Cochrane Rugby senior boys are showing their potential as the Big Sky Rugby Union high school season winds down.
Cochrane Rugby senior boys are showing their potential as the Big Sky Rugby Union high school season winds down.
Behind 10-0 early to Springbank Community High School Phoenix in their May 13 fixture at Springbank, Craig de la Mare and Rylen Waugh broke the game open for Cochrane, comprised of players from both Cochrane and Bow Valley high schools, in its 26-10 win over Springbank.
“It was an awesome game, ” said Cochrane Rugby head coach Ty Hawes, who also coaches and plays for Bow Valley Grizzlies Second Division men's team. “They're coming out to training sessions and having fun and this is the result, basically. ”
For Springbank coach Ash Nicholls, who also plays men's rugby for Grizzlies, it's a case of getting a full effort from his side.
“Our biggest problem at the moment is we'll play for 10 minutes, shut down for five. Play another 10, shut down for 10, ” Nicholls observed following the fixture on Springbank's home ground. “So up and down. When we're on, we're on. ”
Matt Halyn got it started for Springbank with a score before Cochrane came roaring back with two tries apiece from Waugh and de la Mare. Waugh hit three converts to boot.
“Craig had a great game. He's such a strong ball runner, ” Hawes commented on de la Mare's game. “And to have a guy like Rylen, who's only a Grade 10, is unreal. He can run a game. You see how fast he's speeding up the game. He's smart. He knows where the space is. He kicks to space. Everything. You can't really ask for a whole lot more from two of your strong positions. ”
Nicholls knows his side is up to the task as playoffs approach. He'll just have to drill it into his players a bit more.
“Our set plays are really good this year. When we time the jump, we win about 90 per cent of our defensive lineouts, ” Nicholls said. “Just tightening everything up, wrapping up the four zones and see what happens after that. ”
