Island Champions 1

18 March 2016Avi S, Alex ‘16; Photo by Ian McPherson

As Brentwood students and faculty lumbered to class in their PJs on the dazzling morning of Wednesday, April 6th, the Girls Rugby team made our way to the perfectly green Brentwood fields. Finally, after many cold and wet practices in the second term rain, third term arrived bringing sun and the beginning of the rugby season. We were eager to test our skills in the Island 7s Tournament. It would be the very first ever rugby game for many of the players. Determination was seen on all of the players’ faces as we stepped onto the field for our first game against EMCS. The coaches, equally as excited as the girls, stepped back and watched their work unfold. The 14 minute game exposed many of our weak points as well as our strengths. The girls were still able to end on top with a 17-10 win. The day was an uphill climb for the team; each game was harder than the last. Each time the girls stepped back onto the field, however, we played better than the previous game. Immisi, ’17, the tackling machine, and Sophie F, ‘18 the dashing gazelle, both brand new to the game this year, were some of the key players on Wednesday. Each game brought new challenges, but the girls retaliated by hitting harder, running faster, and working as a unit. Everyone got an opportunity to play, and almost everyone added to the scoreboard. Every player had an impact contributing to wins over Oak Bay, NDSS, and Belmont bringing us to the finals against Cowichan High School. “The process is complete, we can now think about winning this thing” said Mr. Felix as the team huddled for their final game of the day. We were fatigued and uncertain about the game ahead of us but we remained calm and level headed. Cowichan keyed on the lioness, Denise R, ’17, from the very first play, but Brentwood showed them we are not a one-player team as Mckenna H, ’16 simply passed it to Cate B, 17 on the wing who scored in the far left corner. This ignited the team and we continued to utilize the entire team’s abilities. The game ended Brentwood 52, Cowichan 5. Mr. Felix observed that “The goal was to improve each game and that was definitely achieved.” With the Island Championship won, the team will be going into Provincials next week as defending champions with many expectations. The process, however, will be our only focus. Avi S, Alex ‘16

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