OAKVILLE, Ont. - With a season structure where three of four West Division teams will qualify for the post-season, the Sheridan Bruins women's rugby team (1-2 OCAA) picked up an important victory on the opening match day of the OCAA women's rugby season.

Although they on the wrong end of a lopsided 42-0 scoreboard against a Humber team that has now won 27-straight regular season games, the Bruins managed to rebound against Conestoga. They led 10-0 at the interval on tries from Maddie Gundy and Taylor Jordan, the latter in spectacular fashion. 

With Conestoga threatening deep in Sheridan territory, the Double Blue managed to force a turnover and after Kirsten Archer broke a tackle, she dished off to Jordan who took it the distance. Conestoga rallied with a pair of second half tries - giving them a 12-10 lead after the convert - to set up a dramatic finish. 

The ensuing kickoff was to be the Bruins' last chance and a couple of heads-up plays kept their hopes alive. First it was Candice Low Kum diving on a loose ball after an errant pass to maintain possession, then it was Archer drawing a defender in with a fake before pitching to Carah Hager. With plenty of green space in front of her, Hagar took off down the right wing - covering some 75-metres - to supply the game-winning try, with Jordan tacking on the convert to round out the 17-12 final score. 

In the final game of the day, the Bruins took on the reigning champions from Seneca and though they were close in the first half - trailing 19-7 at the break - a pair of turnovers on the Sheridan side of the field early in the second led to quick-strike scores and pushed the game out of reach. Hager scored her second try of the day, while Natasha Smids connected on the convert. 

The second OCAA match day will take place on Sept. 29 in Cambridge, with the Bruins opening against hosts Conestoga.