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Parkside routs capturing rugby title
Penner scores three tries in 52-15 crushing of Glendale
May 10, 2024
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - The Parkside Stampeders are returning to WOSSAA girls rugby.
Aleah Penner scored three tries and Ella Ordronneau kicked five two-point converts, as the Stampeders routed the Tillsonburg Glendale Gemini, 52-15, in the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) A/AA final May 9 at Parkside C.I.
Heidi Andrews and Maddy Chute, both had two tries and Aba Coombs, one. Kenzie Crichton also booted a two-point convert.
"Everybody shows up at practice and works their hardest. We play for each other to win games like this," co-captain Andrews said. "Teamwork. We try to include everybody in the game."
The Stampeders topped their division at 3-0, defeating the Strathroy Saints, Medway Cowboys and cross town rivals, St. Joe's Rams, their favourite win.
"Beat them 26-0. It wasn't easy, but that makes it sounds like it was," said Andrews, of the score against St. Joe's.
Glendale went 1-2 in a division with AAA school Lucas and Laurier.
"They have some big, strong players. Key players we had to look out for," Andrews said. "We're a strong, fast team and we used the outside to score a lot of tries."
Parkside led 33-0 before Glendale scored.
"It's an accomplishment, because most of the girls have been on the team for the past three years," Ordronneau said. "We all did it together. We play for each other and work our hardest to make it as far as we can. We know we're capable and just being confident in ourselves is really helped us.
The Stampeders will host the WOSSAA A/AA final against the Huron-Perth Conference champ, Thursday, May 24, at 1 p.m. The winner advances to OFSAA, the high school provincial championship, June 3-5 in Courtice.
"We'll need to push our selves and be confident because we're going to face a good team," said Ordronneau. "We're really quick with the ball. Our forwards are fast moving the ball and we get it to our backline. If we need to get it to our pods we move it very fast."
Two years ago, Parkside won WOSSAA AAA gold, before moving on to win one of three games at OFSAA.
Andrews and Ordronneau were both on the team as Grade nine and 10 players, respectively, now want to lead the Stampeders back to the high school provincial championship.
The Stampeders prepare for WOSSAA with a tournament in London next week.
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