Photos: Jackie Finlan
Scion Rugby Academy won a thriller of a women’s Elite 7s final, defeating Team Quebec 14-7 inside Sam Boyd Stadium. Although no official MVP was named, Saskia Morgan stood out for her defense and finishing off two tries in the final.
Morgan was one of several USA Eagles on the squad, but the wing did not point to that international experience as the main driver in winning the tournament title.
“Yes, having those players who have played at those higher levels does help in certain situations but it’s more so our bond with each that helped us,” Morgan said. “Experience can take you far. Talent can take you far, but if you don’t have that bond with your team, you’re nothing.”
Morgan was part of the very first Scion 7s team, as were Maggie Myles, Emily Fulbrook and Kimber Rozier – all present in Las Vegas. All told, there were 24 players filling two Women’s Elite 7s teams, and they had a day of training to sync up for game day.
“The first day we came out, we worked our system, and we did really well together,” Morgan reflected on the 3-0 day one and #1 seed into the knockouts. “On the second day against Tiger, we had a bit of a rough start. It was a very close game, only two points the difference. But in that game we showed our heart. In the game after that we really worked to put our system and our heart together and this [the final] is the culmination.”
In that game against the Tiger-1823 squad, Scion had to rally from a deficit, and those experiences always provide valuable lessons that can be applied later in the tournament.
“It’s always hard [to trail] but what our coach Toshi [Palamo] tells us is: We know what we have to do. They can score one try but we still remain calm because we know that we’re going to score three, four more,” Morgan said.
That mantra came in handy, as Team Quebec scored the first try of the final. Penalties, slipped tackles and a great offloading game gave the Canadians the 7-0 lead.
Ilona Maher (her interview to come) had one of two major linebreaks and was reined in at the five meter. A couple phases later and a penalty gave Morgan the space to whip around the corner for the try. Rozier knocked over the extras for the 7-all tie that held through halftime.
“My teammates had done all the hard work of driving the ball forward. All I remember is getting that pass and thinking: I have to do it! I have to do it,” Morgan said.
“It’s unbelievable,” the wing said of scoring in Sam Boyd. “You hear the crowd. You hear your family and friends. It’s just an unbelievable feeling.”
Scion was under pressure early in the second half, as Quebec attacked inside the 22 meter. The academy team did well to retain possession as it attempted to run the ball out, and then Maher got a big break to return play to Quebec’s 40 meter. That momentum nearly reversed as Quebec built a 2-on-1 on the sideline, but Morgan played it perfectly and forced a knock-on in the tackle.
The final try came with about a minute to play, as Rozier spied an unguarded Fulbrook out wide and sent a skip pass her way. She was just tripped up at the five meter, and a couple of exchanges later, Morgan picked up for the centered try. Rozier kicked the conversion, 14-7.
The game ended with back-to-back penalties in Quebec’s favor, but a knock-on ended the game and Scion won its first Women’s Elite 7s title.