CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby sevens team made a triumphant return to Langford on Saturday, winning its first match of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop 19-10 against Spain.

Kicking off with a match between team USA and Fiji, the two-day tournament was also making its return, having been on hiatus since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Despite misty weather, fans flocked to Starlight Stadium to take in a full day of matches between some of the best womenB次元官网网址檚 squads in the world. In sevens tradition, many in the crowd donned elaborate costumes ranging from a Statue of Liberty to monsters, with plenty of flags and red plaid in support of the local heroes on team Canada.

READ MORE: Reaching for the sky: Rugby sevens captains gather before Langford tournament

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good, itB次元官网网址檚 really good. IB次元官网网址檝e been waiting for this for a long time,B次元官网网址� said young fan Elin Ekernas, who flew up from Denver with her mother for the tournament. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 mostly rooting for USA and New Zealand, they are my favourite. New Zealand is just so cool, they are just so good.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e love to watch womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby, sevens or fifteens, itB次元官网网址檚 just such a great sport for girls,B次元官网网址� added mother Karen Ekernas. B次元官网网址淚 think it shows you what you can do when you are strong and powerful. There are a lot of great role models in the sport.B次元官网网址�

Among the first fans to arrive on Saturday morning, the Ekernas were able to take in USAB次元官网网址檚 20-19 victory over Fiji.

The American squad dominated the match in the first half, with Kris Thomas and Ilona Maher each scoring a try with no successful conversions, and the team maintaining possession for nearly the entire half.

Kayla Canett earned the Americans a third try at the top of the second half, but the Fiji squad showed it was far from giving up.

Reapi Ulunisau earned FijiB次元官网网址檚 first try of the game and Lavenia Cavuru kicked the first conversion of the game for either squad. Shortly after, Alowesi Nakoci scored her teamB次元官网网址檚 second try, but the conversion was no good.

Determined to maintain her teamB次元官网网址檚 lead against a surging Fiji, team U.S.AB次元官网网址檚 Jaz Gray scored a fourth try for her team, but again the conversion was no good.

With a minute left before full time, FijiB次元官网网址檚 Nakoci scored her second try of the game, with teammate Viniana Riwai kicking a good conversion, meaning the game was decided by a single point in U.S.A.B次元官网网址檚 favour.

The Canadian squad took to the field for its first match to thunderous applause from the hometown crowd, which had noticeably filled out over the course of the morning.

Keyara Wardley soon found herself at the centre of attention from the cheering crowd as she scored the first try of the game, pushing Canada into the lead after four minutes of play. Teammate Breanne Nicholas kicked a good conversion.

Spain was quick to answer, however, with Maria Calvo scoring a try just a few minutes of play later, but the conversion was no good. Teammate Lea Ducher put Spain into the lead for the first time early in the second half, but with no conversion, the game remained within CanadaB次元官网网址檚 reach.

Bianca Farella soon earned a second try for the Canadians, with Nicholas kicking a good conversion. With two minutes left to full time, Wardley scored her second try of the game, winning it for Canada despite the conversion falling short.

The tournament continues on Sunday with the first playoff game starting at 10 a.m. and the cup final at 5 p.m.

READ MORE: WomenB次元官网网址檚 rugby 7B次元官网网址檚 land on Island ahead of Langford tournament

justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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