No zones, but still provincials

Aryssah Stankevitsch     

Times Reporter   

 

With a win against Chestermere High School on May 29, the Strathmore High School Spartans boys rugby team would have earned a spot at zones. The Spartans had lost to Chestermere on May 9 by a score of 12-10, and dropped once again 27-17, eliminating them from potential zone play.

“If they play like they know they can play – how they did in the first 10 minutes of the Chestermere game – they can be very good,” coach Brad Steele said of his Spartans. “They can be competitive. We just have to keep our level of play consistently high. There’s lots of very good rugby players.”

Chestermere’s size brought a big advantage to the game. Steele knew this having seen them play before.

“They’re big and strong,” he said. “We came out very strong in the beginning too. We marched them down the field a couple of times, and we scored first. Then we couldn’t maintain that level of play. In the last ten minutes, we played very well again, but again couldn’t maintain. They scored in the end.”

The game was within reach for the Spartans, only down by three at one point, but they suffered a few team lapses. Steele and his boys know that zones would have been a challenge – as it’s lose one and you’re out – and against teams in their area that they may be unfamiliar with.

“We’ve played them all over the years, but some of these teams we would never have seen their players before,” Steele said.

The Spartans season isn’t over however, as they are hosting provincials; they will play against Alberta’s best. However, having not made it to zones, Steele knows his boys will have to bring their A-game against some very talented squads.

“I hope to be competitive, and I hope the effort is there. There’s no reason for us to lose, if we rise to the occasion,” Steele said.

The Spartans unfortunately will have no home field advantage; even though they are hosting, all games will be played at the Calgary Rugby Union June 6-7.

“It would have been nice to win those, and be in zones,” Steele said. “We had some disappointing losses – games by two points or three. With a play here or a dropped ball there, the season standing-wise could have been much different.”

Meanwhile the Strathmore ladies rugby team played in zones on May 31. They lost a tight final and finished in second for the zone. Both teams will be playing in provincials June 6-7 in Calgary.