A pair of rugby tournaments, April 25 and April 26, saw 30 teams from across the region gather in Jasper.
The Jasper High School Invitational pitted 11 teams against one another April 25, and Jasper鈥檚 Cougars made it into the finals, where they suffered a heartbreaking loss to a Smoky Lake team that coach Marshall Corbett said they could have beat.
Nevertheless, the boys finished with three wins, one tie and a single loss, and Corbett said they played very well, gelling as a team even against opponents with some very strong athletes. If they continue to play like they did, Corbett thinks the season should be a bright one for boys.
The Jasper Downhill Sevens tournament saw nearly 20 teams come out April 26, with both ladies and mens brackets. O鈥橲hea鈥檚 Jasper Ravens failed to make a mark, losing back to back games and getting knocked out early in the day.
But Corbett, who plays on the team, said they played well despite the disappointing result.
A strong team from Leduc crushed their Pacific Warrior opponents to take the final of the mens tournament, and the University of Alberta Pandas took the ladies event in their seven-a-side final match.
Action was fast and competitive all weekend, and the adult tournament even had some impromptu entertainment as a few streakers braved the cold for a short sprint across the field.
鈥淥verall it was a great weekend of rugby,鈥� Corbett said.
Trevor Nichols
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