The third division men and first division women are back on the pitch today in the Edmonton Rugby Union.
The thirds (2-7) host the Edson Axmen (5-3) at 2 p.m. at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club and the first-place SARFC ladies (7-2) visit the Clan (5-3) at 2:30 p.m. at Airways Park.
The thirds have dropped two in a row and the ladies are 6-1 in their last seven games and the loss was 59-12 to the Clan last month.
After today the thirds have one match left and the ladies play two more before their playoffs start Sept. 17.
The St. Albert Stars huddle up in today’s opening playoff round in the Alberta Football League.
Kickoff is 3 p.m. against the Edmonton Raiders at Riel Recreation Park.
The Stars (5-3) and Raiders (4-4) placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the nine-team standings.
The first of five consecutive wins for the Stars in league play was 41-8 over the Raiders on June 18 in St. Albert.
The winning streak ended last weekend in the 55-7 road loss to the second-place Fort McMurray Monarchs (7-1).
The Central Alberta Buccaneers (8-0) and Monarchs have first round byes and the defending AFL champion Calgary Gators (6-2) tackle the Grande Prairie Drillers (4-4) in the other playoff contest.
The semifinals are Aug. 20 and the final is Aug. 27.
Last year the Stars finished 6-4 overall after falling 49-35 to the Gators in the semifinals. It was 42-7 at halftime.
This weekend the St. Albert Sailfish are hosting the Region B provincial qualifier at Fountain Park Recreation Centre.
Swimmers from the Devon Dolphins, Drayton Valley Neptunes, Hinton Water Devils, Jasper Red Fins, North Edmonton Swim Club, Spruce Grove Barracudas, Stony Plain Sharks, Westlock Gators, Whitecourt Blue Dolphins and the Sailfish are competing for berths at the Aug. 19 to 21 Alberta Summer Swimming Association championships at Kinsmen Sports Centre.
The St. Albert Junior B Merchants have finalized their conditioning camp dates prior to tryouts in September.
The ice sessions are Aug. 29, 30 and 31, from 9:15 to 10:45 p.m. at Mark Messier Arena.
Registration is limited to the first 20 skaters and four netminders and the cost is $50 per player.
Forms are available at www.stalbertmerchants.com and can be emailed to [email protected].
Tryouts start Sept. 4 at Akinsdale Arena.
