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Whatever Kaitlin McGraw had for supper Tuesday night, it's likely James M. Hill Tommies rugby coach Joel Corcoran will insist she continue to eat it before every game.

Enlarge Photo

(Darcey McLaughlin photo)

Louis J. Robichaud players try in vain to slow down Tommie Kaitlin McGraw Tuesday afternoon as the school met on the JMH pitch to open the AAA girls high school rugby season. McGraw was a force in the game, picking up five tries and five conversions.

The forward and high school senior had five tries and kicked five conversions to lead JMH to a 65-0 win over the Shediac-based Louis J. Robichaud Patriotes in AAA girls high school rugby action Tuesday afternoon. She was helped out by Jodi Hachey, who had three tries, while Megan Murdoch, Karley McKenzie and Jessica Beaulieu had one try each as the Tommies opened the regular season on their home pitch.

At times the game resembled a large cat torturing a half dead mouse. The game was stopped several times so LJR coaching staff could tend to injured players. The Tommies were dominant throughout and the Patriotes had only brief moments where they posed any sort of threat.

McGraw opened the scoring for JMH with a try before kicking the conversion for the 7-0 lead. A few minutes later McGraw would strike again. After getting the pass near mid-pitch she was off to the races. The LJR players could do little but watch as the speedy McGraw carried the ball in for another try. She would miss the conversion after.

The Kaitlin McGraw Show continued with another try shortly after that, running half the length of the pitch, weaving through Patriote players for her third try of the game and adding the conversion after.

Jodi Hachey then struck for the Tommies, powering her way across the try line to score the first of her three tries in the game.

In the second half, LJR threatened getting past the 22 metre line early but couldn't make a go of it, turning over the ball after a scrum and allowing the Tommies to score.

McGraw continued her strong play in the second by scoring two more tries. She could have scored another after carrying the ball over the try line, but showed great sportsmanship by tossing the ball to Beaulieu so she could get on the board with the try.

The Tommies would then coast the rest of the way, picking up another try and conversion to complete their domination of the Patriotes.

Boys lose 26-0

The Tommies boys also began their season Tuesday night as they travelled to Moncton to take on the Harrison Trimble High School Trojans.

JMH had a strong start to the game, keeping the ball in the Trojan half of the pitch for most of the first half, but failed to score.

With less than an minute to play in the half, HTHS would take the ball in for a try but miss the conversion to take the 5-0 lead.

In the second half, the Trojan offense kicked into gear, picking up 21 points for the eventual 26-0 win.

JMH coach Trevor Glazier said despite the loss he saw some positives in the way his team played.

"They played very well and kept the ball in the opponents' half for the first half of the game," he said. "Second half the boys played well again but missed a few key tackles ending us with a 26-0 win for HTHS."