Although they didn’t come away with a win, the Cowichan Piggies improved significantly last Saturday over both their previous First Division men’s rugby game and their last meeting with the Nanaimo Hornets.
The 26-18 final score from last weekend’s game was a better result than the Piggies got the week before, when they lost to Port Alberni 36-0, and also a step up from their 46-10 defeat at the hands of the Hornets in the season opener.
“It was a lot better performance by the boys, for sure,” Cowichan head coach Andrew Wright said.
The score should have been even closer, Wright suggested, noting that Nanaimo converted on a pair of questionable penalty kicks in the last five minutes to add an extra six points to their total.
The Piggies got off to a strong start in the match, taking an early lead on an unconverted try by Gregor Grantham. Nanaimo responded with two tries of their own before Andrew Gudmundseth scored Cowichan’s second, and it was 10-10 at halftime. Darren Sage added a try for Cowichan in the second half, and Jenner Teufel slotted a penalty goal.
Wright was pleased with the confidence his players displayed.
“The boys played well,” he said. “They executed most of our game plan.”
The Piggies will be back on the road this weekend, travelling to Port Alberni for a rematch with the Black Sheep.
“If we play well, I’m confident that we can play with the top teams,” Wright said. “The last game showed we can play with clubs that have more size and experience together.”