The playoffs in men’s rugby scrum down today for St. Albert’s first and second division teams.
The seconds (6-6) tackle the Clansmen (7-5) at 2 p.m. at Airways Park in the Edmonton Rugby Union semifinals.
In league play the Clan beat the seconds 34-20 in May and 31-24 in June.
The winner plays the LA Crude (11-1) or Fort McMurray Knights (6-6) for the J.W. Shaw Cup on Sept. 18 at Ellerslie Rugby Park. The Lor-Ann Cup provincial final is Sept. 25 at Calgary Rugby Park.
In the Alberta Cup quarter-finals, the firsts (10-2) host the seventh-place Red Deer Titans (5-7) at 4 p.m. at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club. The firsts thumped the Titans 57-7 in June.
The semifinals are Sept. 18 at Ellerslie and the Labatt Cup provincial final is Sept. 25 at Calgary.
In the premier division table, the firsts finished second after pennant-winning seasons in 2008 and 2009. The firsts also lost the last two provincial finals by scores of 24-10 against the Calgary Saints and 24-22 against the Calgary Hornets.
The firsts are 36-6-1 overall after St. Albert rejoined the first division following its 18-1 Alberta Rugby Union second division championship season in 2007.
The seventh annual Ryan Burak Invitational Tournament wraps up today at Paul Kane High School.
The high school junior volleyball draw features eight girls’ and eight boys’ teams. Local representation includes the Paul Kane Blues’ boys and girls, St. Albert Skyhawks’ boys and girls and the Morinville Wolves’ boys and girls.
Round robin matches start at 8 a.m. and the finals are 2:45 p.m. for the girls and 4 p.m. for the boys.
The tournament was established in memory of Ryan Burak. The Paul Kane grad played three years on the varsity Blues’ volleyball team. He was killed by a drunk driver Jan. 27, 2004 at the age of 20.
Today’s line-up of home games at Riel Park field for St. Albert teams in the Capital District Minor Football Association is as follows:
10 a.m. atoms: Jaguars vs. Camrose
11:30 a.m. bantams: 49ers vs. Camrose
2 p.m. peewees: Riders vs. Camrose
4 p.m. peewees: Colts vs. Millwoods Grizzlies
