The Kalamalka Lakers and Vernon Panthers senior boys rugby teams have one last chance to make the B.C. High School Championships at the end of the month in Abbotsford.
The problem is that only one of them will make it as they both lost their semifinal matches Thursday afternoon.
The Panthers lost 20-8 to the league champion Okanagan Mission Huskies in Kelowna, while the Lakers lost another heartbreaker, 22-15, to the Kelowna Christian Knights, at Kal.
The Lakers went up early on the Knights with a try from Russell Hickman. The Knights responded with two tries and added a conversion before halftime.
After the break, the Laker forwards put in an impressive period of sustained pressure which paid off with a second try by Hickman.
With the score 12-10, the Kelowna squad added another try in response to take a 17-10 lead. The Lakers’ never-say-die attitude kicked in with Cam Strike carving his way through a suddenly porous Kelowna Christian defence to score in the corner to bring the game close. With little time remaining, the Knights were able to launch one last attack to score a final try.
Kelowna Christian, who ambushed the Pleasant Valley Saints 49-0 Tuesday, face Okanagan Mission for the Valley title Thursday in Kelowna.
Kal finished second in the regular season, and the Panthers fourth.
The Laker/Panther matchup will be played at Kalamalka on Thursday at 4 p.m.
The top-10 ranked AA schools are as follows: 1. Collingwood (West Vancouver); 2. Brentwood College (Mill Bay); 3. Rockridge (West Vancouver); 4. Glenlyon Norfolk (Victoria); 5. Hugh McRoberts (Richmond); 6. Okanagan Mission; 7. L.V. Rogers (Nelson); 8. Southridge (Surrey). 9. Kalamalka; 10. Ladysmith.
Round One provincial AAA games will take place on Saturday, May 26 in Kelowna, and at Brentwood College, South Surrey Athletic Park and a venue in Vancouver yet to be confirmed.
Competition for the remaining three days (May 30, 31 and June 2) will be at the Rotary Stadium and Exhibition Park Complex in Abbotsford.
