Skip to content

Cowichan Piggies fall to Alberni Black Sheep

Doubleheader at Cowichan club this Saturday
28557569_web1_220310-CCI-mens-rugby-bays_3
Robin Gusse scored one of the Cowichan Piggies’ two tries against the Black Sheep in Port Alberni last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Even though his Cowichan Piggies lost 43-14 to the Port Alberni Black Sheep last Saturday, head coach Andrew Wright doesn’t hold any ill will to his club’s First Division men’s rugby rivals.

“When we saw them in the first half [of the season], they had low numbers, just like us,” Wright commented. “Now they’re in the top six or top eight and they have a good chance of making the playoffs. It would be good to see another Island team in there.”

While the Piggies have one win and four losses in the spring season, the Black Sheep are 3-2 and battling for a berth in the quarterfinals, where they could be one of three Vancouver Island clubs in the mix.

Cowichan stuck close with Alberni in the first half, getting a try from Danny Hamstra that was converted by Owen Wood. Robin Gusse scored in the second half following a lengthy stand at the Alberni goal-line, with another conversion by Wood.

“It was a pretty good confidence booster for the guys to succeed in doing that kind of thing,” Wright said of Gusse’s try.

The spring season hasn’t gone the way the Piggies hoped after winning the Island First Division title in the fall, but they aren’t going to pack it in.

“All-in-all, the boys are trying to stay positive as we close things out at home,” Wright said.

The Piggies will play their last home game of the season against Westshore this Saturday at 1 p.m., right after Cowichan’s undefeated women’s side plays host to United RFC at 11:15 p.m. The women’s team was supposed to play host to Simon Fraser last weekend, but Simon Fraser forfeited the match.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
Read more