The Dauphin Clippers rugby teams continued their winning ways last week, with each team picking up key victories in Westman High School Rugby.
The Clippers girls handily beat the Crocus Plains JV squad, 70-0, May 5 in Brandon.
Paityn Bourgouin had two tries to lead the Clippers, while Ryann Richard-Soltis, Jorja Percival, Mindy Chartrand, Ruth Evans, Kiersten Vanderkerckhov, Yulia Semerak, Felicity Sahulka, Victoria Carter, Desiree Lariviere and Jade Toews all had singles. Evans also added five converts.
On Thursday in Dauphin, Bourgouin had three tries to lead Dauphin to a 69-0 win over the Vincent Massey Vikings.
Carter, Sigrid Katerud, Evans, Vanderkerckhov, Mila Heschuk, Sahulka, Halie Garlinski and Madison Ferland all had tries and Evans had seven converts.
Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak was pleased with the way the game finished, noting he and assistant coach Kent Miner weren’t pleased with the play in the first half.
“Just with core skill let downs. I think they let the weather get to them with the wind and just weren’t really focusing on those details. So there were a lot of dropped balls or passes at ankles,” he said.
“But over the course of the game, throughout the second half, they really cleaned things up.”
Sarkonak was pleased with the balanced scoring, with only one player scoring more than one try. That is something he and Miner emphasize, that it is a team game and there are no individuals.
“It’s not about getting individual points. It’s about getting team points, so spread it out and encourage your teammate to get one, as well,” he said.
The defence continues to shine, recording its ninth shutout in a row. Sarkonak notes the girls put the work in.
“Especially when the ball is on their side. They compete hard with tackles and then counter rucking to get the ball back. And they proved it again (Thursday),” he said.
The Clippers will face the Souris Sabres, Wednesday in Souris, with first place on the line.
The Clippers boys scored a 52-22 win over the Vikings, Thursday in Dauphin.
Ronin Mouck had two tries to lead the offence, while Ryzlie Nepinak, Morgan Fleck, Tristen Fidierchuk, Julien Lopez, Alex Thompson and Blake Thacker had one each. Colten Miner added six converts.
Clippers head coach Aaron Miner was pleased to see the team produce offensively.
“We figured out our game now. We’re starting to realize where our strengths are on the field and we’re managing to get the ball out to those guys,” he said.
“You could see it was the backs that led the charge. You can’t do it without your forwards, your big guys up front, getting them the ball. But yeah, it was a beautifully played and executed game plan.”
Part of the game plan is to spread the scoring out rather than rely on one or two players for all the scoring.
“We have a substantially stacked row of backs back there that we should be spreading it out to and that’s exactly what we did. The other team didn’t know which way it was coming from in the end. It was a work of art. It was beautiful to see,” he said.
Although they allowed 22 points, Miner feels the defence is coming along, as well.
“We haven’t had to show some real intensity yet. We haven’t come across a team with experience that would tackle and try to push over us yet. I believe that is coming next week when we face the Souris Sabres,” he said.
“But I think that’s coming along. I think next week’s game will show the inexperienced players what it takes to win those battles and the experienced players will have to step it up and lead the charge in the defence of anything.”
The Clippers and Sabres meet in Souris, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., with the winner finishing in first place in the standings.
Miner felt the team’s play suffered from taking too many penalties.
“We’re such a tall team this year. We have four or five players that are over six-two, six-three and we’re just teaching them how to get a little lower,” he said.
“We’ve never experienced a team that’s this tall. So it’s just a matter of teaching them how to get low and drive through those hits.”
