Island Teams in Contention as Rugby BCs Resume Tomorrow
The 2009 British Columbia High School Rugby Championships will take centre stage at UBC this weekend, as the quarter-final matchups have been determined in the AA and AAA tiers following first round games played around the province last Saturday. Not surprisingly several Vancouver Island and Victoria teams still remain as contenders for both championships.
In the AA division, Esquimalt defeated Surrey school Clayton Heights 28-8. The Dockers now move on to face Island rival and #1 overall seed Brentwood College, who demolished their opening round opponent Sir Charles Tupper 83-3. Reynolds didn't have to go far to face their first round opponent, as the Roadrunners took on fellow Island school Ladysmith, but fell to a tough 49ers squad 27-3. The Roadrunners will now be placed in the consolation bracket of the AA tournament, while Ladysmith moves onto the quarters and will face North Vancouver's Collingwood.
In AAA first round action, Lower Island Champions St. Michael's University easily took down Kitsilano 48-6 to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year. The Blue Jags next opponent will be Abbotsford school Robert Bateman. Meanwhile, Lower Island runner up Oak Bay trampled Van College 39-7. The Bays will be heavily tested in the quarters, as they face second ranked St. George's. In other Island action, provincial #1 seed Shawnigan Lake humiliated Terry Fox 73-5, while Courtney’s G.P Vanier took down South Delta 31-21.
This year's Shawnigan squad appears to be on a mission to win the title after losing the BC Championship Game to Carson Graham last season. But before they can get ahead of themselves, Shawnigan will have to defeat Island rival Vanier in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The AA and AAA quarter-finals, as well as the consolation games will take place on Wednesday, with the third round coming Thursday before an off day Friday and the final round Saturday.
VSO will have continued results of the 2009 BC High School Rugby Championships through to Saturday's Championships.
