PEISAA 2024 Rugby Championships
June 5, 2024 by admin
Filed under Provincial and Territorial News
PEISAA 2024 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
| GOLD | SILVER | BROZNE | |
| GIRLS A | Charlottetown Rural High School | Bluefield High School | Three Oaks Senior High School |
| GIRLS AA | Montague Regional High School | Charlottetown Rural High School | N/A |
| GIRLS AAA | School Bluefield High School | Three Oaks Senior High | Charlottetown Rural High School vs Colonel Gray Senior High School |
| BOYS A | Colonel Gray Senior High School | Charlottetown Rural High School | Bluefield High School |
| BOYS AA | Montague Regional High School | Kensington Intermediate/Senior High | N/A |
| BOYS AAA | Bluefield High School | Charlottetown Rural High School | Colonel Gray Senior High School Three Oaks Senior High |
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PEISAA RUGBY: Charlottetown Rural, Colonel Gray overcome adversity to win senior A crowns
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The 2024 P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) senior A rugby champions know how to overcome adversity.
The Charlottetown Rural Team Three Raiders battled through injuries to win the girls’ provincial banner with a 30-5 win over the Bluefield Team Two Bobcats.
Meanwhile, the Colonel Gray Team Two Colonels overcame a late deficit in overtime to edge the Charlottetown Rural Team Two Raiders 24-17 to claim the boys’ championship that carried special significance for assistant coach Phil Gallant.
“One of our coaches hasn’t won it in 20 years, so we needed this win.” – Zach Craswell
It marked the first PEISAA provincial championship for Gallant in almost 20 years as a coach at the Charlottetown high school.
“One of our coaches hasn’t won it in 20 years, so we needed this win,” Zach Craswell, the Colonels’ player of the game, told SaltWire after the final.
Both titles were decided at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside on June 3.
Girls
Bella Walsh, head coach of the Charlottetown Rural girls, credited the players’ work ethic throughout the season for the team’s success.
“They pushed through. They’ve done everything we’ve asked for and more. They show up to practice and work hard.” – Bella Walsh
“We had a few injuries, but they really deserve it,” said Walsh. “They pushed through. They’ve done everything we’ve asked for and more. They show up to practice and work hard.
“Bluefield was a tough, tough team and they were very disciplined, but I’m very happy we came out on top.”
Leah McEntee scored two trys to lead the Raiders while Diana Wandra, Kaelyn Doyle, Sara Thomas and Jessa Gaudette added single trys.
Thomas, a Grade 10 scrum half from Charlottetown, credited a strong team chemistry for the Raiders’ success.
“We are all good friends, so it was easy to connect with everyone,” said Thomas, 15.
“We are all good friends, so it was easy to connect with everyone.” – Sara Thomas
Walsh said a key to the Raiders’ success, despite injuries, was a team-first approach.
“They all came together and realized it’s not just one player that makes a team,” said Walsh, who added the Raiders showed they really wanted to win in the championship game and did everything the coaching staff asked of them.
Boys
The Colonels and Raiders were tied 12-12 at the end of regulation time. Charlottetown Rural scored a try in the first five-minute half of overtime, setting the stage for a frantic Colonel Gray rally.
Craswell scored a try to tie the game with about two minutes remaining in the second overtime half. Both convert attempts on the first two overtime trys were unsuccessful, leaving the teams tied 17-17.
Then, as time wound down, Duncan McIntyre scored the winning try and Ethan Goeseels kicked a successful convert to give the Colonels the seven-point win.
“It cut a few years off my life,” said Gallant. “It was one of the most exciting games I have been a part of with the momentum shifts back and forth. There were a lot of talented guys on both sides.
“We thought we had it wrapped up in the last two or three minutes (of the second half) and they tied it up and that deflated us a bit.”
“It cut a few years off my life. It was one of the most exciting games I have been a part of with the momentum shifts back and forth.” – Phil Gallant
Craswell, a Grade 11 centre, said it felt great to contribute the game-tying try and be on the field when McIntyre scored the go-ahead try.
“It was one of the best feelings I have had from sports,” said Craswell, 17. “There’s something about rugby with all the hitting and stuff and all the minor injuries you get through the game, but when you win that, especially in overtime after coming back, it’s one of the best feelings you can ever have. It is awesome.”
Gallant said the Colonels battled injuries early in the season but were able to field a healthy lineup late in the season.
“We had a couple of really good practices with the whole team together, which really, really benefited us,” said Gallant. “We knew the strategy we wanted to play with, and we wanted to play with speed and aggression. And that’s what we did.”
Scores
PEISAA senior A rugby playoff scores June 3:
At Three Oaks Senior High School (Summerside):
Girls
Semifinals
- Charlottetown Rural Team Three 22 Colonel Gray Team Two 17.
- Bluefield Team Two 17 Three Oaks Team Two 7.
Bronze-Medal Game
- Three Oaks Team Two 34 Colonel Gray 5.
Gold-Medal Game
- Charlottetown Rural Team Three 30 Bluefield Team Two 5.
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Boys
Semifinals
- Charlottetown Rural Team Two 34 Bluefield Team Two 14.
- Colonel Gray Team Two 32 Westisle 10.
Bronze-Medal Game
- Bluefield Team Two 40 Westisle 10.
Gold-Medal Game
- Colonel Gray Team Two 24 Charlottetown Rural Team Two 17 (OT).
PEISAA RUGBY: Montague sweeps senior AA championships
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The storylines were plentiful as the Montague Vikings swept the P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) senior AA rugby championships on June 3.
The Montague girls defeated the Charlottetown Rural Team Two Raiders 26-5 to win the provincial gold medal. The Montague boys followed that performance with a thrilling 19-15 come-from-behind win over the Kensington Torches in a game that went right down to the wire. Both games were played at Three Oaks Senior High School.
“This year, our goal was to bring two banners home.” – Craig Inward
“This year, our goal was to bring two banners home,” said Craig Inward, who coaches both Montague teams. “They were very happy, very blessed, very thankful to the great season we had.”
Inward, who has been coaching at Montague Regional School for almost 10 years, said he was thrilled with the victories.
“We played in the final of the (girls’) triple-A division probably six years ago, and that was as close as we came,” said Inward. “We played last year in the final of the AA division, but we haven’t won a banner in at least 10 years and probably for some time before then.
“This has been a long time coming, and we are really, really happy about it.”
Inward said it’s been at least 10 or 12 years since the Montague boys won a PEISAA senior AA rugby banner.
“Last year, in the A league, the boys had a great season and fell just a little bit short in the finals,” said Inward.
Winning try
This year, the Montague boys would not be denied, despite trailing the Torches 15-12 with time winding down in the second half. Montague senior scrum half David Sibbick of Cardigan scored the championship-winning try on the game’s second-last play.
“There was a penalty,” Sibbick told SaltWire in a post-game interview. “We could have went for a (penalty kick to tie the game) but I saw they weren’t ready and were cheating to one side.
“I did a tap and go, faked a pass, (the Kensington defender) bit on it and I just went in and tapped it under the goal post (for the try).”
Denver Nelson successfully kicked a convert to give the Vikings a four-point win.
Sibbick, who was named the Vikings’ player of the game, described scoring the winning try as the biggest play of his rugby career.
“It still feels surreal. It was three years of building up to this and it all paid off for that one moment.” – David Sibbick
“It still feels surreal,” said Sibbick, 17. “It was three years of building up to this and it all paid off for that one moment. …
“I couldn’t wish for a better way (to finish my high school career). I’m still so excited about it.”
Despite trailing with time running out, Sibbick said the Vikings remained confident.
“We had beaten them before, coming back (from behind) in the regular season, and I trust all my guys,” said Sibbick. “We are a great group of guys, our chemistry is unmatched and I had no fear going into the last play.”
Inward described the final as an awesome game and paid respect to the Kensington team.
“Kensington brought it all year,” said Inward. “They are really well coached, have great strong players and we had a tough go against them every time we played them.
“(The gold-medal game) was no exception. That was probably the toughest that they played us all year and rightfully so – it was the finals.”
Girls
Inward credited the Montague girls’ success to a total team effort and said the players left everything on the pitch.
“We had a number of strong players that were out with injuries, and the rest of the team stepped it up,” said Inward. “That was probably what characterized our season, which is the fact the players worked together as a team, supported each other and stepped up when they needed to.”
One of the key contributors in the gold-medal game was Katelyn Brothers, who plays the eight-man position. Brothers was named Montague’s player of the game in the final.
“I’m super excited,” Brothers told SaltWire after winning the title. “Everyone tried really hard, and all of our hard work paid off.”
Brothers said everyone stepped up and did what they had to do to contribute to the team’s success.
The 17-year-old Grade 12 student from Vernon River also acknowledged Inward’s efforts with the rugby program over the years.
“Craig has put in so much hard work, and he deserves this,” said Brothers. “We are super excited to get it for him.”
Double-A league
Inward praised the PEISAA for operating a double-A league, which features 10 players on the field.
“The (PEISAA) saw fit to start at double-A division that was dedicated for schools who couldn’t put full squads for the 15s,” said Inward. “It worked out really well and is a tremendous opportunity for our kids.”
Kensington and Montague were the only two AA boys’ teams while the girls’ league featured three teams.
Charlottetown Rural Team Two defeated Westisle 27-15 in a semifinal game earlier on June 3 to advance to face Montague, which received a bye to the final based on its first-place finish in the regular season.
Increase interest
Brothers hopes the success of the Montague teams helps attract more players and interest for rugby.
“It’s a great program, and I think we need to bring more banners to Montague.” – Katelyn Brothers
“It’s a great program, and I think we need to bring more banners to Montague,” said Brothers.
Sibbick said winning the championships will provide a boost for school spirit.
“This will help make the morale way better,” said Sibbick. “(June 4), we are going to go to school as champions.”
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PEISAA RUGBY: Bluefield wins back-to-back senior AAA boys’ titles
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Bluefield Bobcats repeated as P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) Senior AAA Boys Rugby League champions, and, in the process, capped a perfect day for the Hampshire-based school.
The Bobcats registered a convincing 29-7 win over the Charlottetown Rural Raiders in the gold-medal game, played before a big crowd on the Canada Games pitch at Three Oaks Senior High School on June 4.
“It feels unparallel with anything else to be honest. To do this (win back-to-back titles) for the first time in 20 years my coach said, is awesome, honestly.” – Grayson Arbing
“It feels unparallel with anything else to be honest,” said Bluefield loosehead prop Grayson Arbing. “To do this (win back-to-back titles) for the first time in 20 years my coach said, is awesome, honestly.”
The championship game marked a rematch of the 2023 final. Bluefield pulled out a 14-10 victory over Charlottetown Rural in that game, played at UPEI’s MacAdam Field.
Sweep titles
The win followed the Bluefield girls’ championship-winning victory over host Three Oaks to give the Bobcats a sweep of the senior AAA titles.
“I don’t even know how long it’s been since both the men and women have won in the same year, which makes it even more special,” added Donnie Sonier, head coach of the Bluefield boys. “We could hear the cheering from (the girls’ game) over in the practice pitch, and we were motivated by their win.”
“I don’t even know how long it’s been since both the men and women have won in the same year, which makes it even more special.” – Donnie Sonier
Arbing called it special for Bluefield to win two gold medals in back-to-back games.
“I don’t even know when the last time that’s happened for us,” said Arbing. “It’s unreal, to be honest.”
Quick start
The Bobcats set the tone early in the gold-medal game as Hunter MacLean scored one of his team-leading two trys in the first minute.
“He chipped and chased from his own 22(-metre line), caught it around half and scampered into the end zone and scored,” said Sonier. “To open the game up like that, was really something.”
The Bobcats could not have written a better script to start the game.
“It certainly calmed everyone’s nerves,” said Sonier. “I think everyone was a little nervous.
“We had quite a few players who were on last year’s championship team, but for the guys who this was their first experience (playing in a provincial championship game), it definitely calmed them down a little bit.”
Controlled game
The Bobcats built a comfortable half-time lead and never looked back.
Arbing was named Bluefield’s player of the game.
“It all came down to our offence,” said Arbing, an 18-year-old senior from Meadow Bank. (Our offence) was unmatched, really.
“We made every other team go negative (in scoring) in the standings and we kept it up on defence, too, and kept them out of our try zone.”
William Kent and Jonathan Kent, who kicked two converts, also scored trys for Bluefield. The Bobcats’ other try scorer is unavailable.
Nathanael Rodgerson scored Charlottetown Rural’s try, and Jon Fradsham kicked the convert.
Arbing said the Bobcats treated the championship game the same as any other game.
“We came with the same mentality we take to every game and did the same things we always do,” said Arbing.
Records
The Bobcats completed the 2024 season undefeated in PEISAA league play, going 4-0 in the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs.
In the semifinals played on May 30, Bluefield blanked the Three Oaks Axemen 41-0 while Charlottetown Rural shut out the Colonel Gray Colonels 33-0.
The Axemen defeated Colonel Gray 36-7 in the bronze-medal game earlier on June 4.
Sonier credited the Bobcats’ strong season to a team-first approach.
“Everyone bought into the structure that myself and the other two coaches, Scott Kent and Camden Hutchinson introduced at the start of the year,” said Sonier. “We consistently worked at it for the past month and a half.
“If a team has a good structure, they can play off that and the rest comes naturally.”
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PEISAA RUGBY: Bobcats win first senior AAA girls’ championship in 15 years
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Bluefield Bobcats would not be denied in earning a win that was a long time in the making.
The Bobcats defeated the host Three Oaks Axewomen 14-3 in Summerside on June 4 to win the Hampshire-based school’s first P.E.I. School Athletic Association (PEISAA) Senior AAA Girls Rugby League championship in 15 years.
“The team has honestly been strong for a number of seasons and has always been competing, so it’s great to see us break through that and actually take home the banner.” – Ellen Murphy
“The team has honestly been strong for a number of seasons and has always been competing, so it’s great to see us break through that and actually take home the banner,” said Bobcats head coach Ellen Murphy in a post-game interview with SaltWire.
History
According to the PEISAA website, the Bobcats last won the senior AAA girls’ championship in 2009, which marked Bluefield’s sixth provincial title in a row with a run that began in 2004.
Murphy, who has coached the Bluefield AAA team for approximately 10 years, said the most impressive thing about this year’s edition of the Bobcats is how the team continued to build from the first game of the season.
“We (coaches) kept asking more and more of them as the season went on, and they continued to build and become stronger,” said Murphy. “They were a super coachable group, so it was great to see them build throughout the season and really perform and raise the level each game.”
Defensive battle
In the gold-medal game, played before a big and noisy crowd at the Canada Games pitch, the Bobcats and Axewomen were scoreless at halftime.
Kate Grant opened the scoring early in the second half with a try that was converted by Addison Langley.
Kailyn Gallant was successful on a penalty kick to bring Three Oaks to within 7-3. But Rachael Campbell, Bluefield’s player of the game, added an insurance try. Langley also successfully kicked the convert for that score.
“It allowed us to head into the second half with a nothing-nothing score and one of the girls said at half, ‘Defence can win championships,’” said Murphy. “Had we not had such strong defence in that first half, it could have been a different picture going into the second (half).
“We (coaches) knew they were doing things well and executing everything that we asked of them. … When we chatted at halftime, we wanted to end up with ball in hand more in the second half and they executed in the second half.”
Important conversation
Campbell credited the half-time discussion for the Bobcats’ strong second-half performance.
“We just wanted to keep our pace up and make smart decisions at every breakdown, and do the best we could to get back on offence and get some more offensive opportunities in the second half,” said Campbell, who was asked how it feels to be part of the team that brought the senior AAA girls’ rugby banner back to Bluefield.
“It feels really special. I know how much it means to all my teammates and coaches. I’m glad I was able to be a part of it as well.” – Rachael Campbell
“It feels really special,” answered Campbell, a Grade 11 16-year-old centre from St. Catherines. “I know how much it means to all my teammates and coaches. I’m glad I was able to be a part of it as well.”
Focus area
Murphy said the half-time chat focused on positioning for contact.
“We wanted to make sure when we arrived at that breakdown, we were winning that shoulder-to-chest battle so that we weren’t going to turn over (the) ball in the breakdown, and they executed really well in the second half,” said Murphy.
The Bobcats finished the regular season in second place with a record of 3-1. Bluefield’s lone loss of the regular season came in the season opener – a 20-5 score – against the first-place Charlottetown Rural Raiders (4-0), who lost 17-5 to Three Oaks in the semifinal.
Bluefield defeated Colonel Gray 24-10 in the other semifinal. Charlottetown Rural defeated Colonel Gray 41-7 in the bronze-medal game at Three Oaks on June 4.
“Our first game (of the year) was pretty rough; we were still figuring things out,” said Campbell. “Practices started getting better; our games started having better scores, and it was looking good. We started having some faith and kept working hard.”
