The Paul Kane Blues are one win away from their second metro Edmonton women's rugby banner in three years after Kendall DeWitt's game winning buzzer-beating try in Tuesday's semifinal.
The heart-pounding 15-10 decision against the McNally Tigers catapulted the Blues into the division one final against the powerhouse Bev Facey Falcons, winners of the last four championships.
Thursday's kick-off is 4:45 p.m. at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
The last division one banner for the Blues was 2008 in the premier conference.
The Blues and Facey are undefeated as the top teams in their respective pools and during a preseason tournament the Sherwood Park squad defeated Paul Kane 15-5.
Facey's fifth win was 36-3 over the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds (2-2) and the Blues are 4-0 after their late-game heroics against McNally (3-2) on a hot and dry afternoon at the Pirates Rugby Club.
"Battered and bruised but strong and resolved to the end. It was a true team victory," said an excited Marty McKeever, head coach of the Blues. "It was truly a hard-fought victory. We can all be very proud of how these young ladies represented the old blue and white."
The fourth quarter was knotted at 10 as the team slugged it out between the 22-metre lines before Emily DeWitt alertly took a quick lineout ball around the halfway line and fed it to Hannah Clark. The play caught the Tigers off-guard and the Blues were able to advance deep into McNally's end for the first time in the second half.
Ferocious attacks by Kaylee Bogart, Sydney De La Mare, Joely Bragg and Reed Andruchow left the Tigers scrambling inside their 22 and a slew of penalties close to their five-metre line. With basically seconds remaining, the Tigers had an injury timeout as the Blues were awarded a penalty. After some debate, the Blues decided to run it and Kendall took the pop up and hoofed it outside for the game-winning try and her third score of the contest. After the unsuccessful conversion, the referee blew the whistle and it was celebration time for the Paul Kane Nation.
McKeever quoted one of his favourite bands, Great Big Sea, to describe the never say never attitude of the Blues.
"Let them say what they want, they won't stop trying, oh you know.
"They might stumble, it they push them 'round.
"They might fall, but they'll never lie down."
Kendall crossed the try line twice in the first quarter after several turnover balls and punishing tackles were exchanged between the 22s.
The first score saw Emily, a scrumhalf, bust loose and draw in the defenders before distributing a slick pass to her twin sister on her hip and Kendall the flanker motored into the try area.
The Tigers started to press after the try but the Blues held strong on the defensive line.
The kick game was also a factor in the swirling winds, as Emily put her best foot forward for Desiree Rose and Sarah Weihmann to chase down for possession.
Kendall's second try was a dash to the corner set up by tenacious rucking by a pair of props, Bragg and Andruchow, and De La Mare at eight-man after a turnover off a Tigers' knock-on for a Blues' scrum near the halfway line.
The score remained 10-0 in the second quarter as the defensive backline of the Blues stuck their tackles with vengeance, led by Katryne Pharis, McKenna Marthiensen, Ainsley McKinnon, Amelie Gautier, Camilla Hollody and Rose. The De Witt sisters were also a pair of wrecking balls on defence.
The third quarter featured some starters on the sideline for a breather and a yellow card sin-bin infraction left the Blues a player short.
The Tigers were able to score twice on the outside after they were held back several times inside the 22 by the gritty Blues.
Back at full strength after the yellow card, the Blues kicked for touch a few times in a row to dig themselves out of danger as the quarter ended tied at 10, setting the stage for the dramatic ending.
The Blues have nine players on the roster from the 2014 division two championship team that finished 5-1.
Men's playoffs
The division two men's playoffs kick-off Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. for the Bellerose Bulldogs and Sturgeon Spirits in the pool A and B crossover semifinals.
Bellerose (5-0-1) and the Edmonton Christian Lions (6-0) tangle at Lynn Davies Rugby Park in Sherwood Park and Sturgeon (5-0-1) battles the St. Francis Xavier Rams (4-2) at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club.
The winners qualify for Thursday's final at Ellerslie. The start time was unavailable at press time.
In pool A, Bellerose and Sturgeon, last year's division two champion and Tier 2 provincial bronze medallist, waged a wicked 31-31 draw.
The last metro rugby banner for the Bellerose men was 2013 in the city conference playoffs.
Fear the Fish
The St. Albert Dolphins are perfect in two matches in the Edmonton Rugby Union's new U21 men's division after Wednesday's 39-5 victory over the Lep/Tigers (0-2) at Ellerslie.
The majority of the Dolphins saw action with SARFC premier and/or third division teams last weekend at the Nor'Westers Rugby Park.
The next match is Wednesday versus the Clan (4-0) at 7 p.m. at Airways Park.
SCRUM BALLS: The Spitting Llamas, a touring team formed 12 years ago of past and present SARFC players, are competing at this weekend's Edmonton Rugbyfest at Ellerslie. Matches are scheduled today on field No. 3 at 10 a.m. and 1:20 and 3:20 p.m.
The all-star lineup of Llamas includes the likes of Ashley Hanson, Dom Jenni, Byron Elliott, Brett Kelly, Sean Lelacheur and Graham Noren.
