Thanks to Lisa Cooper for our Women’s game report and photos
This past Saturday our JBAA women hosted the Nanaimo Hornets at MacDonald Park. As the writer approached the icy cold field a minute past the opening whistle, Saffron Brooks was seen carrying the ball and a few Nanaimo players into scoring territory. Though denied on her first attempt, her strong carries would continue throughout the game. Not long into the first quarter a JBAA player went down and out of the game and the Hornets capitalized on the slow of play to score an unconverted try. JBAA 0-5 Nanaimo. JBAA took advantage off the restart with Captain Katie Mckinty charging hard into Nanaimo’s half. The Bays kept possession and got the ball out wide through Maggie Swan and Hailey Clarot, setting up Raelee Mulholland to score her first try in her debut for the Sr. Bays! Kylie Good makes the convert. JBAA 7-5 Nanaimo. In what felt like a greatly extended first quarter, Nanaimo pressured the Bays to score 2 more unconverted tries to end at JBAA 7-15 Nanaimo.
The second quarter was dominated by scoring from the Bays women. More powerful runs from Saffron Brooks and Katie Mckinty helped secure the ball to free up Maggie Swan outside. Maggie evaded 2 tackles but was taken down just shy of the Hornet’s try line. 2 mins later confusion amidst Nanaimo errors and penalties lead to space for Kylie Good to give Maggie Swan back her scoring opportunity just outside the posts. The kick drops short. JBAA 12-15 Nanaimo.
The Bays continue back into the Nanaimo half with a long run up the sideline from Hailey Clarot, who is taken out on the Hornet’s 22m. After a lineout win for the Bays and another penalty against Nanaimo, it was Saffron Brooks repeating her charge through the Nanaimo defense to touch down for a well deserved try. The kick is good, and the Bays take the lead. JBAA 19-15 Nanaimo.
The restart kick is scooped up by Kylie Good who fends and shifts her way through the Hornet’s defense and clears her way for a 70m run to score and catch her breath. The kicker is tired, and the conversion is missed. JBAA 24-15 Nanaimo. Before the end of the half, Maggie Swan and Kylie Good both make inroads to Nanaimo’s half, but a turn-over results in Nanaimo charging back to the Bays 22m. Sarina Brooks, who always seems to be in the right position to steal the ball at the breakdown, does just that. The ball goes through the hands again to Raelee Mulholland who steps her way past 3 defenders to score an unconverted try. JBAA 29-15 Nanaimo.
The start of the third quarter began as the first half ended. Not long after kickoff Saffron Brooks picks from a break down near half, passes to her sister Sarina who breaks through one tackler, dummies the next, and runs the distance to score. Though it takes some frantic arm waving and yelling to convince the Woods manning the score board to add the tally, the kick is good. JBAA 36- 15 Nanaimo.
Halfway through the quarter, Maggie Swan again finds space to run, and much to the delight of her father who is proudly cheering her on from the sidelines, touches down to score in the far corner. Kick drops short.
JBAA 41-15 Nanaimo.
The last half of the third quarter saw a big shift in momentum for Nanaimo. The pressure and ball possession that the Bays had, slowed significantly, and the Hornets scored 2 tries, 1 converted, before the end of the quarter. JBAA 41-27 Nanaimo.
JBAA kicked off for the final quarter, and other than two short-lived offensive attempts in Nanaimo territory, the majority of play was in the Bays own end. In the latter half of the game JBAA struggled with securing their own ball at the breakdown, and Nanaimo countered and capitalized. Though a few scoring attempts were denied by impressive tackling from scrum half, Erin West, the Hornets still made it over the line for an unconverted try. JBAA 41-32 Nanaimo.
With only minutes remaining on the clock, the Bays kick return results in a turnover and Nanaimo again brings the ball back hard and quick to score a converted try and turn the match into a nailbiter for the JBAA supporters in attendance. JBAA 41-39 Nanaimo.
Nanaimo regained possession after the restart and kept the pressure on the Bays 5m line. JBAA defense holds strong, and Sarina Brooks is again in the right position to steal the ball from the Hornets in the dying seconds of the match. Rather than kicking the ball out to end the play, Sarina keeps the onlookers holding their breath as she passes to Hailey Clarot. Hailey goes for one last charge up the sideline and is taken out on the touchline. The final whistle blows, and the Bays supporters can breathe again.
Final score JBAA 41-39 Nanaimo.
