The Elgin Park Orcas “played like warriors” en route to a sixth-overall finish at BC Rugby High School Sevens provincial championships last week at UBC.
The senior girls rugby squad – made up of the same players that comprise the school’s spring-season 15-a-side team – advanced all the way to the tournament’s Plate Final, thanks to a 22-0 victory over McRoberts Secondary, which Jeff Bagshaw, coach of Elgin’s senior girls 15-a-side team, called the “highlight of the tournament.”
The shutout victory was “a dominant performance” he said.
“I am massively proud of these awesome, young women,” he continued. “They played like warriors, and played for each other.”
In the Plate Final, Elgin Park lost to Abbotsford Senior Secondary.
The head coach of Elgin’s sevens team was Maii Acevado – an Elgin Park alum.
“It was fabulous to have her come back and give back to the rugby program, her leadership and solid coaching was a key reason for the team’s success,” Bagshaw said.
The provincial tourmanent – which began Friday – featured the top 16 teams in the province. Sixty schools in B.C. have sevens programs, Bagshaw noted.