For the fourth year in a row, the Dauphin Clippers varsity girls rugby team are Westman High School Rugby 7s champions.

The Clippers clinched the title by going 4-0 at the final jamboree of the season, Oct. 7, in Brandon.

Dauphin defeated Souris, 19-14, Crocus M, 48-0, Steinbach, 33-26, and Massey 2, 46-0.

Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak said the Clippers had a couple of close calls against Souris and Steinbach.

“Souris made it a one-score game and same with Steinbach. Both sides have heavily improved over the years and it’s actually nice to see, instead of us blanking other teams or having such a wide spread score,” he said.

“To tell you the truth, we’re not used to it. But it was good to see. And the girls actually said they enjoyed those two close games.”

Dauphin last played Steinbach two years ago at 7s provincials, where they won, 48-0.

“But they have definitely heavily improved. They are known as the top 7s side in the Winnipeg area. So it was nice to actually have them out and see how improved they have gotten,” Sarkonak said.

Sarkonak was especially impressed with the Clippers ball movement and support for each other.

“Working on keeping the ball moving instead of trying to get into a rucking competition, because it takes more players out of your regular play. If you can keep popping it up and keep the ball moving, it spreads the defence out a lot more and creates a lot more space,” he said.

Now the Clippers will shift their focus to repeating as 15s champions in the spring.

“It’s a huge harvest year as we’re graduating 10 players,” Sarkonak said.

The JV Clippers showed vast improvement, splitting their four games, opening with a 34-5 loss to Massey 1, before beating Massey 2 27-10. The JVs then picked up their second straight victory, 25-5 over Crocus G, before losing to Steinbach 53-5.

Overall, the JVs finished in fifth place with a 3-9 record.

Read the full story in this week’s edition of the Dauphin Herald.