The last match before the playoffs for the third division men’s team kicks off at 2 p.m. today against the Edson Axmen at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club.
First place in the Edmonton Rugby Union is at stake for the thirds (8-3, 10 bonus points), winners of four in a row and six of their last seven matches.
The thirds trail the Pirates (9-2, 10 BP), last year’s Visser Cup champions and provincial finalists, by four points in the pennant race.
The thirds need a win with the bonus point against Edson (6-4, eight BP) and the Pirates had to lose Friday’s match against the Nor’Westers (3-8, eight BP) for the St. Albert side to finish first overall. Friday’s score was unavailable at press time.
Six teams make the playoffs and the thirds and Pirates are guaranteed first-round playoff byes and home-field advantage in the Sept. 19 semifinals.
The ERU final is Sept. 26 and the Digby Dinnie Cup provincial final is Oct. 3 at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
In league play the thirds beat the Pirates 25-8 at SARFC.
The St. Albert Stars host the Grande Prairie Drillers tonight in the Alberta Football League playoffs.
Kickoff is 6 p.m. at Riel Recreation Park and gate admission is $5.
The Stars (5-3) finished fourth and the Drillers (3-5) placed fifth in the nine-team standings.
In the season opener the Stars beat the Drillers 17-3 in Grande Prairie.
The winner will play the Calgary Gators (8-0) or the Fort McMurray Monarchs (7-1) in the Aug. 29 semifinals. The final is Sept. 12.
The Stars lost both games to the top-two AFL teams by scores of 53-0 to the Gators in Calgary and 60-7 to the Monarchs in St. Albert.
Last year the Stars finished 3-5 after losing 21-1 to the Monarchs in the opening playoff round.
Two years ago the Stars reached the final in their AFL debut and lost 41-6 to the undefeated Gators to finish 6-4 overall.
The St. Albert Men’s Soccer League playoffs start Sunday morning at Riel Park.
GSE (13-0-1) and the SV Spurs (8-5-1) have byes in the five-team round robin and will play the top two finishers in the Sept 15 semifinals.
The finals are Sept. 20 at the Victoria Soccer Club.
GSE, winner of the last three playoff cups, will represent SAMSL at the Tier 3 provincials next month in Calgary.
