The Lake City Falcons were the only high school girls rugby team in the province to medal at both the seven-a-side and the 15-a-side provincial championships this year.
A silver medal at the BC High School Rugby 7s Provincial Championship and a bronze medal at the BC High School Rugby 15s Provincial Championship capped off another phenomenal season for the Falcons, said head coach Morley Wilson.
“It was just another successful weekend,” Wilson said following the 15s provincials held May 26-28 in Kamloops.
The Falcons dug their claws into perennial powerhouse Brentwood College of Vancouver Island for a 44-5 hammering in the bronze-medal match.
With Grade 10 standout Emma Feldinger back on the pitch after suffering an injury at the sevens provincials, Wilson said the Falcons were fired up.
“The Grade 11s were inspired to play the best game possible for their Grade 12 teammates,” he said.
Between Feldinger, team captain Skye Forcier, Emma Pfleiderer, Laura Pfleiderer, Carleigh Walters, Molly Lamb, Brittany Zimmer, Carrie Lange and Katlyn Berkelaar, Brentwood College crumbled under the Falcons’ pressure.
On day one of the tournament the Falcons defeated Robert Bateman of Abbotsford 22-15, before losing a tough 31-26 match against Abbotsford.
Feldinger, meanwhile, was named to the President’s 15 Provincial Team.
“That’s a reflection of the whole season,” Wilson said. “She’s been so consistent and she’s just hardcore going all the time.”
At the sevens provincials held in April in Victoria the Falcons lost their opener to Oak Bay, 24-5, before running the table on Nechacko Valley of Vanderhoof (33-0), Belmont of Victoria (34-10), GP Vanier of Courtenay (20-5) and Valleyview of Kamloops (27-7) to reach the final.
There, they were matched up again with a tough Oak Bay squad in the final and fell 38-0.
“Oak Bay was just phenomenal,” Wilson said of the calibre of the team.
Led by women’s rookie of the year Caroline Crossley — a 17 year old who has previously suited up for Canada’s Senior Women’s Team — and Sophie de Goede, Wilson said Oak Bay proved to be too much to handle.
The Falcons will now say their farewells to seven Grade 12s who will be graduating this year, however, Wilson said the future is bright.
“The Grade 11s have all stepped up,” he said. “We might have to change the way we play a bit but the program is still strong.
“Along with our third-place finish at the Las Vegas International 7s it has been one incredible year.”