The St. Albert Rugby Football Club kicks off its 2013 fixtures today with three matches at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
At 2:15 p.m. in the Edmonton Rugby Union the third division men battle the Pirates and the women’s team tackles the Lep/Tigers in the spring league.
Last year the thirds finished 7-4 for a berth in the semifinals and lost 49-21 to the Edson Axmen.
The ladies were 0-5-1 in the second division after going 1-8 in the spring league, which determined teams for the Alberta premier division and the ERU’s second division.
At 4 p.m. the premier men and the rival Clansmen clash on the Alberta Cup pitch.
Last year the first 15 were a disappointing 1-3 against the Clan for an overall 6-8 record. In the Ken Ann Cup playoff to determine the ERU rep at provincials the Clan pounded the firsts 61-15. The loss ended a four-year run to provincials by the firsts, winners of the 2010 Labatt’s Cup championship.
Thursday the second division men make their season debut against the Lep/Tigers at 7 p.m. at Ellerslie.
Last year the seconds finished 2-12 with a division worst 494 points against.
The St. Albert Heavenly Rollers wheel into action in tonight’s doubleheader at the Pizza 73 fieldhouse at Servus Credit Union Place.
The matchup between the Greater Edmonton Junior Roller Derby League’s Spoilers and Stinkerbelles goes at 6 p.m., followed by the Heavenly Rollers’ intermediate travel team, the Beelzebubs, against the Rez City Rollers at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 at the door and youths 10 and under get in free.
Monday the St. Albert Senior Cardinals host the Edmonton Expos in the Alberta West Central Baseball League.
The first pitch is 6:45 p.m. at Legion Memorial Park.
The Cardinals opened the season with a 4-2 win over the Codgers in Stony Plain last week.
Last year the Cardinals finished second at 12-3 and in the best-of-three final they were swept by the first-place Westlock Red Lions (14-3).
This year the Cardinals will play in the Canadian Oldtimers Baseball Championships in the 35-plus age division. The Aug. 2 to 5 competition will also feature 44-plus and 50-plus divisions. Games will be staged in St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Telus Field and other Edmonton diamonds.
