The Lorne Akins Gators pounded the pitch Saturday as the inaugural winners of the division one 7's championship in the Greater Edmonton Junior High Flag Rugby League.
The red and blue Gators' teams won all their tournament playoff games at Ellerslie Rugby Park, but instead of meeting in the final for the championship trophy it was awarded to the Lorne Akins Senior 7's in recognition of the two finalists.
"For our 7's teams, and the school, it's nice to see the L.A. Gators on the first annual junior high 7's trophy," said coach Roger Scott. "The same scenario played out similarly last year in 10's."
This is the first year the league adopted a 7's first division and a 10's second division. Lorne Akins had close to 50 players distributed on four teams. The senior players tend to play 7's and the least experience players compete in 10's.
"We've worked hard in practice since March and certainly hoped that good things would happen at playoff time if we were well trained and prepared," Scott said. "Our senior 7's players have been just outstanding, and the final tournament was no exception.
"For our younger 10's players it was a great rugby day despite the win/loss record. They played with great courage and endless competitive spirit. I just hope the league rules won't allow Grade 9s to play in division two games next year."
The Gators finished the season with a school record of 24-16-3.
"We lose more games than anyone probably realizes because our junior players are often playing much older and more experienced players," Scott said. "They will be our future stars."
The 7's version of the game – three forwards and four backs played on the large field – will become an official Olympic sport in 2016. The junior high league also added 7's rugby to its co-ed 10's flag format that started in 2005. Scott said Lorne Akins always sent two senior and two junior 10's teams to games and tournaments, but welcomed the change to the junior high format.
"The high school and even junior high school players of today will most likely be the Canadian Olympic rugby athletes of 2016," Scott said.
Rich tradition
Gators rugby got its start at Lorne Akins when Scott returned to the school in 1987-88 after enjoying early rugby success at Paul Kane and the first junior years at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club. In 1989 the Lorne Akins boys formed a squad to play the Edmonton selects in a mini-rugby game before the famous Canada versus Australia match in St. Albert that October. The junior players went on to become a 15's team that played in high school junior tournaments.
"Andrew Milne stands out as a player on that contact team," Scott said of the former St. Albert Saints' player and coach and current bench boss of the Canmore Eagles in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Eventually the Saturday morning school/clubs league started and the Gators played co-ed tag rugby at weekend tournaments around northern Alberta from 1993 to 2004. The format introduced many future stars like Jake Robinson and Brandy Hubick to the men's and women's game. The weekend tournament concept was quickly adopted by local clubs.
"We also managed to sneak away to play some contact games in Lashburn and these action-packed games ignited passion in the players. It was the starting points for several successful players like Nick Dragich, Brett Kelly, Andy Tiedemann and Sabrina Kelly," Scott said.
In 2005 Lorne Akins switched to a schools' co-ed flag league for teams in the greater Edmonton area.
"Rugby is a very popular sport, especially in St. Albert and our school," Scott said. "The Gator Bowl, a fierce inter-squad rugby tournament among our girls' and boys' teams, is one of the sporting highlights of the season at our school."
