The Nanaimo Hornets have earned the chance to try for a championship on their home pitch.
The Hornets RFC men’s Div. 1 side won its Vancouver Island semifinal on Saturday at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park, crushing Westshore RFC by a 55-17 score.
“Everybody stepped up to another level and played really, really well,” said Clive Stocks, Hornets coach.
He said his guys went into the match with a game plan and stuck to it.
“We needed to be dominating up front, which we did, and the whole 15 worked really well together. Rather than just forwards and backs, getting the whole team involved rather than individual stuff worked out really well for us,” said Stocks.
The Hornets, still undefeated this fall, will play for an Island championship this Saturday (Dec. 10) at Pioneer Park. They will face the Port Alberni Black Sheep.
The coach said his team goes into the final fairly confidently and injury-free. It’s been quite a few years since Nanaimo has hosted an Island championship match, he said.
“It’s good for the rugby fans, it’s good for the club, it’s good for the community,” said Stocks.
GAME ON … The Hornets and Black Sheep kick off Saturday at 1 p.m. at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park. Admission is free.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com