Five-peat rugby champs unbeaten thus far

It’s been a busy two weeks for the Raymond Comets Rugby team. First the girls beat out a plethora of competition at a tournament in Red Deer last weekend, then they shutout LCI in a home game Tuesday evening.

During last weekend’s tournament the girls first met Rimby, who they defeated without breaking a sweat, 55 to 0. Their second game, against Saskatchewan provincial champs Notre Dame, was where the true test of their skills shone, however.

“We came from behind, down 12 to nothing in the first five minutes and down 12 to five at half time,” said coach Dan Bikman. “We got a couple conversions after the half and it was pretty much back and forth for the rest of it. Then Notre Dame scored with two minutes left and came within one point and we just held them (at 18 to 17). It was a cool game, but games where you come from behind are always a lot of fun.”

Despite their biggest opposition coming in the second game and not the final match, Notre Dame always brings their A-game said Bikman, who added “they are just as athletic and competitive as our team.”

“They are tough and fast. The main reason we got through that game is because of the team unity that exists, they like to play for each other . . . They are good friends and that makes a big difference,” Bikman said of the Comets’ camaraderie. “As far as Notre Dame, they were tough athletic and competitive. We have played them the last seven years straight and always edge them out by a score. Last year we beat them by just one point in the same tournament. The year before we beat them by five points, which is just one score.”

The Comets final match was against Linsey Thurber, who they beat 81 to 14 for the tournament win.

This week the Comets faced off against LCI at home and shut them out 32 to 0, making their season loss-free thus far. Their next, and final, regular season game is next Wednesday against Medicine Hat, but the girls have some work to do before zones in June says Bikman.

“We still need to work on getting a full-team effort every game. We are so strong that we need to work on gelling as a full unit because once you get into the playoffs you have to play as a full unit,” he explained. “We are consistently winning by 20 to 40 points, but last year in provincials we only won by one-score.”

Zones will be held Tuesday June 1, with provincials taking place on the following weekend, June 6 to 7.

“I think we can improve from yesterday’s game and I think if we play our game we have a chance,” said Bikman of obtaining the team’s sixth straight provincial banner.

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