The Maple Ridge Burrards managed to cling to the fourth and final playoff berth thanks to some help over the weekend from some unlikely sources.
Wins by the Coquitlam Adanacs and the Victoria Shamrocks over Nanaimo and Burnaby respectively allowed the Burrards to remain in fourth place with two games left to play in the Western Lacrosse Association regular season.
The Shamrocks bested the Lakers 11-6 Friday night before the Adanacs downed the Timbermen 9-10 in overtime Saturday.
Currently, the WLA standings are knotted with four teams separated by just three points, each chasing one of two playoff berths.
The Langley Thunder is holding on to third place with 16 points, while both Maple Ridge and Nanaimo each have 14 points, with the Burrards holding the tie-breaker over Nanaimo with more wins. Burnaby, meanwhile, is just a point behind in sixth place.
With two games left to play, the Burrards can finish as high in the standings as third, or as low as seventh.
“Last season we went on a big streak at the end of the season and snuck into the playoffs,” said team captain Peter Tellis. “We’re hoping to do that again.”
However, while every other team in the WLA was playing last weekend, the Burrards were idle as a result of Country Fest.
Tellis thinks the break will benefit the team.
“I don’t think rust is an issue,” said Tellis. “The break has gives a chance for a few players to rest up .
“Regardless, we’ll be well-prepared. It’s not hard to get motivated this time of year.”
As for possible first-round match-ups should the Burrards hold onto fourth-place, Tellis said he and the team are more concerned with the games at hand this weekend.
“To me, I don’t care as long as we’re playing in August,” he said.
The Burrards travel to Burnaby Friday night to take on the Lakers before returning home Sunday night to face the first-place New Westminster Salmonbellies.
“Our fans are great, and the support has definitely been improving over the last few years,” said Tellis. “We’d love to see some fan support for our last game of the regular season.”
