When the Westshore Valkyries and Castaway-Wanderers meet at Macdonald Park to decide the B.C. premier womenB次元官网网址檚 division Cup championship, thereB次元官网网址檒l be a definite air of familiarity.
Not just because the teams have played each other twice in recent weeks, but because six players from last yearB次元官网网址檚 B.C. premier champion Velox (now West-shore) shifted over to CW to help build the Oak Bay clubB次元官网网址檚 numbers and competitiveness.
The defending champs still have the edge in experience, however, with 12 of their current starting 15 in the lineup for last yearB次元官网网址檚 title match.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a friendly rivalry there, but at the end of the day itB次元官网网址檚 still a competition and both teams want to win,B次元官网网址� said Westshore Rugby Football Club president Mark Wyatt. Emotions will be running high on the pitch, he added and as much as thereB次元官网网址檚 respect between the teams, theyB次元官网网址檒l both be doing what they can to gain the edge.
The Valkyries, who topped the B.C. league at 12-2-1 this season, rolled over Burnaby Lake 53-5 in last SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 Cup semifinal at Westshore Parks and Recreation.
Selina McGinnis and Chelsea Minter scored two tries each to lead the ValsB次元官网网址� attack, while Lisa Gauthier, Randi Hunter, Barbara Mervin, Rosie Lang and Brittany Simms added singles. Hunter also kicked four conversions on the day.
Westshore rides a seven-game win streak into this weekendB次元官网网址檚 match. The win over Burnaby Lake was an emphatic one and avenged one of the ValsB次元官网网址� only two losses of the regular season, a 24-19 decision back on Feb. 27 on the mainland, although the visitors were missing some key players that day, Wyatt said.
Valkyries head coach Clay Panga likes the way his team is rounding into shape at the right time of the season.
B次元官网网址淭he two games leading up to (the final) were an excellent example of the girls playing a full 80 minutes,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎 few of our performances this season were, IB次元官网网址檇 say, 50 minutes of solid play then we fell off a bit. The girls are really playing as a team and I think weB次元官网网址檝e just really found our structure.B次元官网网址�
Containing the speedy and crafty CW backline will be job one, he said, but the Valkyries match up well.
B次元官网网址淲e have some really big forwards and we like to take advantage of that fact. But we also have some very creative backs B次元官网网址� We have the luxury where at virtually every position in the backfield, we have players who can push for national selection.B次元官网网址�
CW, who wound up second in the regular season at 11-4, beat Seattle 47-29 in the other semifinal Saturday.
Despite the fact his team has defeated Castaway-Wanderers twice in the past month or so B次元官网网址� 27-17 at Juan de Fuca and 32-15 at Windsor Park B次元官网网址� Panga pointed out that this has been a breakout season for CW. They train hard and smart and continue to make strides, he said.
That said, the presence of such core veteran players as Marlene Donaldson, Mervin and others has brought a B次元官网网址渉igh-performanceB次元官网网址� feel to the Valkyries; a B次元官网网址渨inning attitude and a championship mindset.B次元官网网址� Not only has that environment helped the team raise its level of skill and competitiveness, Panga said it has provided inspiration to him as both a player and coach.
Game time Saturday is tentatively set for 11:30 a.m. at Macdonald Park in James Bay.
Westshore RFC Div. 3 men look to secure provincial crown as well
The Westshore Div. 3 menB次元官网网址檚 side is also contesting a B.C. championship this weekend in James Bay.
The Valhallians, who won the Island division with a 7-1 mark, downed Brit Lions B次元官网网址楢B次元官网网址� 7-3 in a tightly contested semifinal on Saturday in Delta. That sets up the 3A Cup final against undefeated Kelowna this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Macdonald Park.
Kelowna, winners of Group 1 on the mainland with an 8-0 mark, beat Simon Fraser 45-3 in the other semifinal last weekend.
Westshore captured the Island third division crown on their home field at Juan de Fuca earlier this month with a 53-5 thumping of Comox, after dispatching Nanaimo 73-5.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
