Let the race for rugby supremacy begin.
The Banff High School boy’s rugby team downed Highwood High School in convincing fashion as they trounced their opponents 31-9 at the Banff Rec Grounds, Monday (May 29).
Powered by a stellar second half, Banff scored twice in the final five minutes of play to secure the lopsided victory.
The win sets up a zone final game in Calgary on Thursday, June 2 and a potential provincial championship game in Banff on Monday, June 6.
“We started slowly and had difficulty finishing the rucks,” said head coach John Petroff. “The boys were going over the ball and that’s a penalty. We’re fortunate they didn’t take advantage of that and score. But as we went on, we played well in the second half.”
Banff’s scoring plays came as the result of strong ball movement and blistering runs. Using superior speed and strength, Banff won battles and overpowered the opposition in the second half, scoring easily in the final minutes.
“We were getting the ball wide in a hurry and straightening out down the middle,” Petroff said.
Defensively, Banff was brilliant, hardly allowing the opposition a sniff of the goal line. Defence hasn’t been a strength of the team this season; however, against Highwood they played an excellent match.
“We nullified their attack, said Petroff.
“We played really hard,” said team captain Matthew Soukas. “There are always errors and we know we need to work on rucking, but the key was getting wide. We knew we had the speed and skill to beat them and we’ve improved a lot this year.”
One of the reasons for the turnaround in the second half was related to coaching. Several members of the Banff men’s rugby squad offered tips and strategy to the boys, and the adjustments worked.
“Sinclair Hunt, Alex Boston, Fern Simmons and Cody Skrine all really helped,” Petroff said. “They’ve taught these kids a lot, giving them pointers at half time about what they need to do to take control.”
The boys also had the energy of a massive crowd to draw upon, as the sidelines were full of rugby supporters.
“In the south, they have Friday night football. In Banff, we have Monday night rugby. We get the largest crowds in southern Alberta. Parents of former players come out and the alumni come out. It’s amazing to see,” Petroff said. “There is a tradition that’s been here for years. It’s been the thing to do.”
The team travels to Calgary on Thursday (June 2) for zone finals.