Saturday Oct. 26 on the Back Ten field, where they will hope to receive the bronze medal for the second year in a row.
The McMaster women’s rugby team proved why they are a contender for an OUA title this season by dishing out back-to-back wins on their York Lion opponents.
The second victory came on the evening of Oct. 11, when the Marauders faced the Lions for the second time in a row. The score was 37-0.
With home field advantage, the Marauders managed to grasp an early lead with an penalty goal from Stephanie Black followed by a try from Heidi Henderson to bring the score to 10-0 Marauders. The Marauders would continue to pressure to the weaker York Lions as tries from Cindy Nelles and Jenn Lemon would bring the Marauders to a 20-0 lead.
Heading into the second half, the Marauders stepped it up even further as three of Mac’s players would all cross the touchline. Black played well for the Maroon and Grey, bringing in a total of 12 points to make her the top scorer of the night.
Currently ranked tenth within the CIS top-ten the Marauders will now advance to play the Guelph Gryphons in the OUA semifinals, which will take place on Oct. 19 on the Gryphons’ home turf.
The Guelph Gryphons are ranked second overall in the country and finished regular season play as an undefeated team. McMaster gave the Gryphons their hardest battle this season, keeping the score close for most of the match. Unfortunately the Gryphons were able to pounce on a few of the Marauders errors handing them a 44-27 deficit.
With much to be proud of the Marauders are able to maintain confidence heading into the crucial match up against Guelph this weekend on the road.
It was a big weekend for women’s rugby as the team defeated their quarterfinal opponents the York Lions with a crushing 64-7 score.
As this was the team’s final OUA regular season game, the win was crucial to the future of the squad’s season. The win now sets up a conference quarterfinal game against that very same squad on Oct. 11.
The Marauders showcased seven talents in the match against York with Stephanie Black, Rina Charalampis and Madolyn Vande Pol each scoring a pair of tries.
Lauren Crampton, Emily Ricketts, Emily Cameron and captain Cindy Nelles each adding individual tries in the game.
Black led all the Marauders scorers with 24 points, adding seven converts to her pair of tries.
McMaster was the first to draw blood in the match and amassed an early and unanswered 24-point lead. York would soon put an end to the Marauder run with their only try of the afternoon followed by a successful convert from Alexis Boltsis which brought the Lions within 17 going into the second half.
That is the only life the Lions would show all game, as the Marauders would pounce on every opportunity to bring the score further out of York’s reach.
The Marauders would fire another 40 points in the direction of the York Lions to put an end to a successful afternoon.
Stephanie Black added 20 points in the second half alone after breaking through for both of her tries and notching a total of five converts helping the Marauders to secure an easy victory.
Mac will anxiously welcome back the York Lions on Friday afternoon on the Back 10 Field.
The conference quarterfinal matchup is set to kick off at 1:00 p.m.
Alexandra Reilly
Assistant Sports Editor
Despite an incredible effort from the Marauders on Sept. 28, their efforts were no match for the CIS top ranked Guelph Gryphons who unloaded a 44-27 victory on the McMaster crew.
The Marauders are now 2-2 on their season and tied with York for second overall in the OUA’s Russell Division rankings.
For the first time this season, Guelph was forced to battle back as the Marauders put up a hefty fight keeping the game close for 40 minutes. Senior winger Madolyn Vande Pol put forth an incredible effort scoring a team high ten point in the opening half.
Team Captain Cindy Nelles came out with a try helping McMaster head into the break only trailing the Gryphons by two.
The second half would show the Gryphons domination and showcase just why they are the No. 1 ranked squad. Guelph would pick up the pace and only expand the lead further out of McMaster’s grip.
Last week’s Athlete of Week, Stephanie Black scored a total of five points in the second half on a convert and penalty goal.
Cindy Nelles would once again solidify herself as a crucial leader to the squad as she commended them for their efforts and would only take this game as a learning opportunity to improve.
“I think that we have put forth a very good effort as a team and have really done a great job to improve during our very short season,” said Nelles.
“We have a whole lot of potential within the players that are committed to the program and I can see huge gains in the future if we can continue with our hard work ethic,” Nelles added.
Looking forward, Nelles is well aware of her role as team captain and understands the immense importance of their next three matches in securing them a play off spot.
“The next 3 games are the most important games of our season and my main focus as the captain is to ensure that the players remain focused on the team and team goals,” Nelles said.
McMaster will welcome the York Lions to Field F this weekend as they battle against the team, which they currently remain tied with for second place. Kick off is set for 12 p.m. on Sunday Oct. 6.
Alexandra Reilly
Assistant Sports Editor
A blowout was what the McMaster women’s rugby team saw a year ago when they faced the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
A repeat was definitely what the team hoped for, and that is exactly what they got.
The Marauders travelled down the Q.E.W. on Sept. 21 to face the Blues in the legendary Varsity Stadium.
Right from the get-go, the Marauders were in control, dominating in all aspects of the game.
They would eventually hand Toronto another absolutely crushing loss as they took the game 71-0.
“This past weekend we had the opportunity to sharpen up our system and work together as a team, which lead to our success over U of T,” said center Emily Ricketts.
While the past two matches were cakewalks, the Marauders now face the biggest test of their season.
“The CIS No. 1 ranked Guelph Gryphons will no doubt be some of our toughest competition and we are looking forward to the challenge this Saturday,” Ricketts said
The victory over the Blues represents the second consecutive week in a row the women have not conceded a single point. Last week, McMaster defeated Trent 41-0.
The win now puts the Marauders to 2-1 and gives Toronto their third straight loss of the season.
Sarah Farquharson and Ricketts each totaled two tries in the game but it was Stephanie Black who truly dominated, racking up a game-high four tries against the Varsity Blues.
Stephanie has also been given the honour of this week’s Pita Pit athlete of the week commending her efforts on Saturday afternoon.
“As our Fly Half, she [Black] is a big part of our offense and a threat with the ball,” said Emily of her teammate.
“She [Black] will be preparing this week for a challenge against the Gryphons and we are confident she will be able to answer their intensity.”
The Marauders hope to maintain their power amongst the CIS rankings with another win on Sept. 28 when they visit the Guelph Gryphons on their home turf.
Alexandra Reilly
Assistant Sports Editor
With a spectacular offensive effort this past Saturday afternoon, the McMaster women’s rugby team was easily able to soar past the Trent squad, defeating them with a score of 41-0.
The lead would start early on for the Marauders, as they would score in the first ten minutes of the match.
The game would remain close for the first 20 minutes of the game as great offensive efforts from both sides proved to keep the game interesting.
McMaster would soon power up and throw some strategic set plays to split the Trent defense. Before half-time, Mac was able to score a third try giving them a huge 15-0 lead over the Excalibur.
Captain Cindy Nelles’ efforts were definitely appreciated by teammates as she scored a total of four tries on the day.
“Having captain Cindy Nelles back in the line-up after being out last season due to multiple injuries has made a big difference in open field play,” said Marauders prop Christine Van Beest.
Following this, the Marauders went on to score another three tries late in the half before the final whistle.
Nelles finished the day off as the game’s top scorer with a convert and total of four tries against the Excalibur.
Sarah Farquharson and rookie Sahara Whiteley-Hoffelner each had a break out game scoring two tries of their own on Saturday afternoon.
The Marauders hope to see the same outcome against their next opponents the Toronto Varsity Blues as they did last season.
The squad walked away with a commanding 60-7 victory over the Toronto team at their last meeting a year ago.
“Looking on to U of T the team will prepare as normal this week, looking to continue to meet our goals and playing a fast paced game,” Van Beest said about their upcoming contest this weekend.
Match is set to take place this Sept. 21
Alexandra Reilly
Assistant Sports Editor
A traditional powerhouse team in the OUA, McMaster women’s rugby suffered a disappointing loss against the Queen’s Gaels last Saturday in Kingston, Ont.
McMaster lost a hard-fought battle on Saturday with the score at 33-21.
Although the ladies did not make it home with a win, head coach Cam Mitchell was very pleased with the team’s performance against the CIS-ranked Gaels.
One of the team’s front runner Emily Ricketts commented on the team’s efforts on Saturday.
“Playing against the CIS No. 4 ranked team for our first game was hard with a new mix of players but we put up a great fight,” said Ricketts.
“We are such a young team and we relied on a number of rookies to start this past week,” added Ricketts.
Some notable rookies to start last Saturday for the Maroon and Grey were Saffara Whitelely-Hoffelner and Colleen Irowa.
McMaster ultimately struggled to organize itself offensively. Efforts from captain Cindy Nelles brought the team within seven points towards the end of the match, before the Gaels put forth one final push to seal the deal.
The Marauders recorded four tries in the game, which included their comeback attempt.
Nelles, Sarah Farquharson and Stephanie Black each scored a try in attempt to grab a win.
Black also had three successful convert kicks scoring a total of 11 points.
The women must now brush off the loss and look forward.
Their next contest is against the Trent Excalibur and will take place at McMaster field F this Sept. 15 at 12:00 p.m.
Photo C/O Richard Zazulak
Ben Orr
Silhouette Staff
The Marauders’ perfect record did not survive their trip to Guelph, but their season itself is far from over.
Losing for the first time this season, the McMaster women's rugby team fell to the Guelph Gryphons 36-5 in the OUA Championship on Oct. 29.
Played on the Saturday night at Varsity Field, the game marked the toughest test the dominant Gryphons have faced all season. By reaching the final, both teams had already claimed their place at the CIS tournament, to be held in Peterborough on November 3-6.
The Marauders came into the match with a 7-0 record, having earned a CIS tournament berth by defeating the Brock Badgers in the OUA semifinal. It will be the program’s first appearance on the national stage since the tournament’s inception in 1998.
OUA All-Star Natasha Turner scored the lone try for the Maroon and Grey on the day, as the Gryphon's attack proved to be too strong to be denied for long. After pinning Guelph in their end early, the Marauders were unable to capitalize on a cold night that saw numerous ball-handling errors.
The Gryphons were able to turn defence into offence, and the second-ranked team in the nation did not look back. The title is the Gryphons fourth in a row and 11th since it was first contested in 1994.
Both teams will venture to Peterborough this weekend to compete at the CIS Championships. The Trent Excalibur, who were knocked out of the OUA playoffs early by the Queen's Gaels, will also compete as hosts, giving the province three representatives at the tournament.
Rounding out the competition are the top-ranked St. Francis Xavier X-Women (the AUS champions), the Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ champions) and the Lethbridge Pronghorns (Canada West champions).
The X-Women have been ranked first in the nation all season long, and defeated Acadia 60-0 in the Atlantic final for their 14th straight conference title. Lethbridge also enjoyed a dominant undefeated season, culminating with a 41-0 shutout of Alberta in the title match. The title was their sixth in a row.
Laval is yet another undefeated champion heading to Ontario, having beaten Concordia 43-27 in the RSEQ final.
Trent is hosting the tournament for the second year in a row, and will look to improve on their 0-3 mark posted last year.
St. Francis Xavier will be looking to defend their 2010 title, and earn their third overall. Lethbridge looks to return to the winner’s circle after winning three titles in a row, from 2007 to 2009.
Pool A will consist of St. FX, Trent and Lethbridge, while McMaster, Laval and Guelph will play in Pool B. This setup guarantees a rematch of the OUA final between the Marauders and Gryphons.
The fifth place, bronze medal and gold medal games will be played on Nov. 6. Matches will be live-streamed on SSN Canada.
