ETOBICOKE — The eventual Ontario college champion Humber Hawks steamed to a 24-point lead before the hard-charging Conestoga Condors narrowed the gap in big way in women’s championship rugby action Sunday.
Conestoga got a couple of quick scores in the second half and even threatened to win the game in the late going en route to a 24-19 loss in the Ontario final.
In only their first season of existence, the Condors gave the now two-time defending Ontario college champs everything they could handle.
“I think Humber’s past success was a little too fresh in our minds,” Conestoga coach Josh Kirk said of his squad’s sluggish start.
Despite their valiant comeback attempt, the Condors know they came within a whisker of upending the undefeated Hawks.
Conestoga’s leading scorer through the season, Caitlin Martin, scored an earlier try and nearly busted loose with a try in the dying seconds before Humber’s Stephanie Draper brought her down with a game-saving tackle.
Conestoga’s Valerie Shantz and Rebecca Bannon also scored second-half tries.
“I think every one of our girls knew they played a great game,” said Kirk. “They were upset by the loss but proud of the accomplishment.”
Humber advanced to the final after notching a 41-5 romp over Algonquin in semifinal action.
The upstart Condors dumped St. Lawrence College in Kingston 35-22 in the league’s other semifinal.
This story was originally featured in the Record: http://www.therecord.com/sports/university/article/624544--condors-go-down-fighting
