The Mavericks Rugby Club opened up their season with a dominating win.
It was the team's largest margin of victory in years as they downed the Winnipeg Wasps by 70 points in late May to open up their campaign. Practicing twice a week with a loyal group of team members, the Mavericks continue to grow.
Players from the high school level have joined the club and while it has sometimes been a struggle to get enough players to field a roster for games and practices in recent years, that is no longer the case. Rugby in the Parkland region is in incredible hands. From youth to high school to senior play, rugby is becoming a household summer sport in the region.
The Mavericks saw game action for the second time this season over the weekend when they were in Winnipeg to play the Assassins. They were a tough competitor with a full roster which included a full complement of substitutions. The Mavericks stuck close and battled right until the end, but it wasn't ultimately meant to be.
The Assassins scored a late try and finished a successful convert to down the Mavericks, 31-24. Nick Searl scored two tries in the game while Joseph Lopez and Ryan Dreger also recorded a try. Dreger took care of the converts. The Mavericks now sit with a record of one win and one loss as they prepare for their next game.
Jordan Campbell had this on the team's first two games.
"We are playing pretty strong. We're a strong defensive team and we stick with teams offensively," said Campbell. "We are playing with a smaller group compared to some of these teams. We play a hard style, we finish our tackles, and we're competitive with the city teams which is nice."
After playing back-to-back games on the road, the Mavericks will now get to show off their talents on home field. On Saturday afternoon at KIN Field, Dauphin will host the Winnipeg Wombats. Dauphin has never beaten them in the past, but Campbell is looking forward to the challenge, which he knows will be good.
"This weekend will be a very good test, the Wombats are a very good team," said Campbell. "I feel like this is our chance to get a big win for the guys in Red & Black."
Saturday's game will be at 3:00 p.m. and everyone is welcome to show their support for the Mavericks.
Jordan is a second-generation Maverick after his uncle played for the Dirty Dozen in the early 2000s. He now has two sons of his own and loves every moment of being a Maverick.
"It's quite the feeling, it's the best feeling ever," ended Campbell. "We protect eachother, we protect our brothers. At the end of the day, we all go home together with smiles on our face. I'm living the dream and I have the Mavericks to thank for that."
