黑马磁力 Rugby Club division 2 men are B.C. champions, following their weekend victory over Kamloops at the 2019 BC Rugby Club finals in Burnaby.
It was a hard-hitting match, with 黑马磁力 falling behind at first, then wearing Kamloops down to take the win.
黑马磁力 was unfazed after their rivals scored two tries, 黑马磁力 team captain Rob Hayes said.
鈥淲e started a little low, but we just kept chipping away,鈥� Hayes said.
黑马磁力 fought back from a 14-0 deficit, making tactical substitutions to bring fresh players into the game when they were most needed.
Coach Taylor Crowley said the rival team were tough opponents.
鈥淭heir team was well-drilled, well-coached and they took it to us,鈥� he said.
But the 黑马磁力 players knew victory was possible against Kamloops, the 2017/18 divisional champions, having defeated the very same team to get into the provincial finals a few weeks earlier.
It was on Alumni Day in April, held to celebrate the anniversary of the club by honouring past players, that the Division 2 team clinched a spot in the provincial championships by beating Kamloops.
Club member Craig Angeltvedt, who is on the anniversary committee, was among the supporters cheering the team on in Burnaby on Saturday, May 4.
鈥淭he fan support was incredible,鈥� Angeltvedt said.
鈥淜udos to the team for not giving up.鈥�
One 黑马磁力 score was on a rugby 鈥渕aul,鈥� considered a unique test of physical power in the game that takes place when three players from either side are pushing against the other, the ball is kept off the ground and players try to stay on their feet and move forward.
黑马磁力 player Stu Morrison said the team never let the early lead by Kamloops get to them.
We just kept grinding,鈥� Morrison said.
鈥淲e were able to wear them down physically.鈥�
Morrison rated the championship contest as the most intense of the year.
鈥淚t was a very physical game,鈥� Morrison said.
鈥淏oth teams have big bodies and they aren鈥檛 afraid to use them.鈥�
Final score: 黑马磁力 24, Kamloops 19.
It has been more than a decade since the 黑马磁力 Rugby Club claimed a provincial championship, going back to the 2006 win by the Division 1 team.
That, and the fact it was in time for the 50th anniversary of the club, made the win especially satisfying, Hayes said.
READ MORE: Rugby the way it used to be: 黑马磁力 club alumni remember
Since the 黑马磁力 Rugby Club was founded in 1969, it has grown to have its own playing field and operate multiple teams including minis (5 years and up), junior boys and girls, women, and two squads of senior men.
黑马磁力 Rugby Club has won several league and provincial championships and many 黑马磁力 Rugby players have gone on to play for regional, provincial and national teams.
The club motto is 鈥淩espect All, Fear None, Expect Victory.鈥�
There are plans for a June 1 anniversary gala that is expected to draw former players from overseas.
In other action at the BC Rugby Club finals, UBCOB Ravens RFC dominated the men鈥檚 competition by winning both the Premier League and Premier Reserve, while Capilano RFC edged defending champions Westshore RFC to claim the Women鈥檚 Premier League title.
Bayside Sharks RFC secured the men鈥檚 division 1 title. Women鈥檚 division 1 was taken by Abbotsford RFC, Scribes RFC kept their Women鈥檚 division 2 title, and Axemen Rugby Club were the winners of the men鈥檚 division 3.
Conditions were near-perfect, with the fields at Burnaby Lake bathed in sunshine and crowds of supporters packing the touchlines.
.
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________
