St. Albert’s unrelenting will to win overpowered the Strathcona Druids in Thursday’s confrontation in premier men’s rugby.
A united defensive front withstood a second half challenge by the determined Druids to preserve the 12-10 victory at the Leading Edge Fields.
“It was a hard battle. They threw everything they had at us and we kept them to a try and a penalty,” said Johnny Moloney, a second-row stalwart with the first 15.
Several heroic defensive stands prevented the Druids from scoring the go-ahead points after trailing by 12 at halftime.
“We knew we had good enough defence to keep them out. We’re confident in our tackling,” Maloney said.
Seven minutes into the second half the Druids grinded out a converted try and in the 64th minute Adam Gowing’s penalty kick from the 20-metre line left the firsts clinging to a two-point lead.
The Druids dominated territorial possession in the last 40 minutes but untimely penalties in scoring range and gutsy defence by the firsts stymied the visitors.
The forwards ramped up their defence after an ordinary effort in the season-opening 9-6 loss to the Druids (4-2) in Sherwood Park.
“We learned a lesson when we played the Druids. We had to up our game up front and all the boys stood up and pounded them,” Moloney said. “It’s nice to have a battle in a game like that up front. It builds character.”
A number of St. Albert players finished the titanic defensive struggle in pain.
“Weaker minded people would go off but our guys are in it until the end and we’re in for a good season with that mentality. We didn’t have it last year but we do this year. It’s something that’s instilled in us and it’s great to see. Our guys won’t go off for nothing,” Moloney said.
Head coach Gareth Scott saluted the spent-looking firsts for their perseverance.
“We’ve got some backbone,” Scott told his players in the post-game huddle. “No one can coach that. It comes from the heart.”
Antony Fitch continued his impressive play at standoff with two tries and a conversion. The 20-year-old British import finished off a turnover about the five-metre line on a tackle by Adam Bontus for the opening try in the 30th minute.
The firsts showed great patience in Druids’ territory before Fitch cracked the try line with tremendous second effort while wrapped up in the arms of a defender.
A few minutes later a spirited dash across the halfway line by Adam Higgins, another valuable British import, put the wheels in motion for a lengthy run by Fitch along the touchline for his second try.
“Fitchy is a pretty good player. I’m glad he is on our team,” said Moloney, 31, a former hurler in Ireland before switching to rugby at age 21.
The victory was the fourth win in a row during a six-game homestand by the 2011 Labatt’s Cup provincial finalists.
“It’s one of our best games. We’re gradually increasing our efforts and we’re building forward to bigger and better things. We’re striving for another (provincial) final and we don’t care who is going to come in front of us. We’re going to take them,” said Moloney.
The firsts (4-2) are back on the pitch Thursday against the rival Clansmen (3-3) at 7 p.m. The last home game is July 14 against the Druids at 4 p.m.
The game of the year for the firsts is July 21 against the Calgary Hornets (4-0). The rematch of last year’s provincial final kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Calgary Rugby Park. The 31-13 loss to the Hornets in last year’s provincial final ended an 11-game winning streak by the 11-4 firsts. It was also the fourth loss in a row to the Hornets, dating back to the 2009 final.
SCRUM BALLS: St. Albert’s second 15 gassed a 17-7 halftime lead in Thursday’s 24-23 loss to the Leduc Crude (4-3) at the Leading Edge Fields.
Liam Zahara and Matt Herod scored tries and Andrew Marsden kicked a penalty and a conversion in the opening half. Marsden also split the uprights twice kicking penalties in second half.
The seconds (2-5) are back on the pitch Saturday against the visiting Clansmen (4-3) at 4 p.m.
