The St. Albert Rugby Football Club will re-open its first and second fields Friday and the first premier men's match is Aug. 9 against the Calgary Saints at 4 p.m. A junior match is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 5 or 6.
The St. Albert Rugby Football Club will re-open its first and second fields Friday and the first premier men's match is Aug. 9 against the Calgary Saints at 4 p.m.
A junior match is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 5 or 6.
The return of rugby to the Riel Recreation Park facility signals the completion of the reclamation work and outdoor facility enhancement projects that started in August of 2012.
A four-tier deck, constructed through the assistance of a City of St. Albert Community Capital Grant, will be filled to capacity for the Alberta Cup tilt between the first 15 (7-1) and the Saints (5-3).
The initial grand re-opening of the grounds was moved from June 28 to July 12, but issues with the grass, drainage and the irrigation and fertilizer systems forced the club to delay the big party.
Wednesday night's junior men's doubleheader at Alpine field kicks off at 6:30 p.m. between the St. Albert U17s and the Clansmen.
St. Albert, last year's Edmonton Rugby Union champion, is 1-3 after last week's 71-17 drubbing by the Nor'Westers at Alpine. The Clan is 4-0.
At 8 p.m. the St. Albert U19s scrum down against the Nor'Westers in the last match prior to the Aug. 13 semifinals.
The U19s are 2-1 after getting pumped 69-5 by the Clan (3-0) last week at Alpine. The Nor'Westers are 0-2.
Thursday in the Edmonton Rugby Union women's second division St. Albert tackles the Rockers at 7 p.m. at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
It's the last match before the Aug. 9 playoffs kick off and a St. Albert win would enhance its home-field advantage for the semifinals.
St. Albert is 2-1 in the second division table and 7-4 overall. The Rockers are 1-2 and 2-9 overall.
Last week St. Albert lost 42-14 to the Strathcona Druids (2-1 and 4-7 overall) at Lynn Davies Rugby Park. Marcia Davis scored two tries and captain Katie Davis kicked the conversions.
Saturday's match between the St. Albert second division men and the Nor'Westers was rescheduled because Alpine field was closed due to heavy rain.
In the playoff race the second 15 (4-3-1) are hanging on to the fourth and final spot in the Edmonton Rugby Union table.
The next match is Aug. 16 against the first-place Leduc Crude (8-0). Kickoff is 2 p.m. at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club.
Earlier in the season Leduc crushed the seconds 60-7 at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
