The first women’s rugby team at St. Albert Catholic High School since 2005 is a work in progress.
Tuesday’s metro Edmonton league opener marked the rugby debuts for 21 of the 22 Skyhawks, but the lack of experience didn’t stop the city conference team from scoring three tries in the 46-17 loss to the St. Francis Xavier Rams at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club.
“For the first time as a team we did great,” said Taryn Wolosyn, a Grade 11 inside-centre. “From only coming together about two weeks ago to this game now is incredible. We had to learn how to pass, how to tackle and how to take tackles.”
Head coach Laura Tod was unsure how the Skyhawks would perform after only a few training sessions.
“Definitely I was a little worried because there are so many rules to this game and it’s hard to explain things to them. They also hadn’t been on a rugby field before so when we got here I showed them where all the lines are,” Tod said.
The pool B contest was played with uncontested scrums and lineouts so the game plan for the Skyhawks was to work on the basics.
“Our goals today were to just run forward, make our passes and make our tackles and we did that. We also scored three times too, so that’s good,” Tod said. “Our tackling was really good and that’s what I’m really proud about. I think some of them were a little afraid and nervous about actually tackling someone they didn’t know, but they stepped up and their tackles were very good.”
Three weeks ago only four Skyhawks had signed up for rugby, but a recruiting drive boosted the numbers.
The only Skyhawk with rugby experience is Brianne Brand from last year’s U15 St. Albert club team.
“The best thing about these girls is they ask so many questions. They’re starting to learn and figure out what’s going on,” Tod said.
The Skyhawks opened the scoring in the fifth minute, when prop Gabby Poulin finished off a spirited drive into Rams’ territory.
“We were all shocked at first when we scored, and then we just went crazy. It was really exciting for all of us,” Wolosyn said.
The Rams tied it up with a long run before quarter time and added two more tries from short distances before halftime.
Two minutes into the third quarter, fullback Dante Lusson broke away from the Rams for the Skyhawks’ second try after a romp through traffic by Wolosyn put her team in scoring range.
After a try by the Rams made it 22-10, Wolosyn shredded several tackles with a powerful dash into the try area. Kayden Douchet-Marchand kicked a tricky conversion.
“That’s kind of my thing. I like to go through the tackles and just zig-zag through people,” Wolosyn said. “I didn’t really realize I got it until I put the ball down and then I went, ‘Oh my God! I scored!’ It was really exciting. It was the first of my career.”
The Rams replied with a quick try off penalty play late in the quarter and scored three more times to end the game.
Last year the Rams didn’t field a team in the metro league.
Wolosyn, 16, is happy the Skyhawks are back on the pitch after a long absence.
“Knowing that we’re the first SACHS team in years is pretty exciting,” she said. “We would be overly impressed if we get one win under our belts. That would be good for all of us.
“But honestly, just for us to progress from when we first started and not knowing anything about the game or any rules, to even one game where everyone plays the best as they can, we would be happy with that.”
Tuesday the Skyhawks tackle the Bellerose Bulldogs (1-0) at 4:45 p.m. in St. Albert.
The Fort Saskatchewan Sting (0-1) are also in pool B.
All eight teams in the city conference make the May 15 crossover quarterfinals.
The Skyhawks have modest goals for the season.
