Horns rugby win Suggitt Cup

By Lethbridge Herald on September 19, 2022.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby team celebrate after beating the University of Alberta for the Suggitt Cup on Saturday night at Community Stadium.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

It was mission accomplished for the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby team on Saturday night on home turf.

The Horns beat the University of Alberta Pandas 23-17 to claim their fourth Suggitt Cup in five years.

The Suggitt Cup is in honour of former Horns coach Rick Suggitt, who passed away in 2017 and is played between the two teams in a two-game aggregate total points.

U of L had to win by two or more to win the cup after losing the first leg 22-20 in Edmonton last week.

“It was super exciting and it feels so great to keep the cup at home,” said Keegan Brantner.

“Having Rick being our past coach, it’s a real special memory for us to get to keep the cup and keep that here for us and hopefully bring it back next year.”

The Horns talked about keeping their energy high at halftime, to keep pressure on the Pandas defensively and exiting from their own end.

“So we just want to tidy up a few things from last week  —so keeping ball in hand and keeping (the) energy high for us,” said Brantner.

Head coach Graeme Moffat talked about the crowd at the triple-header with two soccer games and the rugby game.

“There’s probably well over 1,000 spectators here and they were loud and rowdy and it’s just brilliant,” said Moffat.

“It’s brilliant to see so many students out and so much of the community down cheering on the girls. They really love it and it really helps.”

It was the Pandas who got out in front first as Kate Manning made it a 3-0 game on penalty kick just three minutes into the game before Brantner punched in a try to make it 6-3 for the home side at the 13th minute.

Lethbridge extended their lead at the 18th minute as Karlee Durfey scored a try and successful convert was made to make the game 12-3 Horns.

Alberta would inch closer at the 40th minute as Maria Sawiak made it 12-8 before half time.

The Pandas Bronwyn Dormaar got the game to 13-12 at the 48th minute before U of L’s Savanna Collison sealed the Horns first victory with a try in the 52nd minute.

With the win, the Horns record is 1-2 on the season.

The Horns will be back in aciton  on the road against the University of Victoria on Thursday at 5 p.m. and at UBC on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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