WINDSOR, N.S. — Avon View's senior girls' rugby team is on fire and it's only the start of the season.
The girls returned to Windsor April 22 with a championship banner in tow.
Jim Bryan, the team's head coach, said the girls went undefeated when they competed at the annual Rothesay Netherwood School's rugbyfest. It was the fourth time Avon View has won the Armstrong Division title.
“All the best teams from the Maritimes end up there,” said Bryan.
The competition was held April 20-22.
Avon View won their first bout 19-0 over Coburg Collegiate from Ontario. Then, they downed Lockview 19-7. They took on Three Oaks for the chance to advance to the finals and handily defeated them 40-0. The final was against St. Malachy’s Memorial High School, and the Avalanche won 12-0.
“You never know how you're going to do. You think a team is good on paper but until you actually go out and do it, (you don't know),” said Bryan. “It's special.”
Bryan said the girls worked hard for the win.
“In the final, there were two girls that really seemed to play at another level: Paige Parker and Haley Verge. They were especially really good. They just refused to lose,” said Bryan.
King's-Edgehill also competed at rugbyfest and placed third.
Avon View, which is comprised of students from Grade 9 to 12, has a good shot at doing well again this season.
Bryan said the strongest teams he's seen so far in the province all hail from the Valley: Avon View, King's-Edgehill, and Horton. He predicts as long as players don't get injured, these three teams will be jockeying for a provincial banner in the near future.
“Anything is possible when you look at attrition and people staying healthy,” he said.
Rory Campbell, King's-Edgehill School's girls' rugby coach, shared a similar sentiment about the top teams in the province.
“Only two teams are going to advance to provincials from our region and I'm pretty confident that we have three of the best teams in the province — between Horton, Avon View and us,” said Campbell. “One of these teams is not going to make it to provincials, which is going to be a tough pill to swallow for somebody.”
Campbell said the “big thing is being healthy” as a team.
“The season is so short and the games are so intense. If you lose a key player for a couple weeks, that's it,” he said.
Avon View is hosting rugbyfest on May 5 — something both squads look forward to annually.
“It's a 9-5 thing where all the girl teams in the Valley are playing, including the big showdown between us and Kings,” said Bryan, adding it'll be a fun event for people to come watch.
Campbell said high school rugby fans have the date circled on their calendars as it's going to be a good showdown.
“Everyone knows there's a good rivalry there. Our girls play our best against them, and they usually play their best against us. If that happens, it doesn't really matter who wins, in a lot of ways,” he said.
