You have to grow up fast when you live in small town Alberta or else you might get bulldozed by a Knight, Falcon, Mustang…
The Oilfields Drillers have five Grade 9 students on their roster for the 2016 Big Sky Girls Rugby Union season — something that has become just a way of life for the determined student body to compete against bigger schools.
It’s an early opportunity as far as Grade 9 students Krystal LeLonde and Tarran Klopp are concerned.
“I found it interesting and I like physical sports,” said LeLonde, after the Drillers’ loss to the Springbank Phoenix on May 5. “At first I was thinking: ‘Oh, how do I do this?’ but the seniors have mentored me.
“I got the hang of it.”
The rookies got a rude awakening in their first game, as they had to tackle — and sometimes not tackle — the two-time defending South Central zone champion Holy Trinity Academy Knights.
“I thought we did well seeing how it was our first game and the Grade 9s did pretty good too,” said LeLonde of the 55-5 loss in early April.
Still there were some Godzilla-sized insects in Klopp’s stomach before stepping on the pitch at HTA.
“I had a pretty good idea about what rugby was,” she said. “Still that first game, I had those butterflies — figuring out who I am supposed to be tackling and where I am supposed to be.”
She was a quick study.
The back said she was prepared adding Drillers coach Kyle Rawson would not allow a girl to take the field if they weren’t ready.
As well, throughout games and practices veterans Harley Tucker and Samantha Warkman are bellowing instructions like a sea captain in a terrible storm.
“Even when I do something wrong, they come over and pat my back — they are so supportive,” LeLonde said.
However, she said there is still some trepidation when she steps on the pitch.
“We’re both backs and we’re smaller girls and every girl has two or three years on us,” she said. “They have figured the game out and this is only our fourth game.”
She’s learning and by the time they are in Grade 12, they will be the experienced ones.
Rawson said while having Grade 9 players can take more work, it does provide opportunities,
“They have never played before, other than in gym class,” Rawson said. “There is so much to learn. However, because they are a blank slate you can mould them into the player they can become.”
He said the four Grade 9 rookies are keen and athletic.
“They are kids that want to be physical, want to be out there and run with the ball – do all the things to become a good rugby player,” Rawson said. “They have the want and the drive. It’s just a matter of giving them the tools and skills to perform.”
The other Grade 9 Drillers are Coral Bernauer, Mykayla Nadeau and the injured Megan Nadeau.
The Drillers, who had only 14 players in their loss to Springbank, saw their record drop to 1-3.
Both the Holy Trinity Academy Knights and Foothills Falcons were idle last week.
The two Okotoks schools will square off this Thursday at HTA at 5 p.m. in what is the Knights homecoming game. The Knights are 3-0 in the Big Sky while the Falcons are 2-1.
The Drillers are in Strathmore May 12 to play the Spartans.
Sevens-up
The Oilfields Drillers capped off the week on a winning not by winning the first Highwood Mustangs’ Sevens-tournament.
The Drillers downed the host Mustangs 12-7 in the final Saturday. Oilfields took a 7-0 lead when Warkman picked off a loose ball of the scrum and was able to get outside and scamper for a 45-yard try.
The Mustangs would tie the game early in the second half.
The Drillers would take the title when Tucker would not be denied scoring the winning try from about 15 yards out with just seconds remaining in the final.
