OSHAWA, ON - The Durham Lords women's rugby team wore silver on Saturday afternoon, competing in front of a home crowd as Durham College played host for the 2021 OCAA women's rugby sevens championship at Thompson Rugby Park.
Durham opened their day with a bye to the semifinal round, facing the Fleming Knights in a showdown of green and gold. In a very tightly contested matchup, the Lords defeated Fleming 15-7 to secure their sport in the gold medal game. DC then matched up with the Humber Hawks in the championship final, coming up just short in a 36-14 loss.
Speedy back
Shay Morris (Ajax, ON) played exceptional for the Lords in the two Saturday afternoon games, scoring a hat-trick of tries in Durham's semifinal match versus Fleming, before adding a single try in the gold medal game. Morris was named player of the game in the semifinal round, and was later honoured as a championship all-star. Veteran forward
Heather Bews (Whitby, ON) earned player of the game honours for the Lords gold medal match, providing defensive prowess and leadership to the DC squad throughout the day. Rounding out the honours for DC players, second-year back
Glory Ezeude (Vaughan, ON) was named a championship all-star as well, delivering on several key tackles and chase downs.
The silver marks the second consecutive second place finish for the Lords in OCAA women's rugby sevens championship competition, previously reaching the second step of the podium in 2019. It is also the second medal for DC in just three years of competing in league play in the OCAA as the team officially joined the conference in 2018.
Rounding out the medals for the championship, the Fleming Knights defeated the St. Lawrence Surge in the bronze medal contest. In the consolation final, the Loyalist Lancers knocked off the Seneca Sting to conclude placing for the championship event.
2021 OCAA Championship Results
Gold – Humber Hawks
Silver – Durham Lords
Bronze – Fleming Knights
4
th – St. Lawrence Surge
5
th – Loyalist Lancers
6
th – Seneca Sting
OCAA Championship MVP
Essence Palmer McCarthy, Humber
OCAA Championship All-Stars
Daniella Grant, Humber
Alicia Hayes, Humber
Shay Morris, Durham
Glory Ezeude, Durham
Hannah Rose Gilpin, Fleming
Allesha Arsenault, St. Lawrence
Overall Record: 6-1 (W-L)
Conference Record: 5-0
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