The stands will be packed at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club this afternoon, with three matches scheduled for the Leading Edge Physiotherapy Fields.
Game times are as follows:
Third division men
Kickoff is 1 p.m. between eighth-place St. Albert (4-8) and the first-place Edson Axmen (11-0-1), last year’s provincial finalists. It’s the last game before the Edmonton Rugby Union (ERU) playoffs for both teams. St. Albert is expected to compete in the consolation shield playoff bracket.
Last month in Edson the Axmen carved up the thirds 65-26.
The thirds are coming off their second win in a row, 47-0 over of the ninth-place Cold Lake Penguins (2-10) in Cold Lake.
Second division men
Kickoff is 3 p.m. between second-place St. Albert (6-5) and the first-place LA Crude (10-1).
A St. Albert victory would secure home-field advantage in the ERU semifinals Sept. 11. The seconds are one point ahead of the Fort McMurray Knights (6-5), last year’s provincial finalists, and the Clansmen (6-5) because of an extra bonus point. Also challenging for a top four finish is the fifth-place Grande Prairie Centaurs (5-5-1).
Alberta Cup men
Kickoff is 5 p.m. between second-place St. Albert (9-1) and the third-place Calgary Irish (7-4).
The 2008 and 2009 premier pennant winners and provincial finalists can finish no worse than second overall with a victory over the Irish.
The firsts have the same record as the division-leader Calgary Hornets with two games left before the playoffs, but the defending provincial champs are ahead in the overall point totals with three more bonus points.
The premier fixtures wrap up Thursday, when the rematch of the 2009 provincial final scrums down at 7 p.m. in Red Deer. Last year the firsts suffered only one loss after 13 straight wins, 24-22 against the Hornets for the provincial title.
The firsts carry an eight-game winning streak into their second-last home tilt of the season. Last weekend they beat the eighth-place Lep/Tigers (1-8-1) 38-27 in St. Albert.
The firsts are guaranteed a quarter-final home game Sept. 11. A win would send them into the Sept. 18 semifinals at Ellerslie Rugby Park. The final is Sept. 25 at Calgary Rugby Park.
Tickets are on sale for the fourth annual Oil Kings Preseason Invitational at Servus Credit Union Place.
On Sept. 4 the Prince George Cougars play the Medicine Hat Tigers at 3 p.m. and the Oil Kings host the Swift Current Broncos at 7 p.m. On Sept. 5 the Broncos battle the Cougars at 3 p.m. and the Oil Kings faceoff against the Tigers at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 per day (admission to both the 3 and 7 p.m. games), with no assigned seating. They are available at Ticketmaster or at the door at Performance Arena.
