The Island playoffs start with an Island rivalry matchup.
The Nanaimo Hornets (3-3) play host to the Cowichan Piggies (2-4) this Saturday (April 9) in the B.C. Rugby Union’s Vancouver Island Div. 1 semifinals.
“I think it will be a classic Nanaimo-Cowichan game,” said Steve Hancock, a director with the Hornets. “We’re fortunate to have the home-field advantage because we finished ahead of them in the league, but we’re so closely matched and we’ve been rivals for so long.”
The Hornets closed out their regular season with a 26-23 road loss last week against the Port Alberni Black Sheep. Hancock said the Hornets suffered a serious injury early in the match that threw them off a little bit.
He anticipates that Nanaimo will be ready to go on Saturday with a trip to the Island final on the line. He said for the Hornets to win, it will take a balance of players being creative while still making sure they do their jobs out there.
Guys are looking forward to taking on their friendly rivals, he said.
“We know each other, we kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Hancock. “It’s a question of on the day, can we do what we’re supposed to do?”
The Hornets will have an edge playing on their familiar pitch at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park.
“We’ve got a really good crowd, and that’s kind of the 16th man, when you’ve got your home field,” said Hancock.
GAME ON … The Hornets and Piggies play Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Admission is free … The other semifinal sees the Black Sheep (2-4) visiting first-place Westshore (5-1).
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
The Island playoffs start with an Island rivalry matchup.
The Nanaimo Hornets (3-3) play host to the Cowichan Piggies (2-4) this Saturday (April 9) in the B.C. Rugby Union’s Vancouver Island Div. 1 semifinals.
“I think it will be a classic Nanaimo-Cowichan game,” said Steve Hancock, a director with the Hornets. “We’re fortunate to have the home-field advantage because we finished ahead of them in the league, but we’re so closely matched and we’ve been rivals for so long.”
The Hornets closed out their regular season with a 26-23 road loss last week against the Port Alberni Black Sheep. Hancock said the Hornets suffered a serious injury early in the match that threw them off a little bit.
He anticipates that Nanaimo will be ready to go on Saturday with a trip to the Island final on the line. He said for the Hornets to win, it will take a balance of players being creative while still making sure they do their jobs out there.
Guys are looking forward to taking on their friendly rivals, he said.
“We know each other, we kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Hancock. “It’s a question of on the day, can we do what we’re supposed to do?”
The Hornets will have an edge playing on their familiar pitch at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park.
“We’ve got a really good crowd, and that’s kind of the 16th man, when you’ve got your home field,” said Hancock.
GAME ON … The Hornets and Piggies play Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pioneer Park. Admission is free … The other semifinal sees the Black Sheep (2-4) visiting first-place Westshore (5-1).
sports@nanaimobulletin.com