Redcoats women topple Brantford in home opener

GUELPH – The defending Rugby Ontario’s Ontario Women’s League champion Guelph Redcoats made it three wins in as many outings as they ran away with their home opener Saturday afternoon at Exhibition Park.

The Redcoats trounced the Brantford Harlequins 52-5.

The hosts scored eight tries in the match and led 40-0 at halftime.

Brantford’s try came early in the second half.

The Redcoats lead the six-team league at 3-0-0 and are the only undefeated team following the third week of play.

Toronto Nomads and Aurora Barbarians are tied for second at 2-1-0 while Brantford and Balmy Beach are tied for fourth at 1-2-0. Oshawa Vikings are sixth at 0-3-0.

After starting the season with two road games, Guelph’s next two games are also on the road as they’re to play the Vikings in Oshawa Saturday and the Harlequins in Brantford June 18. Both games carry 12:30 p.m. starting times.

Marshall Division Firsts

The Redcoats suffered a 55-17 loss to the Brantford Harlequins in their Marshall Division Firsts home opener Saturday at Exhibition Park.

The locals scored a pair of tries in the match while they yielded six.

The Redcoats are in their first season in Rugby Ontario’s top league. They gained a berth in it by winning the Niagara Rugby Union championship in 2019. There was no league play in either 2020 or 2021 due to the global pandemic.

Guelph trails in the four-team West Division at 0-3-0. Brantford leads at 3-0-0 while Waterloo County is at 2-1-0 and London St. George is at 1-2-0.

The Redcoats are to play the Vaughan Yeomen at St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Vaughan is tied for second in the South Division with the Burlington Centaurs at 1-1-0. The Crusaders of Toronto lead that division at 2-0-0 while the Toronto Nomads are at 0-2-0.

• Guelph Sports Journal