Hamilton tries, tries and tries again in narrow girls’ rugby defeat

Rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of either girls’ rugby squad as the Woodstock Huron Park Huskies battled the homefield Tillsonburg Gemini. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

It was not ideal weather for photography.

Rain, intermittently heavy at times under dark skies, made both lighting and protecting delicate electronic equipment challenging.

But it wasn’t bad for rugby and when Woodstock Huron Park Husky Ema-Leigh Hamilton broke free for her third try of the day, she was ready for her moment.

“It’s like OK, if this was being recorded, this would be my snapshot highlight,” Hamilton smiled after her third and final scoring dive in a narrow 22-17 TVRA Varsity Girls’ Rugby defeat to the homefield Tillsonburg Gemini on May 13.

Hamilton did not mind playing in the rain, which may have contributed to at times more slippery field conditions, benefitting her explosive breakaway speed.

“It kind of cools me down,” she explained of the precipitation.

Regardless of the weather, Hamilton was also looking forward to the Huskies final regular season game, up against a Tillsonburg team she described as good competition.

“Whatever it was, like a learning experience or a win, I knew it was going to be good.”

The game played out well, a balanced affair between two determined squads. Hamilton’s third try of the day, breaking through the Gemini defence on the right side with a burst of speed, tied the game up late in the second half.

The home side was able to regain possession, however, driving determinedly down the field for a late try which took away the victory, if not a sense of satisfaction.

“It’s just fun,” said Huron Park’s Reagan White, a first-year player who has found her sport, one she loves. The Huskies came close to at least a tie on the day she said, a shared team effort.

“We also ran through a lot of tackles, just like running hard.”

Huron Park’s 1-3 regular TVRA season included a 25-10 win over crosstown rival Woodstock CI Red Devils, as well as a lot of shared growth, said White.

“I feel like we may not have won, but we kind of won as a team. From our starting players to our extra players, all of the girls grew as a team.”

“Very happy,” agreed Huron Park coach Brandon Thomas, particularly pleased with the ongoing development of a young roster.

“I think that was the most complete game we’ve played,” he assessed. “It’s nice to see the group learn and progress with the season.”

Finishing fourth in the Jill McCallum division, the Huskies season will continue with TVRA Cup playoffs, opening on the road Thursday, May 22 at noon against the Arva Medway Cowboys.

“And go from there,” Thomas concluded.

TVRA Varsity Girls’ Rugby

May 13

Tillsonburg Gemini 22, Woodstock Huron Park 17

St. Thomas St. Joe’s 20, Woodstock CI 0

May 8

St. Joe’s 32, Huron Park 15