Spartans win silver at provincials!

Andrea Roberts
Times Intern

 

The Strathmore Spartan Girls’ Rugby team showed what teamwork and perseverance could do after winning silver during Alberta Schools Athletic Association’s (ASAA) provincials in Lethbridge on June 3-4. After struggling to work as a cohesive unit in the beginning of the season, the athletes managed to come together to win zones, a feat they had never managed before and showed their true stamina. Eight of the best teams in Alberta qualified for provincials. While the Spartans won their quarter and Semi-finals, they lost in the finals to the hosts Winston Churchill High School, with a final score of 12-42.
“You know this was truly a team effort,” said Jerry Flaws, the Spartan girls rugby coach.
“The team played very well, they supported each other, they played together, and it was a complete team effort to get that medal.”
The team made a number of historical firsts, as this was the first time the team had won zones making it to the provincials on their own merit, having usually taken part in provincials as the wild card or the host. They also made a 95-metre dash during the last play of the semi-finals to win 24-17 against F.P Walshe School, a team the Spartans have never defeated before in the history of the program.
While the team struggled in the beginning of the season, the coaches focused on tackling, wrecking, and defense, which Flaws said made a noticeable difference this year.
While this is the end of the season for the team, many of the girls will go on to play for summer rugby clubs.
“We are very proud of what they have done this year,” said Flaws.
“We took 40 girls and made it eventually down to one team. Even the girls who didn’t place supported each other and it created a great environment.”