Both Dauphin Clippers rugby teams ended the regular season 4-0 and will host the semifinals, this week.
The Clippers JV team played three games last week, ending its regular season with a 2-2 record.
Garrett Urichen had two tries to lead the Clippers to a 20-17 win over Crocus Plains, May 19.
Ivan Brazhko had the other try and Rudy Oosthuizen added a convert and a penalty kick.
Following a 60-7 loss to Souris on Thursday, the two Dauphin teams hooked up in the regular season finale, Saturday, which saw the varsity boys score a 33-29 win.
Josh Yakielashek with two, Ryzlie Nepinak, Blake Thacker and Ben Miner had tries for the varsity team and Jordan Evans added four converts.
Oosthuizen had two tries and a convert for the JVs. Cody Love, Urichen and Hendrik DuPlessis had the other tries and Love also had convert.
JV coach Henk DuPlessis felt the team played well in the three games to end the season.
“For a JV team, Grade 9s and 10s, they’re still boys, playing against men. What else can you ask of these kids? You can’t ask anything else. They showed a lot of heart,” he said, adding the team has improved since the start of the season.
“I could see the ball was moving a little bit today. Better tackles, hitting the rucks better. I talked to them at halftime and it helped. It looks like they improved. I think every game is getting better and better,” DuPlessis said.
“I’m really waiting for two more years.”
Varsity coach Aaron Miner liked what he saw from his team.
“We went out there and did exactly what I thought we were going to do. We were going to go out there and work on some of our set plays. We weren’t going to go out there and kill them. We were just going to go out there and practice what we’ve been practicing for the last couple of weeks,” he said.
Miner said it was hard to get up for a game against a group of, essentially, teammates.
“But wow, you look at how much they’ve grown since the opening kick off to today. It’s just amazing. I parrot what Henk says. I’m so excited about the future of this JV team in two years time. Even next year,” he said.
“We were worried about losing 12 players to graduation this year, but I think the program is going to run strong for at least the next three to four years.”
With three bonus points, the JVs finished in second place behind the varsity team. They were to have played Crocus Plains, but the Brandon team forfeited, so they will advance to the final and will face the winner of the game between the varsity squad and Souris on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Dauphin.
The varsity girls will host the Crocus Plains Plainsmen Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
The final will take place on the weekend.