Host sa国际传媒, buoyed by a passionate crowd of more than 3,500 that filled Westhills Stadium, advanced to Sunday鈥檚 quarter-finals of the sa国际传媒 Sevens women鈥檚 rugby tournament with a 2-1 record in Pool C on Saturday.
But the hosts needed a near-miracle finish in their final pool game to do it. Trailing by five points, and pinned deep in their own end without the ball and only 15 seconds remaining, sa国际传媒 came up with a gritty takeaway. The ball was then passed to Charity Williams, who took off for a breathless, field-length try, that was converted by Ghislaine Landry, to steal a 19-17 victory over Ireland at the buzzer.
鈥淚 figured if I'm tired, they [the Irish team] must be even more messed up,鈥� Williams said of finding her reserve of energy.
She also cited the fans.
鈥淭he home crowd cheering us was so important. It gives you a bit of extra oomph,鈥� said Williams, a member of the Langford-based Canadian bronze-medallist team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
sa国际传媒 opened Saturday with a 22-7 loss to Rio Olympic champion and current world No. 1 Australia. The hosts rallied with a 24-10 victory over Spain, as Williams scored two tries, before edging Ireland.
Sara Kaljuvee, her hair dyed red to honour not only her country but her late mother, Lynee Rohland, epitomized sa国际传媒鈥檚 spirit on the day as she carried the ball time and again with opposition players draped around her neck.
鈥淢y mother [who died in 2016] is my inspiration. She battled cancer for 10 years and fought it every single day. If she could do that off the pitch, I can fight hard on the pitch. I always think I鈥檓 stronger than the next person out there. I鈥檝e worked so hard for this. It鈥檚 going to take a lot to take me down.鈥�
Kaljuvee also said the crowd gave the home side a lift: 鈥淭he fans were huge for us. We could hear them even before we ran onto the field. It was electrifying. It fuels your tank.鈥�
Caroline Crossley of Oak Bay scored a crucial try against Spain.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to get our confidence back,鈥� she said.
Crossley was referring to a bad patch last month in which sa国际传媒 placed fourth and out of the medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, followed by a stunning all-time low 11th place at the previous Sevens World Series stop in Japan.
鈥淚t was great to have that crowd support today,鈥� Crossley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to have family and friends cheering for you. There鈥檚 nothing like it.鈥�
sa国际传媒 will play the Pool B second-place United States in the quarter-finals on Sunday at 10:04 a.m.
The New Zealand Black Ferns, gold medallists at last month鈥檚 Commonwealth Games and ensuing Japan Sevens, continued their hot streak by going 3-0 to advance to a quarter-final on Sunday against England at 10:26 a.m.
The other quarter-finals have France meeting Ireland at 9:20聽a.m. and Australia playing Fiji at 9:42 a.m. There are four consolation games before the championship semifinals at 1:10 and 1:32 p.m. Four placing games follow ahead of the bronze-medal game at 3:54 p.m. and championship final at 4:20.
The Rio Olympics silver-medallist Kiwis defeated sa国际传媒 17-7 in last year鈥檚 final at Westhills.
SCRUM NOTES: Premier John Horgan was in the crowd and received a mixed reception when announced . . . The Belmont Bulldogs defeated Shawnigan Lake School in the all-Island sa国际传媒 high school girls鈥� sevens championship game, played during a break in the sa国际传媒 Sevens. Earl Marriott of Surrey defeated the Esquimalt Dockers in the bronze-medal game.
