Call it a breakthrough for KSS rugby.
The Owls senior boys’ team turned in the program’s best finish ever at the B.C. sevens provincial high school championship last weekend at UBC Vancouver.
KSS posted a 4-2 record over two days of competition to finish in fourth spot out of 16 teams.
In five previous trips to the provincial 7s tournament, the Owls consistently placed between ninth and 11th.
“This is a huge breakthrough for us,” said Owls coach Dave Marfleet. “We’ve always done well at sevens, we’ve got a good tradition going here at the school and we’ve had some good finishes, but this is our best yet.
“We made fewer mistakes,” Marfleet said of his team’s play. “The boys played with a lot of patience and played a good ball-possession game.”
On Day 1, the Owls won all three of their games: 14-7 over St. Mikes, 7-5 over Robert Bateman, and 17-7 over Magee.
On the second day, KSS edged Oak Bay 20-17 to advance to the semifinals, where the Owls lost to powerhouse Shawnigan Lakes 36-5.
In the third-place game, Yale defeated Kelowna 29-12.
Members of the KSS sevens team are: Jake Pilon, Eli Haynes, Joel Henseleit
Andrew Henseleit, Rahkeem Rockwell, Joe Price, Arun Mahal, Ryan Lawson
Carlos Cuerda, Tyrel Sawatsky, Brodie Couch, Dom Haynes and Owen Marshall.
The Owls now turn their attention back to the 15s season.
KSS, ranked fourth in the province, is unbeaten in Okanagan Valley league play this season.
The valley playoffs begin next week, with the Okanagan final set for Monday, May 13.
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