Gemini rugby women battle to the final whistle

Tillsonburg’s Keona Cornish drives the ball forward against multiple opponents. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

The clock was literally running down on the Tillsonburg Gemini girls’ rugby season.

The score was 39-19 in London Catholic Central’s (CCH) favour, and in the game’s final minute, one could have understood simply letting the final few seconds tick off, as uneventfully as possible.

But that was a memo Gemini Sophia Silliker failed to receive, sprinting to her left to wrap up and, using determination and leverage, bring a considerably larger Crusaders opponent to the St. George Rugby Clubs turf.

“We’re not going to give up because they’re up,” the Grade 11 student explained Wednesday, May 28 outside of London. “We’re known for not giving up.”

“We never give up,” agreed teammate Taylor Sache. “We kept pushing to the whistle.

“We don’t stop ‘till the whistle is blown.”

Silliker, Sache and company would have preferred a different outcome along their Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) Cup journey, but demonstrated willingness to battle to the very end was a result the coaching staff could accept.

“The only thing we’ve ever asked them to do is go down with a fight,” said coach Shelby Colldock.

Tillsonburg entered TVRA Cup play with a tough assignment. Their Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association A/AA dream derailed in qualifier action by a tough St. Thomas Parkside Stampeders squad, they faced AAA counterparts who had also been eliminated from regional competition.

CCH brought a balanced squad to the pitch, its offensive threat carried by powerful runners with breakaway potential.

“I tried to catch her,” said Gemini Aleria Montgomery of one unsuccessful tackle attempt. “I was like… I’m going to eat dirt,” she added with a smile.

Trailing at the half, what had been a comparatively quiet Gemini squad saw the Crusaders open with a try, extending their lead to three scores. Tillsonburg’s Asha David ignited her team’s resurgence with a solo takeaway and powerful run, setting the stage for a short-range Sophie Hicks try.

“Brought her down, flipped her over, grabbed the ball,” David summed up succinctly. “I mean if no one’s getting it, I will.

“Gotta bring it back up,” she added. “One play - we keep moving.”

CCH responded, restoring its lead and eventually extending it, against a Tillsonburg team which kept going through the final minute. Ava Newman and Madison White finished with two tries each for the Crusaders, Kateria Derman and Charlotte Cox adding singles. Naomi Caperchione opened scoring for the Gemini with Montgomery scoring her team’s third try.

“They got down, they got back up and they got going,” credited Colldock. “A great group of girls.”

“With what we had, I think we did really well,” added Silliker. “Everyone should be proud of themselves.”

In his closing remarks, coach Tony Hietkamp praised the Gemini for battling hard, congratulated the graduating veterans who led the team through this season, and reflected on their shared introduction to what he considers “a spectacular game,” featuring competition, camaraderie and team spirit.

“Very proud, couldn’t have asked for anything more,” Hietkamp concluded. “And I hope there’s a whole bunch of Grade 9’s who come out next year, see this game and want to play.”