The Carson Graham Eagles are flying high once again, thanks to a dramatic 11-10 win over defending AAA Division champions, GP Vanier Towhees, in the Provincial Final on Saturday in Kamloops.
Following a convincing win over South Kamloops in the opening round of the provincial playoffs, the Eagles were tested by Semiahmoo in Thursday’s semi-final/
In doing so they managed to come away with a exhilarating 13-8 overtime victory to set up their shot at a provincial championship.
In the final, Devan Baker’s try with under five minutes to play proved to be the decisive marker, as the Eagles were able to see off a furious late push from the Towhees – my old school stomping grounds in Courtenay.
The win marks a return to the pinnacle of AAA Girls’ Rugby for the Eagles, who last won the title in 2012. “It was an awe inspiring weekend for the Team,” said Eagles Coach, Brad Baker. “The girls have been battling hard to raise their level of game prior to the tournament.
After beating Semiahmoo in double overtime in the semi-final, the girls were determined to take it to the next level. The staff asked the girls to dig deep and feel the pride of wearing the Carson Graham jersey.
We only had 3 grade 12’s on the field and a grade 9 starting at hook – we needed them all to play for each other and they did. The motto for the week was to always remember that the jersey that you put on is for you to represent all the girls that have played for Carson Graham in the past.”
In the AA Division, Shawnigan Lake School looked confident in all three of their playoff matches, notching a 34-7 win over Abbotsford in the final.
The victory came on the heels of a massive 64-17 win over the defending 2015 champions from Brentwood College School in the semi-final.
The Girl’s AA title formed part of a hugely successful weekend for the Stags, whose Junior Varsity Boys and Senior Boys both won titles in their respective provincial championships over the weekend as well.
The Kamloops rugby faithful equally had cause to celebrate, as the home-town NorKam Secondary Saints dispatched the Armada from Alberni District Secondary School by a score of 35-17 in the Division 2 Final.
“Our team relied on two things this year – pure grit up the middle and outside speed,” said Saints Coach Susan Kabotoff. “We had a small team and small numbers but in the end, we were able to play our game. We couldn’t be more proud.”
Day 3 Results – championship round
AAA
1st / 2nd: Carson Graham 11-10 GP Vanier
3rd / 4th: Yale defeat Semiahmoo
5th / 6th: Cowichan defeat Earl Marriott
7th / 8th South Kamloops 27-22 Salmon Arm
AA
1st / 2nd: Shawnigan Lake 34-7 Abbotsford
3rd / 4th: Lake City 44-5 Brentwood
5th / 6th: Robert Bateman 44-15 Valleyview
7th / 8th: Houston 51-0 Westsyde
Tier 2
1st / 2nd: Norkam 35-17 Alberni
3rd / 4th: Mission 25-5 Gleneagle
5th / 6th: Handsworth 37-10 Merritt
7th / 8th: Smithers 29-0 Duchess Park
Day 2 Results – semi-final round
AAA
Cowichan 68–22 South Kamloops
Carson Graham 13–8 Semiahmoo
GP Vanier 32–25 Yale
Earl Marriott 29–10 Salmon Arm
AA
Shawnigan 64–17
Brentwood Valleyview 29-5 Houston
Robert Bateman 44–12 Westsyde Abbotsford 31–26 Lake City Tier 2 Alberni 38–22
Gleaneagle Handsworth 60–5 Duchess Park Norkam 24–5 Mission
Day 1 results: quarter-finals
AAA Carson Graham 83-10 South Kamloops
Yale 50–5 Salmon Arm
GP Vanier 34–10 Earl Marriott
Semiahmoo 20–5 Cowichan
AA
Abbotsford 59-0 Westsyde
Shawnigan Lake 91-5 Houston
Brentwood 21-17 Valleyview
Lake City 22-15 Robert Bateman
Tier 2 Mission 54-0 Duchess Park
Alberni 60-20 Smithers
Norkam 39-5 Handsworth
Gleneagle 45-5 Merritt
Thanks to Brendan Munro, Communications Manager – BC Rugby for the info.