With the fall season completed and the winter break over, the Bayside Sharks’ top men’s team will get down to business starting next weekend, when the B.C. Rugby Union’s premier league schedule kicks off.
The team starts the season with a road trip to Vancouver Island, with the season-opener set for Jan. 29 against Cowichan. The first home game is the following week, when the Sharks host Capilano on Feb. 5 at South Surrey Athletic Park.
“We’re all pretty excited at this time of year,” Bayside premier coach Dave Benoit told the Peace Arch News during the team’s winter break.
“We’ve got a lot of guys returning… and our goal is always the same – to play good enough to make the playoffs and go from there.”
Bayside will be without a few key members of last spring’s team, most notably Sean Pittman, who was a key addition from the Unite States just a season ago. Pittman is now playing professionally in Europe.
Another player who won’t be in the Sharks’ lineup is No. 10 Eric Sugawara, who is out for the year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. Three seasons ago, Sugawara also missed considerable time after suffering the same injury in his right knee.
Returning, however, is a stable of solid veteran players, including captain Adam Van Stavern, Brodie Henderson, Chris Pack, Isimeli Sigarua and Jay Blaak.
Also, newcomer Cody Rockson, from Langley, has been added to the mix for this season.
Last year, the Sharks snuck into the playoffs on the final weekend of the regular season, but were bounced in the quarter-final round, losing 47-25 to Capilano.
If the Sharks are to advance deeper into the post-season, Benoit said his team will need to make a commitment to playing better defensively.
“The last few years, we’ve never had a lot of trouble putting up points, but we’ve been too easy to score on at times,” he said.
“Our lineouts were always pretty good, but our scrums let us down.”
In advance of the regular season, the Sharks and Surrey Beavers will face off tomorrow (Saturday) with the Onion Cup on the line.
After being dormant for years, the annual grudge match was resurrected last season, with Bayside laying claim to the trophy after a 59-5 win.
Mini rugby
Registration for the Bayside Sharks’ mini-rugby program – for elementary-school aged boys and girls – begins Sunday, Jan. 23 at the South Surrey Athletic Park rugby fields (south of 20 Avenue, near Semiahmoo Secondary).
Two more registration days will follow, on Jan. 30 and Feb. 6.
Cost is $125 per player.
For more information, visit www.baysideminirugby.com
