Ellerslie Rugby Park – The reigning premier men's provincial rugby champions suffered a humbling loss in their Alberta Cup lid-lifter Saturday.
"It's definitely a wakeup call from last year. It's not going to be an easy year," a shell-shocked looking Brett Kelly told the Gazette after the 29-17 drubbing by the Druids of Strathcona. "We've got to get commitment from the boys now. We need to want it."
Last year the firsts (10-2) whipped the Druids (8-3-1) by 46 points in St. Albert and in the rematch in Sherwood Park they escaped with a two-point decision.
"We haven't beat them in three or four years so we're just delighted to get the win," said inside-centre Adam Gowing, an Irish import who rattled the firsts with two long drop goals three minutes apart in the first half to put the Druids up by 16. "We wanted to get off to a good start and this win sets us up well for the rest of the season. They're a good side and they're provincial champions for a reason so it's really enjoyable to get this win."
It was only the seventh loss in 47 marches by the first 15 at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club since rejoining the premier ranks after capturing the second division provincial crown in 2007.
"We couldn't do the simple things today. We were dropping balls and stuff like that that we shouldn't be doing," said Kelly, the blindside flanker and fifth-year starter on the firsts. "We had lots of chances but we weren't capitalizing on our chances. We scored two tries and that's the only time we put four phases together."
The Druids outscored the firsts 26-3 in the opening 40 minutes.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game right from the start but we've got faith in each other. We've got a good group of guys here, it's pretty much the same team from last season, so we just stuck at it and played really well. We had good commitment and good belief," Gowing said.
A converted try in the third minute was followed by a pair of penalty kicks by Gowing from outside the 22-metre line, including a lengthy boot in the 26th minute to put the Druids up by 13.
In the 30th minute standoff Ashley Hanson converted a penalty in front of the 22 to put the firsts on the scoreboard.
"The first half was ugly, just terrible. It's the worst I've been a part of," Kelly said.
Decisive drop goals
Gowing, 24, stunned the firsts by pulling off the most exciting play in rugby twice. His drop goals from a very far distance left the firsts reeling in disbelief.
"The first one was just kind of a shot to nothing. It was just about at the halfway [line] and we had a bit of a breeze behind us. I thought that if I can strike it well there might be a chance and lucky enough for me it went over. It wasn't the prettiest one but it was still good enough," Gowing said. "The second one [in the 33rd minute] I think we had advantage anyway for a penalty, so again it was a shot for nothing and thankfully it went over."
The first half ended with a converted try by the Druids off a chip-and-chase into the right corner of the try area.
Gowing's third penalty kick early in the second half left the firsts trailing by 26 and the possibility of a comeback unlikely.
"We just made fewer mistakes than they did," Gowing said. "We came up hard on defence and we were attacking hard. At the end of the day, that was the difference."
Tries by forward Nick Gies (from a Jake Robinson feed) and speedy back Duncan Maguire (act of thievery in front of the try line) and Hanson's conversions made the score somewhat respectable from a St. Albert perspective.
"It was our first game of the season and there are lots of cobwebs to get out so it's a learning experience," Kelly said. "We were basically getting our winter legs out."
Shortage of starters
Kelly, 22, was among five players in Saturday's starting line-up who started in last year's premier final against the Calgary Canucks. Robinson, the starting scrum-half in the historic 33-17 playoff triumph, subbed on against the Druids in place of Frank Lucas after Hanson's penalty kick with 10 minutes left in the first half.
After sitting out last year, Hanson and veteran centre David Owen rejoined the firsts and started against the Druids. Owen was replaced by Brad Angove after suffering a lower body injury early in the second half.
Assistant coach Gerbil Kiernan was forced into action in the front row after Angus MacDonald needed a breather late in the game.
The match also marked the debut of Irish import Johnny Malone. The massive eight-man with semi-pro experience struggled to inflict his physicality on the Druids. He stepped off the plane at midnight Thursday and was still learning his teammates' names at game time.
Absent from the season opener was standout forward Kyle Gilmour and Karim Lynch, a super centre from Britain.
Gilmour, the MVP of the firsts in 2008 and the Edmonton Rugby Union's senior player of the year in 2009, played in the British Columbia premier men's Rounsefell Cup final for the championship-winning Castaway Wanderers. He was also honoured by the Castaways as their most improved premier player this year.
Lynch, the 2009 rookie of the year and last year's MVP for the firsts, is expected to show up in St. Albert in early June.
Kelly said the players that filled in against the Druids did an admirable job.
"There is definitely a few guys from seconds and thirds that are stepping up and earning their spots and you can't blame it on them at all. They gave it everything they had and they fit in fine," said. "It was a tough loss for sure but it's going to be a different story next week against the Clan."
Saturday's kickoff between the longtime rivals is 4 p.m. at Airways Park.
