The Dauphin Mavericks won their third straight game, Saturday in Brandon, scoring a 26-0 win over the Winnipeg Wasps, to improve their record to 3-4.
Camillus Abatai scored two tries, while Nick Searle and Riley Keith scored one each and Ryan Dreger had three converts. Searle was named Man of the Game for Dauphin.
Dauphin allowed 125 points in their first four games, all losses. In their three wins, the Mavericks have only allowed two tries for 10 points.
When the season started in June, team president Codi Harrigan said the Mavericks were a new team that had never played together.
“We had some new guys and never really knew what we needed to work on or what the other teams would bring to the table,” he said. Once they had a few games under their belts, the Mavericks knew what they had to work on. One of the things that was consistent that we needed to improve on was our defence,” he said. “So we worked on that in practice. Guys showed up to practice consistently. We really improved on our defence and it’s really starting to show. Our scrums, we’re winning those. We’re winning our lineouts. Our defence is really holding teams to a minimum number of points right now. That’s really come to light lately.”
Having players attended practice on a regular basis has really helped the team’s steady improvement on the pitch.
“When guys show up consistently, the more time we get with the ball in our hands, running our systems, it only does good. When we go to a game, it’s like we’re just going to another practice, but with some opposition. It’s definitely helped us,” Harrigan said.
Three players who are new to the sport played their first game on Saturday.
“One guy never played rugby in his life and he picked it up quick,” Harrigan said. “We play a simple system. It’s just straight up rugby and he did great. he enjoyed it.”
Anyone interested in playing rugby with the Mavericks is encouraged to call Harrigan at 204-648-6446.
Dauphin will be home to the Haka Rugby Global Elite Camp, Aug. 18 and 19, at Kin Field at the Vermillion Park Sportsplex.
The camp is open to youth ages seven to 18 and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., each day.
Harrigan said it is a camp which tours around the world. They have already been to Europe, he said, and are now in the United States before heading north of the border.
“It’s a great chance for youth to develop their skills or come try out the sport,” he said.
One of the instructors, Harrigan added, will be a fulltime New Zealand All Blacks rugby player.
There is only 50 spots available, so Harrigan encourages anyone interested in attending the camp to register as soon as possible.
To register, visit www.hakarugbyglobal.nz/camps. The registration fee is $150 and includes a HRG training t-short and shorts.
