The Parkland Mavericks overcame a slow start to win their season opener in Winnipeg, Saturday.
The Manitoba Wombats took an early 12-0 lead, but the Mavericks regrouped and stormed back for a 38-22 victory.
Ronin Mouck and Daniel Evans had two tries and two converts each and player-coach Codi Harrigan, Alex Boshoff and Riley Keith had a single try each.
Harrigan said the Mavericks were caught offguard by the Wombats strong start.
“We have a lot of new players that came out. We just had to learn where we needed to be and we had to learn our systems again. Just get used to each other, really,” he said.
“Then as soon as we found our chemistry, things started working out in our favour.”
Harrigan was pleased to see how every player supported their teammates on the field.
“If guys made a mistake, we kept our chins up. Kept our heads up. And we just went back to our systems. We kept playing our system.”
The Mavericks return to Winnipeg this weekend to face the Assassins, Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Harrigan hopes the team can keep building on its momentum.
“I think we will. These last couple of practices the guys have really bought into the system we’re introducing. They’re really happy with it and it was our first time to try it out and it worked out for us. The guys are happy and they’re looking forward to practice again,” he said, adding he is expecting a tough game against the Assassins.
“We will put in the work we have to do.”
The Parkland Lady Mavericks will play their first game, Saturday, when they face the Lady Barbarians in Brandon at noon.

Both Dauphin Clippers rugby teams ended the regular season 4-0 and will host the semifinals, this week.
The Clippers JV team played three games last week, ending its regular season with a 2-2 record.
Garrett Urichen had two tries to lead the Clippers to a 20-17 win over Crocus Plains, May 19.
Ivan Brazhko had the other try and Rudy Oosthuizen added a convert and a penalty kick.
Following a 60-7 loss to Souris on Thursday, the two Dauphin teams hooked up in the regular season finale, Saturday, which saw the varsity boys score a 33-29 win.
Josh Yakielashek with two, Ryzlie Nepinak, Blake Thacker and Ben Miner had tries for the varsity team and Jordan Evans added four converts.
Oosthuizen had two tries and a convert for the JVs. Cody Love, Urichen and Hendrik DuPlessis had the other tries and Love also had convert.
JV coach Henk DuPlessis felt the team played well in the three games to end the season.
“For a JV team, Grade 9s and 10s, they’re still boys, playing against men. What else can you ask of these kids? You can’t ask anything else. They showed a lot of heart,” he said, adding the team has improved since the start of the season.
“I could see the ball was moving a little bit today. Better tackles, hitting the rucks better. I talked to them at halftime and it helped. It looks like they improved. I think every game is getting better and better,” DuPlessis said.
“I’m really waiting for two more years.”
Varsity coach Aaron Miner liked what he saw from his team.
“We went out there and did exactly what I thought we were going to do. We were going to go out there and work on some of our set plays. We weren’t going to go out there and kill them. We were just going to go out there and practice what we’ve been practicing for the last couple of weeks,” he said.
Miner said it was hard to get up for a game against a group of, essentially, teammates.
“But wow, you look at how much they’ve grown since the opening kick off to today. It’s just amazing. I parrot what Henk says. I’m so excited about the future of this JV team in two years time. Even next year,” he said.
“We were worried about losing 12 players to graduation this year, but I think the program is going to run strong for at least the next three to four years.”
With three bonus points, the JVs finished in second place behind the varsity team. They were to have played Crocus Plains, but the Brandon team forfeited, so they will advance to the final and will face the winner of the game between the varsity squad and Souris on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Dauphin.
The varsity girls will host the Crocus Plains Plainsmen Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
The final will take place on the weekend.

The Dauphin Rail Museum is set to begin fund-raising for the Dauphin Rail Turntable Exhibit.
To set the wheels in motion, the first of two open houses were held at the museum, Saturday.
The open house, which included a rendering of the exhibit, was intended to be a question-and-answer session regarding the project, its significance and the fund-raising effort.
“We thought it would be good for the public to come in, see what we’re trying to propose and then if they have any questions regarding the structure itself, the rendering, the fund-raising, that’s why we’re holding this today,” said museum president Jason Gilmore.
The museum has an arrangement with the City of Dauphin to accept donations on the museum’s behalf and issue tax receipts.
“If you didn’t want to go that route, you can donate directly to the Dauphin Rail Museum, as well. But if you want a tax receipt, you have to go through the City,” Gilmore said.
The goal for this phase is to move the structure to CN Park beside the CN Station, which would cost $75,000.
“We’ve already had some consultations with Reit-Syd. They’re going to help with the move and the prep of the site,” Gilmore said.
“But we do need some engineering help as this structure is still 50,000 pounds. We want to make sure it’s stable and there is a little concrete pour, so we want to make sure that’s done in the proper fashion, as well.”
The 24-foot structure is still at its current location by the city public works shop.
“Our goal, in a perfect world, is to have this in place as shown in the rendering by the time snow falls. That would be ideal, but we know in this day and age right now things are a little bit challenging financially. Especially some of the organizations in town and companies that are very community orientated, we’re hoping they’ll step up given the tax receipts issued, as well,” Gilmore said.
“But this will be a one-of-one legacy. There’s nothing like this in Manitoba, for sure, probably western Canada at the very least, bringing to light this structure that was quite common, but this was the last remaining one in Manitoba.”
A second open house will be held, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free coffee will be on hand, as well as dainties courtesy of Western Bakery.

Eighteen applicants were successful in receiving grants from the Dauphin and District Community Foundation.
DDCF board chair Kristen Haverluck announced the spring grant recipients at the Parkland Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the City luncheon, May 12.
Recipients include:
• Almost New Store - $2,200 for a cash register, projector and screen and grid walls;
• Barker School - $5,000 for accessible outdoor musical instruments for the playground;
• Citizens on Patrol - $4,000 for fuel costs and Business Expo registration;
• Dauphin Community Cinema - $5,000 for roof repairs;
• Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council - $10,537 for a portable stage;
• Dauphin and District Snowmobile Club Inc. - $2,000 for a snowmobile for trail maintenance;
• Dauphin Hero Club - $1,568 for a printer and projector;
• Dauphin Minor Baseball Association - $10,000 for upgrade and maintenance of ball diamonds, including $313 designated from the new Jack Hrehirchuk Memorial Minor Baseball Fund;
• Dauphin Neighbourhood Renewal - $15,796 to move and re-assemble the indoor playground; and $5,000 for multiculturalism and anti-racism programs and pavillions in a variety of halls;
• Dauphin Ochre Band Parents Organization - $1,500 for original composition to be performed by the DRCSS and MMS band programs;
• Dauphin’s Countryfest - $10,000 for infrastructure improvements to showers, seating and the west side media booth;
• Grad Powwow Committee, Assiniboine College and Mountain View School Division - $5,000 for the graduation powwow celebrating all ages;
• Northgate Trails Inc. - $22,000 to construct a boardwalk to expand the trail system;
• Parkland Mavericks women’s rugby - $3,080 for the purchase of equipment to maintain the field;
• Parkland Pirates Youth Rugby - $5,507 for the purchase of a sea can for use as storage;
• Tinker Bell Nursery School - $5,000 for activity supplies; and
• Ukrainian Folk Arts Centre and Museum - $5,609 to relocate a pioneer barn.
This spring’s grants total $118,797.

Rugby season gets underway this weekend with the Parkland Mavericks in Winnipeg to face the Manitoba Wombats, Saturday, at 2:30 p.m.
The Mavericks began working out about two weeks ago with a few new recruits joining the team and more on the way after the high school season ends.
Coach Shawn Sarkonak said the team has been working on getting the rust out.
“And obviously, working on game speed and getting the new guys climatized to the game. So we’ve got to work on tackling and run, catch pass, the core skills that you need. I know the guys are looking forward to getting the season kicked off,” he said.
This year will featured a different format, with teams playing eight games until the end of July.
When that is completed, teams will be reseeded for Premier and Second Divisions.
There are three rural teams with Parkland, the Brandon Barbarians and the Steinbach-based Eastman Warriors.
The Manitoba Wombats, Winnipeg Assassins and Winnipeg Wasps will each have two teams, a first division and second division unit and the Winnipeg Wanderers will field one team.
After July, the Premier Division will have six teams and the Second Division will have four teams.
The Parkland Lady Mavericks have had only two players out for practices due to prior commitments, but coach Kent Miner said eight players have committed to play once the high school season ends in early June. He added more players will also be returning to the team from university.
Miner added a few players from Brandon will also join the team this year.
“We have lots of new interest, but people are busy and having a hard time getting out,” he said.
The Lady Mavericks will open the season, May 30, in Brandon against the Lady Barbarians, at noon.
Once all players are in place, Miner feels the Lady Mavericks will be competitive.
“We should be in the top three, for sure, if we get everybody out,” he said.

Fielding an inexperienced lineup, the Dauphin Clippers White boys rugby team won its first game of the Westman High School Rugby season, beating the Vincent Massey Vikings, 31-10, last Wednesday.
Ivan Vrasko led the way with three tries for Dauphin, while Body Kaminski and Garrett Urichen had singles. Vrasko also had three converts.
Clippers coach Henk DuPlessis noted 90 per cent of the team never played 15s rugby before.
“And I saw a lot of heart out there today. These boys, mostly Grade 9 and 10 boys played against these Grade 11 and 12 boys and the score speaks for itself,” he said.
The Clippers gained the momentum right away, scoring within the first two or three minutes of the game.
“That was one thing we told the guys. We need to get the first points on the board and that’s what happened. And I think that got them going,” DuPlessis said.
The JV team will have a busy week ahead with three games, starting tonight when they host the Crocus Plains Plainsmen in a game rescheduled from Apr. 23. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Dauphin then hits the road for a game in Souris on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., and then face the Dauphin Green varsity squad, Saturday at 2 p.m.
The team’s conditioning will be put to the test with the busy schedule.
“We told the boys they’re going to need to do it themselves. We only practice twice a week, so I hope the boys put it in to get into shape. But we’ve got a small squad, so we can only hope for the best,” DuPlessis said.
The Clippers girls ended the regular season with a 51-5 win over Souris on Thursday.
Kiersten Vandekerckhove and Paityn Bourgouin had two tries each, with Bella Williams, Alina Genik, Desiree Lariviere, Mila Heschuk and Halie Garlinski adding singles. Vandekerckhove also had three converts.
The Clippers finish the regular season 4-0, scoring 350 points, while only allowing 10 against.
Clippers coach Shawn Sarkonak and his staff had this date circled since the schedule was released.
“They’re a well-coached team. They’ve got some really good players. And they gave us a run for our money,” he said.
“I think our girls were surprised in the beginning. You can’t blame the weather, because both teams were playing in it.”
Given the team’s success over the last few years, Sarkonak said it is easy to get complacent at times.
“And the last few games have actually proven that to us. But the girls were able to flip the switch and come together and come out with the win,” he said.
The Clippers will now wait to find out who they play in the semifinals scheduled for May 26 and 27. The season ends this week, with games, Thursday and Friday.
The Clippers Green varsity team beat Souris, 35-17 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Julien Lopez had three tries, Ben Miner and Josh Yakielashek had one each and Jordan Evans had four converts, while Colten Miner had one.
Coach Aaron Miner was not pleased with the team’s play.
“Souris brings out the worst in us. We knew the game plan going in. We were too anxious, too nervous. We didn’t play our game,” he said.
“Tackles weren’t executed. We knew their routes. We knew where they were coming from and we just couldn’t put it all together. Nerves were just too high.”
While pleased with the win, Miner recognizes that if they play that way against a stronger team, the Clippers wouldn’t stand a chance.
“We can’t continue to play like that and expect to compete against the prep schools,” he said.
Miner hopes the Clippers can get their game a little tighter when they face the JV team.
“I think we’re going to try and use this game as a learning experience for both sides and try to incorporate some of our set plays and have the other teams try to defend against it,” he said.
“We know each other’s plays and we’ll have a good time with it. We hope to have some fun with that game.”

They entered nationals ranked 73rd in the country and 13th among Manitoba teams.
By the end of the tournament, the Parkland Vipers 14U girls volleyball team had moved up to the 58th spot overall and finished 10th among Manitoba squads.
The Vipers got off to a slow start against Thunder White from Alberta, losing 13-25, 25-23 and 14-16.
Parkland rebounded with a 9-25, 25-18 and 15-13 win over Rain City Rush from British Columbia.
The Vipers then beat Powerwest Volleyball Club, 25-14 and 25-21, which put them in a three-way tie for first place in their pool, with the extra set victory putting them in first place.
On day two, the Vipers picked up where they left off, scoring a 25-10, 23-25 and 15-10 win over the Rhinos Volleyball Club from Alberta.
Vipers coach Taylor Schmidt noted the Vipers were down 20-11 in the second set and almost completed the comeback, but carried that momentum into the third set.
Parkland then dropped a 19-25 and 14-25 decision to the Prince George Kodiaks and lost 22-25 and 19-25 to SPVC of Grande Prairie, Alta.
From there, teams were placed in eight-team tiers in a single elimination format for day three of nationals.
The Vipers opened day three with a 25-20 and 25-20 win over JCVC Red from Saskatchewan, then faced another Manitoba team, Skyline Selects, winning that match, 27-25 and 25-13.
In the Tier 8 final, the Vipers ran out of gas in a 14-25 and 11-25 loss to B.C.’s Seaside Volleyball Club Surf.
Schmidt said the goal was to make sure they were competing in every game and put themselves in a position to move up a tier.
“That was our goal on day one,” he said.
“The Vipers, they really played well the whole weekend. After finishing first in our pool on the first day and winning that first game on Saturday really set us up to have a chance at a medal on Sunday.”
On Sunday, Schmidt said the Vipers played some of their best volleyball of the season.
“And we won our game in the morning. And then, unfortunately, we had to line up against another Manitoba team in the semifinals. We were down, 24-21, in the first set and we were able to come back and win that first set and set us up for a final against a tough Seaside team from B.C.,” he added.
Increasing their national ranking and winning a silver medal was a nice way to end the season for the Vipers.
“All the way back to the beginning of the season, I laid out the goal and the challenge for the girls and the team to improve as individuals and to improve throughout the entire season. And where we started and ended up finishing, the girls did that.”
That was proven by the Manitoba rankings after nationals which saw the Vipers finish 10th among Manitoba teams.
“It was a great season,” Schmidt said.