The division two women’s Paul Kane Blues (3-1-1, 128 PF/119 PA) are preparing for what should be a very tight game against the W.P. Wagner Warriors (2-2-1, 121 PF/118 PA).
The two teams tied 19-19 on May 15, with the Blues blowing a 14-0 halftime lead, eventually going down 19-14. A late game try by Cassandra McCabe tied the game.
“It was some of the best rugby I’ve watched as a coach,” said Blues head coach Marty McKeever after the game.
Both teams are coming off of championship game losses in the previous year, with Paul Kane losing 65-7 against Bev Facey in division one last year, and W.P. Wagner losing a tight 25-22 game to Memorial, after beating a 5-0 regular season Sturgeon Spirits team in the semi-finals.
“Our teams are so evenly matched it’s just going to be amazing to watch,” McKeever said of the upcoming game
The Blues have only 16 returning players, eight Grade 12s and eight Grade 11s from last year’s team.
For McKeever, the key to winning is playing a full four quarters.
“They have to keep the pedal down,” he said. “For whatever reason after half time we come out and we just aren’t quite awake. As a coach I have to make sure I check in a little better, who might be lagging.”
Paul Kane is coming off its first loss of the season against a strong Sturgeon (5-0) team, losing 68-12.
“I couldn’t be prouder as a coach,” McKeever said of the loss.
After another poor third quarter that saw the Spirits score eight unanswered tries, the Blues came out and scored two tries by Kennedy Palmer and Katelyn Shigeta, which the Blues were able to convert for another two points. They managed to keep Sturgeon off the scoreboard in the final frame.
“Good teams rise to adversity, great teams find another level in the face of adversity. You can’t find more adversity down 68-0. That intensity level has to come out for four quarters and not just one,” he said.
“It’s playoff time, the starting 15 reign supreme and they don’t come off the field unless they’re not able to stand,” McKeever added.
In the regular season, Paul Kane will do their best to player their entire squad over the course of the game, but come playoff time they’re sticking with their starters.
“My hope is not to move a lot of bodies around at all, I’d like to keep the starters in the entire game, if healthy,” McKeever said.
Looking past Monday’s game, the winner will likely play the streaking Sturgeon Spirits in the championship game. For the Blues, they’ll be wanting revenge for Tuesday’s lopsided loss. W.P. Wagner will want a repeat of last year’s playoffs, where they managed to defeat another strong undefeated Sturgeon team in the semi-finals 34-12.
“If they can come out of the gates the same way they finished against Sturgeon, I think we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” McKeever said.
Kickoff is set for Monday at 4:45 p.m. at the St. Albert Rugby Club.
