Burnaby Lake’s premier women’s rugby team to peaking at the right time to a whole different level.
The Lakers saved their best outing for the Gordon Harris Memorial Cup stage, dominating the unbeaten regular season champion Velox Valhallians 20-7 at Klahanie Park on Saturday.
National team back Julia Sugawara ran in a pair of tries for the double blue, giving Burnaby its second consecutive provincial title and B.C. Rugby record seventh all-time.
Catherine Ohler booted a penalty kick and converted one of the three Laker tries. Front row forward Carolyn McEwen also scored a a five-pointer for Burnaby.
“It’s the same every season. You get to that level, or not,” said longtime women’s head coach Walt Brandl. “It so clichéd, but they were willing to put the work in. … Julia (Sugawara) is the heart and soul of that group. … and Carolyn (McEwen) keeps pushing everybody. You’re going to hear of her. She’s going to play for B.C. and pretty soon Canada is going to have to take a look at her.”
In what most considered a dominating performance against the 8-0 Velox XV in the final, Brandl said he could feel it coming.
“Two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have, but when I saw what we did to United (in the semifinal) who beat us earlier, I was feeling pretty good.”
Another Burnaby Lake veteran Laura Harmse was also enjoying that feeling in her last official game with the club after 20 seasons of service.
“We have heart and we wanted it,” said Harmse, who officially retired from competitive rugby after the match. “Every final is another game. Last year, I was extremely calm, but this year, I had a lot of nerves – bittersweet, happy and sad, but I love this game. It’s given me so much.”
