Spartan Rugby girls emerge victorious

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

The Strathmore Spartans rugby girls’ team carried forward the momentum of their Springbank 7s Tournament win, when they claimed a significant victory over Bow Valley High School last week that paved the way to zones and requires only one win to compete at provincials.
The Strathmore High School (SHS) team showed off their strong backs positions and managed to slow down several skilled players on the opposing team on May 12, leading to a 43-5 win.
“They played really well today and we worked out a lot of defensive stuff and we can start to see it implemented,” said Jerry Flaws, Spartan rugby girls’ coach.
“We still have to keep working on that and we have to move fast. That’s our biggest thing now. The hesitation is slowly going away but we need everybody to lose the hesitation and then we’ll do really well.”
Numbers of the SHS girls’ rugby players, which consisted of two teams, recently dwindled, resulting in the combination of both teams. While the team has many Grade 12s with much experience, Flaws said defense and greater quickness of the line will become the focus before heading to zones where the team will take on Foothills Composite High School.
“Our goal is to win zones and to do that we need to play well; it’s going to be a tough game,” said Flaws.
“We have good athletes in our school and our good athletes play rugby where a lot of other schools the good athletes aren’t playing rugby and that’s our advantage. They’ll come out and play where at other schools they won’t.”
Furthermore he praised the fast moving backs and their ability to move the ball well.
Over the past decade, ruby’s popularity has experienced tremendous growth in the zone that stretches from Banff, to Strathmore, to High River and to Olds. What started out as three girl teams has escalated to 10 currently, with boys rugby teams totalling 12. At the provincial level, a third tier was needed to accommodate the number of teams.
According to Flaws, the women’s success at the international level has also become a catalyst in promoting the sport locally.
Although the season has remained steady, enduring a few losses while also claiming several victories, the Strathmore athletes are challenging strong teams.
“Five years ago if I had a team this strong, I would’ve walked all the way through to provincials,” said Flaws. “We’ve won two and lost two. So it proves how strong our league has gotten over the last few years.”
The Strathmore Spartans rugby girls’ team is heading to Banff on May 19, before taking on Foothills Composite High School on May 25.