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Two Island institutions, with alumni lists that extend to numerous players capped for sa国际传媒, swept to sa国际传媒 high school rugby titles at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford on Saturday. The Shawnigan Lake Stags won the Triple-A crown and St. Michaels University School Blue Jags the Double-A championship.
The top-ranked Stags left little doubt in capturing their sixth provincial Triple-A title in seven years by raking the second-ranked St. George鈥檚 Saints of Vancouver 35-5 in the championship game. That avenged last year鈥檚 late-game rally loss to the Saints, which ended the Stags鈥� five consecutive-year run as sa国际传媒 champions.
鈥淭he only time it was really mentioned is when, at half time, we said we were in this same position last year [leading] and to not let it slip away,鈥� Shawnigan head coach Tim Murdy said. 鈥淲e focused on the process. But we had to earn this championship. It was a battle of two contrasting styles. We wore them [Saints] down to create our chances.鈥�
Centre George Barton was man of the match for the Stags while fly-half Alejandro Barron kicked two penalties and a conversion.
Second-seed SMUS of Victoria defeated top-ranked Rockridge from West Vancouver 23-7 in the Double-A final.
鈥淲e had a go from everywhere, and both our tries [scored by Lucas DeVries and Carson Smith] were beauties,鈥� Jags coach Ian Hyde-Lay said.
Matt McColl converted both tries and added three penalty goals. He is part of a remarkable Blue Jags athletic class, which also won sa国际传媒 championships this season in soccer and basketball. McColl, Graeme Hyde-Lay, Max Pollen and Jake Wilmott played on all three provincial championship teams.
Ian Hyde-Lay described the trifecta as 鈥渧alidation鈥� for the SMUS approach. 鈥淲e believe everyone should be a multi-sport athlete,鈥� said Hyde-Lay, who also coaches the Jags basketball team, from which his son, Graeme, is headed to play hoops for the UVic Vikes. 鈥淥f the players on our rugby team, most played at least one other sport.鈥�
