The girls’ rugby team at NNEC grabbed themselves a berth at high school provincials next weekend when they stomped the CEC Cougars on Thursday in Parkdale.
The final score was 88-0, so you can well imagine how the game went, from the very first play of the game. When the Gryphons weren’t running by the Cougars, they were running over them: NNEC has a couple of girls who are very formidable when running with the ball. They weren’t looking to make quick cuts and weave through traffic, instead, they were looking to pancake the opponents in front of them. The Cougar girls who were willing to stand in there and take on the oncoming freight train deserve a lot of credit for having the guts to do it.
It was an old-fashioned Pictou County bloodbath on the rugby pitch and although we can’t say how NNEC will do at provincials, it’d be a big surprise if they were physically dominated by anybody they play.
Over in Alma, the NRHS Nighthawks are sending their boys’ team to provincials; they also won the regional banner with relative ease this week, a 45-5 win over the Hants East Tigers. The Nighthawks have become a consistent rugby contender, this is the third straight year they’ve made it to the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation championship tournament, obviously a strong testament to their program. They lost in a provincial semi a year ago on their home field – a game they could have (maybe should have) easily won – and while they lost some key players to graduation in 2017, I’m not sure they’d be satisfied just getting to provincials this season. They should want it badly.
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It’s a win-win situation…
The Vegas Golden Knights: what do we make of these guys? In the first year of existence, they have made it all the way to the Stanley Cup final, a team full of players nobody wanted, a bunch of castoffs and afterthoughts who have shocked everyone, themselves included.
Starting on Monday in Nevada, Vegas will play the Washington Capitals for the Stanley Cup. Washington is a team that under-achieved in the post-season for years, and for the longest time it looked like they might waste Alex Ovechkin’s hall of fame career. The Capitals have finally managed to get over that hump, and now look battled-hardened, determined. But it’d be premature to say Washington should be the favourites – the Golden Knights have been counted out since the season began.
Non-Sports Thoughts of the Week
• I don’t see the problem with the Municipality of Pictou County posting detailed financial information on its website (regarding the New Scotland Business Park development they’re sharing with New Glasgow). Apparently, council does, because they voted 7-3 against the idea. Anytime a government body isn’t willing to be totally transparent – even if they think they have good reasons – it makes people suspicious.
• President Trump wants National Football League players who don’t stand for the national anthem to be kicked out of the U.S.
OK, it’s just more Trumpian-lunacy, but what about all those ticket-buying fans at NFL stadiums, who are at the concession stands buying beer and hot dogs, while The Star-Spangled Banner is being played? Should they be sent packing, too? After all, aren’t they disrespecting the anthem?
Kevin Adshade is sportswriter with The News. His column appears each Saturday.
