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Smithers Gryphons girls’ fifteens head to rugby provincials

Smithers is bringing some Vanderhoof players to provincials in Abbotsford this weekend.
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Although the Smithers Secondary School girls rugby squad was unable to take a full team to the zone championships in Vanderhoof recently, their play was solid. They finished with a one and one record, earning them a spot in the Tier 2 division at the upcoming provincial championships.

The team was missing several seasoned players but still managed to play well despite poor conditions.

Coach Sean Levenson was pleased with the performance of the team. They topped host Vanderhoof but went down to a more experienced Houston team.

“They played the game as it should be played. We used every player and they put out a heroic effort,” said Levenson.

The team has been in training since the fall season and with better weather, they have been able to practise out of doors in better conditions. With poor weather and cold, the team has occasionally had to practice indoors where certain game elements are perhaps too dangerous to perform on wood floors. Training on grass fields recently has made for more realistic conditions.

The high school rugby season is split into two sections. The girls began play this season in the seven-a-side in which teams have only seven players at a time on the field, while currently they will compete with 15 active players on the field at any one time.

Smithers will combine with a number of players from Vanderhoof to represent the zone in Tier 2 play at the upcoming provincial meet this weekend in Abbotsford.