Natalie Nguyen

Special to the Record

On an overcast Saturday afternoon, the Comox Valley Kickers and the Chilliwack Crusaders faced off in an intense rugby match at Cumberland Village Park. Both teams came into the game with their season on the line, but it was the Kickers who ultimately prevailed, winning the game 29-15. Tries were scored by Will Perry (2), Derek McCubbin, Stephen Hextall, and Justin Thomson, with Kyle Hall and JB Nikkel adding one convert each.

From the start of the match, it was clear that both teams were evenly matched. The Crusaders had a strong offensive line, while the Kickers relied on their tenacious defence to keep the Crusaders at bay. The game remained scoreless for the first 20 minutes as both teams fought for control.

The first points of the game were scored by the Kickers, who managed to break through the Crusaders鈥� defence and score. It was a back-and-forth game and it came down to who could make the most of their opportunities and capitalize on their opponents鈥� mistakes. Midway through the game, the Crusaders鈥� tighthead prop received a red card for violent conduct and repeated infringements and was sent off the field, forcing Chilliwack to play a man down for the rest of the game. The Crusaders continued to fight, and the tension was palpable as the game remained close throughout.

The game was a tough matchup for both teams, with several players on both sides sustaining minor injuries. Despite this, both teams showed incredible sportsmanship and determination throughout the game. The Kickers鈥� defence was particularly impressive, managing to hold the Crusaders to just three tries despite their strong offensive capabilities.

After the game, Kickers鈥� captain Brandon Hudson praised his team鈥檚 performance.

鈥淭his was the hardest game we鈥檝e played all season,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e knew the Crusaders were going to be a tough opponent, but we came out strong and never let up. Our defence was solid, and our offence managed to break through when it counted. I鈥檓 incredibly proud of the team today.鈥�

With this win, the Kickers will now face off against Richmond RFC, winner of the other semifinal matchup, in the championship finals which will be played on Saturday, April 29th at South Surrey Athletic Park. For more information about the BCRU 2023 senior club finals, visit https://bcrugby.com/competitions-2/senior-club-finals/

For more information about the Comox Valley Kickers RFC, visit http://comoxvalleyrugby.ca/