The Ladysmith Secondary girls’ rugby team had a strong finish to their season.
The team recently attended provincials in Brentwood where, after losing their first two games, beat Valleyview from Kamloops 45-0 to take seventh spot in the Tier 2 division.
Coach David Van Horne said it was the best game the girls played this season.
The girls lost Game One to Robert Bateman School out of Abbotsford 37-7. In the second game, Van Horne said the girls came out strong in the first-half, leading 7-5, but were not able to contain West Vancouver’s Sentinel School in the last half. Sentinel won 22-7.
Low numbers continued to plague the team, noted Van Horne, as the girls were forced to start the second half tired against a fresh opposition.
In their last game against Valleyview, they, too had low numbers. Both sides only played with 14 players, one less than the usual 15 a side.
“It was hands down the best game we’ve played all year,” said Van Horne. “Capping it off the way we did really put a nice finish on it.”
Captain Jeannine Fong was selected to the President’s XV, a great honour in her last year.
Overall, Van Horne was pleased with the season, but said somethings have to change.
While he is taking some time off, Van Horne said the team needs a definite influx of players if they are going to come back next year.
“It was a struggle having such low numbers,” said Van Horne.
“It is really going to come down to significant recruitment. If we haven’t got that we just won’t be able to run.”
