St. Albert’s first and second division men’s rugby teams are one win away from going to provincials when they scrum down today at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
At 3:15 p.m. the seconds (7-6) and Leduc Crude (12-1) battle for the W.D. Shaw Cup in the Edmonton Rugby Union final. The winner will play Banff (2009 provincial champs) or the Calgary Rams for the Lor-Ann Cup in the Alberta Rugby Union championship next Saturday at Calgary Rugby Park. St. Albert’s last second division provincial title was 2007 when the first 15 finished 18-1.
In the regular season Leduc manhandled the seconds 35-13 in the freezing rain in May at Ellerslie and 45-12 in St. Albert in the last game before the playoffs.
At 5 p.m. the firsts (11-2) and Clansmen (9-4) will duke it out in the Alberta Cup semifinal. The survivor will challenge the Calgary Hornets (2009 provincial champs) or Calgary Canucks for the Labatt Cup next Saturday at Calgary. The firsts lost the last two provincial finals by scores of 24-10 to the Calgary Saints and 24-22 to the Hornets.
In the second week of the premier fixtures the Clan knocked off the firsts 34-12 in St. Albert. The rematch in July at Ellerslie was a bitterly contested affair. A dramatic penalty kick by British import Simon Gregory late in the match gave the firsts a hard-fought 18-16 win.
The firsts are 37-6-1 overall after the first 15 rejoined the premier ranks following their 2007 Lor-Ann Cup victory.
Two-time Olympic medallist Beckie Scott is in St. Albert this weekend to launch the second year of the Ski Fit North Alberta program.
The training camp for northern Alberta skiers between the ages of six and 14 started Friday afternoon and continues today at Kingswood Park. Sunday’s sessions are at Father Jan School.
Scott also has a motivational presentation scheduled tonight at 7 p.m. at Bellerose Composite High School entitled Olympic Dreams & Goals, Belief & Confidence, Lifestyle Balance, Fair Play and Right to Play. It’s open to the public.
The weekend itinerary is online at www.stanski.ca
The camp is hosted by the St. Albert Nordic Ski Club, sponsored by Statoil and the Alberta Recreation Parks and Wildlife Foundation, organized by the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club and supported by Cross Country Alberta and Cross Country Canada.
Metro Edmonton high school volleyball starts Monday with exhibition matches for the varsity men’s and women’s teams in the premier and city conferences.
Last year’s 4A provincial women’s reps from St. Albert in premier, the eighth-place Paul Kane Blues and the 10th place Bellerose Bulldogs, are in action at 4:45 p.m. The Bulldogs host Holy Trinity and the Blues visit the Archbishop Jordan Scots.
League play at the senior level in premier and city gets under way Wednesday. Visit www.telusplanet.net/public/metroedm/Volleyball/Volleyball for schedules.
