Rugby action this week had Aldergrove Secondary senior boys Totems heading to the Island for a match against Glenlyon Norfolk School.
The first few hits of the game were a little cautious from the Totems, but good hard running from Jordan Nickel set the team in forward motion. The rest of the first half the Totems controlled the high pace of the game.
Josh Kwiatkowski broke through at the 5-metre after hard work from forwards Alex Rivard and Mike Head. Nick Waterman made a great run down the wing, offloaded to Jason Esbensen's great hands and the speedy scrum half scored the try of the game. Some powerful runs by centre Ryan Swann and flyhalf Connor Hunter got the boys back in the opposition's half, and Doug Saunders charged over the line for the final try of the half.
Hard defence by Aldergrove, especially front rowers Henri Donath and Dillan Peters, shut down all GNS offensive attempts in the first half. The second half saw a renewed Glenlyon team. Despite valiant efforts from all, the Totems lost the cohesiveness of the first half and Glenlyon would dictate the pace of the second half.
Doug Saunders was awarded "crunch" of the game for folding GNS's quick fullback but he still managed to score some devastating runs and help put the final score to 21-38 for Glenlyon Norfolk. Nick Hardwick, Daryl Brown and Dakota Griscowsky put some great kick returns together from the back three but were all stopped short.
Cody Nichols did some excellent work at the scrum half spot and Connor Hunter was awarded man of the match for great kicking skills and outmatching his opposite number.
The Totems plan to train hard and overcome a tough loss. Aldergrove will host provincial seeding matches this Friday when two Okanagan schools will be visiting to play the Senior Totems and Rick Hansen; kick off at 1:30 p.m.