The Shelton Rugby teams performed well in losses over the weekend.
The boys’ lost to Gig Harbour 59 to 26. According to Coach Chris Nesmith, they were overwhelmed by the quick decision making by Harbour’s “a very experienced Harbor side” which includes athletes from various parts of the world who have been playing rugby their entire lives. However, Nesmith says with only six returners, Shelton’s team of rookies held Harbour to their tightest game this season and his team is “learning the game very quickly and are performing as though they have played for years.” Shelton highlights: tries (5 points each) scored by: Cyrus Larsen, Brian Nault, Walter Johnson, and Jethro Wily: and three conversions (2 points each) were kicked by Levi Stratton. The boys’ next rugby match is April 14 when they host Skagit Valley.
The girls also played well but were shut out by fifth in the nation Kent 31 to 0. Kent has not had as tought of a match in Washington State since their inception in 1991. Kent, the first Girls Rugby team in the United States, is a very experienced side, recently returning from an international tournament in California where the beat #1 in the Nation Fallbrook. The girls from Shelton kept Kent under pressure which they are not used to seeing. Normally, Kent pulls their starting side at the end of the first half but because of Shelton’s pressure, they need to keep the game up at a high level. The Shelton girls’ next match is Sunday against Rainier Plateau at Oakland Bay Junior High School.