Continue reading »]]> Wheelchair Rugby is coming back!

On Thursday May 10th at 7 pm in the Comox Recreation Centre we will be playing Wheelchair Rugby – come out and help get this sport off the ground in Comox Valley!

Shaun McKenzie of Duncan will be coming here with all the passion for the sport you can hope for. Learn the strategies, the techniques and enjoy the competitive fun!

Like most recreational forms of wheelchair sports, able-bodied  players are most welcome to join in. Learn more about the sport at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheelchair_rugby

If anyone wants to guarantee themselves some space, they can get in touch with Breana Morgan via email at bmorgan@islandradio.bc.ca, or call her at 97.3 The Eagle - (250) 703-2200.

Please DO CONFIRM your interest in coming out by e-mailing and please pass this on to other potential players.

See you on the court!

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Andy Hextall sets off on one of his patented runs.

Both teams realized the importance of the game at the outset, knowing that this “one-off” game meant an early summer or a move on to the next stages of the playoffs. With that in mind the game possessed a “nice bit of bite” in the early going, that could either boil over into an ill tempered affair, if not contained, or could have resulted in a really stirring contest. Unfortunately, the referee did not put his stamp on the game early enough allowing the often chippy, niggly play to continue, which led to the match digressing into a badly behaved contest that proved little fun for the crowd to watch and the players to play in. Eventually three players went to the sin bin, but that proved too little and too late to control the game.

The Kickers defended well in the early going with Cowichan in the ascendency, but after keeping the visiting Piggies at bay for some time, Kim Anderton forced his way over the Kicker’s try line to put the visitors up 5-0. Soon after, with the Kickers having trouble getting out of their own end, Kicker wing Curt Parker launched a massive, well-directed kick downfield and followed it up. He created enough pressure on the Cowichan full-back to force a turn over which allowed eighteen year-old, Isfled high schooler Vince Bennett to pick up and score in the corner: 5-5.
Cowichan came back just before the half for Bruce Moss, playing alongside his brother and his father in the Piggies side, to pick up a loose ball and romp in for a try unmolested:10-5. Half-time.

Substitutions at half-time saw the Kickers pack gain the upper hand allowing veteran lock Shayne Stuchbery to take a quick tap-penalty, get up a head of steam and run right through the whole Cowichan team to score under the posts. Konrad Nikkle converted. Kickers 12-10. Unfortunately Stuchbery’s afternoon ended soon after when he hurt his shoulder and retired from the fray. Had he stayed on, his leadership and straight, hard running might well have seen the home side win this contest. As it was the Kickers lost their way, gave away loose ball in the rucks and mauls, lost lineout ball and gave away two silly penalties which Owen Wood easily kicked to seal the fate of the home team. Final 16-12.

Like the Vancouver Canucks, the Kickers have enjoyed a sterling league season, but have lost both the Autumn and Spring playoffs because they haven’t risen to the occasion and come to grips with the toughness and discipline needed for play-off competitions.

“We weren’t disciplined enough,” commented Kickers coach Frank Balcombe after the match. “We wanted to spread the ball wide but the Cowichan backs tackled well and closed down space on us. Once, when we did get it wide, we scored, however, our forwards were slower to the break-down than they should have been. We hesitated – they didn’t!”

Andy Hextall, as he has done all season, played another terrific game at blind-side flanker and his open-side partner Vince Bennett joins him as “Men of the Match” for the Kickers. What a future this young fellow Bennett has in the game — last weekend he scored three tries, added another this weekend and played tremendous all round games both times. He keeps his head down, keeps his mouth shut and just gets on with the job of playing the game. Had the rest of his older teammates played like he did on Sunday, the Kickers would be moving on to the semi-finals.

The Kickers will wrap-up their season with their annual Award Banquet at the Fallen Alders Hall on May 12. For more details watch the Kickers web site: www. http://kickersrugby.ca/

SIDELINES:
The Club gratefully acknowledges our sponsors: A.F.C. Construction, Investors Group, Central Rentals, Wedler Engineering, Cummin Fences, Green Earth Carpet Cleaning, Bayview Chiropractic, Mt Washington Alpine Resort and Continual Palingenesis – Social Media Solutions, without whose support rugby would not continue to flourish in the Comox Valley.

Vince Bennett fights for territory.

Shayne Stuchbery leading by example.

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Steve Hextall heading for the try-line.

The Comox Valley Kickers are less than a week away from qualifying for the BC Rugby Union Provincials, in a home game against Cowichan at Cumberland Village Park this Sunday, April 15th.

The club invites everyone to come out and support the team during what promises to be a strongly contested game against long-time rivals.

Click here to view the current Provincial Senior Men’s Spring Season Schedule.

Continue reading »]]> PLEASE NOTE: SPRING 2012 RUGBY RASCALS - REVISED SCHEDULE

Beginning Tuesday, April 10th, practices will take place at the following 3 locations each week:

• Tuesday - Old Brooklyn School on Noel in Comox
• Friday - Lake Trail Secondary, Lower Field, 805 Willamar in Courtenay
• Sunday - Village Park, Royston Road, Cumberland

The Sunday Jamboree schedule has also been revised

• Sunday, April 15 – Cumberland Cancelled
• Sunday, April 22 – Campbell River
• Sunday, April 29 – Cowichan

Continue reading »]]> The Kickers Annual AGM and awards banquet will be held on Saturday, May 12th this year.  Banquet will include dinner, speakers and of course-our yearly awards.More details will be sent out soon

There are some positions on the executive that are up for renewal this year. If you or someone you know might be interested in taking part, talk to Andy! Below is a list of openings and duties expected for that position.

President -  self-explanatory (1yr term)

Vice President -  Assist the president, and in absence of the president take over presidents duties  (1 yr term)

Secretary – Record and maintain meeting minutes for all meetings, distribute minutes. Maintain all current and historical documents, and provide them when required.  (1 yr term)

Treasurer – transact all banking business and keep and submit financial records  (1yr term)

Club House Manager-  Organize procedures to keep club clean and in proper order.  Ensure club is stocked and open when needed for social events. Responsible for collecting and recording all monetary transactions completed by the concession.   (1 yr term)

Director of Socials and Fundraising – Explore fundraising opportunities for the club, organize social activities for the club including year end events.  (2 yr term)

Director of Sponsorships – Recruit new sponsors, review all sponsors prior to sponsorship and inform executive of these sponsors.   (2 yr term)

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Vince Bennett in full flight on his way to the try-line.

In last weekend’s match against the Powell River Otagos, the younger members of the AFC Comox Valley Kickers shone in a win that put the club back on track after two recent losses. The club had traveled to Victoria the past two weekends losing 32-28 to the Castaway-Wanderers and 35-7 to the Velox-Valhallians, but the win over Powell River leaves the Kickers in second place in the standings with two weeks to prepare for the playoffs. They will face Cowichan at Cumberland’s Village park on April 8th @ 1p.m.

 
This spring season has seen an influx of eager young players to the club, some of them like eighteen year-old Vince Bennett, still a student at Mark Isfeld school, electrified the crowd with a hat-trick of tries against the Powell River visitors on Sunday. Bennett who stands 6’ 2” and weights 215 pounds, plays #8 for his school team and lock for the Kickers, and when he gets the ball in hand and works up a head of steam he is difficult man to stop. His sidesteps and jinks would make any back-fielder proud. “ I love running with the ball in hand,” comments the talented youngster who looks forward to his second game of the week playing for his school side on Thursday.

Nineteen year-old Curtis Parker graduated from Isfeld last year and can play anywhere in the backs. Though he has only been playing the game for a couple of years, he enjoys the contact and running with the ball in hand. He has notched a couple of tries this Spring season and is looking more comfortable with each game he plays.

Eighteen year-old Trevor McGuire, a recent graduate of Vanier’s rugby program, is another fine physical specimen who stands over six feet and can play lock or front-row. With six years of experience behind him since he began playing at Cumberland Elementary back in grade eight, he has progressed through the Kickers Junior program and now enjoys playing, and making an impact for the senior men’s side.

 
Prop Alister McArthur is another Vanier graduate who has been with the club for a number of years, but this year has begun to make a real impact. Strong and nimble he holds his own in the set pieces and still gets around the park to make his presence know at the breakdowns.

 
Brad Hanna, along with other recent additions to the club (scrum-half Damien Kodoba, hooker Brandon Robertson and wing Troy Mader) all travel down from Campbell River twice a week to practise and play. “I just absolutely love the game,” says the flanker who creates havoc with his pace and tackling. “I went to Vancouver for two years after I graduated and couldn’t play because I couldn’t afford the club dues down there. Burnaby wanted $300 to play and the Capilano’s $500, which I couldn’t afford on a student’s lifestyle. Now I’m delighted to be back and playing here with the Kickers,” said the winner of a number of “Man of the Match” honors this season.

 
Hooker Brandon Robertson, who scored a try against Powell River on Sunday, graduated from Timberline School in Campbell River. He came out earlier this year and is enjoying learning the nuances of playing hooker. “I used to play flanker, but they needed me to play hooker and I’m enjoying the challenge. The Kickers is a great club and they are a great bunch of guys.”

 
Coach Aaron L’Arrivee is delighted with this influx of new players. “Today we had sixteen players under thirty years-old ready to play at the kick-off. These young guys are the future of the club and as some of our older guys retire, they will become the starters. Some are still a bit green behind the ears, but they are enthusiastic and are pushing the older players for places. It is very positive indeed and bodes well for the future of the club.”

 
SIDELINES:
The Kickers Rugby Club invites all those men and women interested in playing rugby to attend training sessions on Thursday evenings at 6.30 p.m. at the club’s Fallen Alders facility on the Royston/Cumberland Road. For more info, visit our website at http://kickersrugby.ca.

The club gratefully acknowledges our team sponsors, AFC Construction, and Investors Group   along with our club sponsors Wedler Engineering;  and Continual Palingenesis – Social Media Solutions. Many thanks also to Bayview Chiropractic, Cummins Fencing and Green Earth Carpet Cleaning, as well as Mt. Washington for their support. Without this community support rugby would not continue to flourish in the Comox Valley.

Mike Magee going in for his try.

Brandon Robertson eludes the last tackler as he goes in to score

Pieter Vorster stops Brad Hanna in his tracks