ItB次元官网网址檚 been a year of accomplishments for rugby star Charity Williams.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 the silver medal she captured with the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens squad at the Paris Olympics in July. Then came a U Sports national championship with the University of British Columbia in November.
Williams added yet another important marker Friday, scoring her 100th career try as Canada downed Brazil 26-19 in its opening game of the HSBC SVNS stop in Vancouver.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 quite the milestone for me,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really proud of myself for being in the game for as long as I have.B次元官网网址�
The 28-year-old back from Toronto was playing her first game with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 sevens squad since the Olympics, but wasted little time in marking the feat.
Williams collected the ball from captain Piper Logan and darted in to touch in the first minute. She celebrated by forming her hands into a heart and holding them up to the hometown crowd.
B次元官网网址淚 was definitely happy,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淥bviously, I would have wanted to finish the season last season, go into the Olympics with that 100th try. Ending the season on 99 was kind of a tough pill to swallow.
B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 just really happy to be able to get the job done, especially to do it at home.B次元官网网址�
The 100-try milestone had the three-time Olympian B次元官网网址� she also won bronze at the 2016 Games in Rio B次元官网网址� reflecting on her long career.
B次元官网网址淚t definitely brings me back to the very beginning, when I was I guess 16 or 17 B次元官网网址� Literally feels like a lifetime ago. I was a baby,B次元官网网址� Williams said. B次元官网网址淏ack then I had no idea what was in store for me. And to look back and see that IB次元官网网址檝e been here for over a decade, IB次元官网网址檓 just really grateful.B次元官网网址�
Williams is more than just an offensive force for the Canadian crew, said Logan.
B次元官网网址淪he is one of those kinds of teammates that will do absolutely anything for the team, on and off the field. She is so dedicated, she puts her whole heart and soul into this,B次元官网网址� the captain said. B次元官网网址淎nd you see that on the field the way that she plays with a smile on her face and just expressing herself.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 been such a good example for the rest of the girls coming into this squad. And I think weB次元官网网址檙e really fortunate to still have her with us.B次元官网网址�
Williams also touched in the fourth minute against Brazil, diving over the line with a forward roll.
She spent the second half watching from the sidelines as Logan and Florence Symonds each chalked up a try for Canada, which came into the tournament sitting fifth in the series standings. Olivia Apps kicked three conversions.
Yasmin Soares touched twice and Isadora Lopes once for No. 9 Brazil, which also got a convert each from Mariana Nicolau and Raquel Kochhann.
The matchup was more of a battle than the Canadians wanted, Williams said, but that shows how the game has evolved.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really great for womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby and for rugby in general, that its grown so much that thereB次元官网网址檚 always a competition, no matter what game youB次元官网网址檙e playing,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o we just have to always go out there knowing that the win isnB次元官网网址檛 guaranteed, but you have to fight for it.B次元官网网址�
Later on Friday, Canada trounced No. 12 Spain 41-5 thanks to three tries and a conversion from Asia Hogan-Rochester.
The 25-year-old from Toronto said the performance is simply an example of the player sheB次元官网网址檚 becoming.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 just a matter of maturing and growing confidence, and also wanting to continue off of the high that was Paris in the summer,B次元官网网址� Hogan-Rochester said. B次元官网网址淎nd just not being satisfied, just always wanting to improve and being inspired by my teammates and people I play against.B次元官网网址�
Breanne Nicholas, Carissa Norsten, Fancy Bermudez and Alysha Corrigan also touched for Canada, and Apps added two conversions.
Marta Cantabrana had the lone score for Spain (0-2).
The Canadian women (2-0) will wrap pool play against No. 2 Australia on Saturday. The host nation sat atop pool A at the end of FridayB次元官网网址檚 action after Brazil (1-1) upset the Aussies (1-1) in the final game of the day.
Series-leading New Zealand (2-0) led pool B after thumping Ireland (0-2) and China (0-2), and will take on the U.S. (2-0) on Saturday.
No. 4 Japan (2-0) was first in pool C thanks to victories over Fiji (1-1) and Great Britain (1-1), with a game against France (0-2) still to come.
In menB次元官网网址檚 play, No. 2 Argentina (2-0) climbed to the top of pool A with wins over Kenya (0-2) and Great Britain (1-1) on Friday. The Argentines will meet France (1-1) on Saturday.
Meanwhile, fourth-ranked South Africa (2-0) bested New Zealand (1-1) and Ireland (0-2) to lead pool B, but has yet to face Australia (1-1).
In menB次元官网网址檚 pool C, top-ranked Fiji (2-0) led after decisive wins over Uruguay (0-2) and the U.S. (0-2), and will conclude pool play against Spain (2-0).
Both the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 quarterfinals go Saturday afternoon and the finals are set for Sunday.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 men are not playing on the elite rugby tour this season after being relegated last year.
But the team is part of an invitational menB次元官网网址檚 tournament also being held at B.C. Place this weekend, and posted a pair of convincing wins on Friday. First, they thumped Trinidad and Tobago 55-12, then downed Japan 33-12.
The Canadian men will return to action Saturday for rematches against both Trinidad and Tobago, and Japan.
