A tough Penticton high school team put a stopper on the Salmon Arm Secondary Jewels’ provincial championship bid on May 7, defeating the Jewels 22-7 in Penticton and knocking them out of zone playoffs.
Nimble back Avia LaTosky ran in Salmon Arm’s only try after a series of quick passes in loose play, setting up Grace Rempel for a perfect conversion kick.
There were numerous other scoring chances, but they were stymied by the united defence of the hometown squad. Inside centre Brooke Miller was inches from a corner try when she was gang-tackled, inflicting an ankle injury that sidelined her.
SAS showed a marked improvement in set scrums, lineouts and rucks compared to the team’s previous match-up on April 2. However, Penticton’s dangerous backline staged numerous fast forays.
Penticton goes on to meet North Kamloops and determine the Okanagan-Thompson champion team for 2014, which then heads to Provincials.
The loss was especially bitter for the third-place Jewels, who will regret the absence of gritty Grade 12s Amy Sandy, Kaisha Fagrie and Olivia Plummer from next year’s squad.