She Devils - History
The She Devils Rugby squad had their
first practice on January 22, 2008.
1996- 2001
The She Devils first emerged at South Delta Secondary in the mid - 1990s after several attempts failed from the late 1970s to the 1980s. The team competed in league play for a few years, then the program faulted around 2001. These teams produced a number of players who went on to compete at the representative level for various club teams in the Greater Vancouver area.
During this period, the Sundevils Boys program was also faltering and a number of dedicated souls under the mentorship of program founder, SDSS Teacher and Coach, John Narbett, had shouldered the task of a rebuild. Under the guidance of Harold White, David Blackwell, Charlie MInns, Andrew Harvey , Kevin Garvey and a number of other 'helpers' too numerous to mention worked with volunteers, parents, rugby enthusiasts and the staff at SDSS to bring it back.
Despite demand every year for a girls team, the Sundevils group was reluctant to commit to a girls program until the boys program was on solid footing. By 2004, we were fielding strong senior and junior squads. By 2005, we had over 60 registered students and by 2006 it was 89. In 2007, the program had grow to 108 registered students through grades 8-12. We fielded one senior, two junior and a grade 8 league team.
2008 - Present
Shana Gibson, Jessica Jones, Haley Noble, Stephanie Campbell and Erica Tetzez, get set for a Line-Out against Heritage Park, in their first league match of 2008.
In late 2007, the Sundevils group decided that we now had the resources in place to support a girls team. In order to succeed, the team required coaches and a group willing to take control of the administration of the team and work within the existing group. Kevin Garvey accepted that role with the early support of Joanne Reid and Mike Pinfield and Claude Paterson and Joanne Gill who were both integral to the success of the program.
After Charlie Miinns arranged to teach rugby as part of the P.E. program at South Delta, the buzz began about a girls team. The She Devils held a registration day and Charlie convinced 13 teenage girls that rugby was 'fun' and they should build a team.
The She Devils had their first practice on January 22, 2008. 17 girls showed up and soon there was a core of about 22 - 24 committed players. Our squad was formed around a physically strong scrum and a group of backs that actually enjoyed tackling practice!
Claude Paterson was instrumental in the beginning. He gave many of the girls nicknames and despite being a tough task master, they took strange pleasure in his demands for 'press - ups' and his cone drills. The team's knowledge progressed strongly and the coaches decided to skip the development league and go directly into competition enrolling in the AA Fraser Valley School Girls League. The coaching staff was joined by Joanne Gill, in February. Joanne, had made one of the early attempts to start a She Devil squad at SDSS and was keen to help out with the team. She attended every practice and actually ended up coaching solo when the She Devils played their first game against Heritage Park.
Our uniforms were not ready for that first game, but we didn't make a big deal about it. Many of the girls came out with charcoal under their eyes which was cute. Our match was against Heritage Park, an experienced team from Mission. Our girls came out pumped and most of the first half was fought in the midfield. Late in the half, Heritage scored in the corner to making it 5-0 going into the second half. The She Devils responded early, when Courtney Triano scored a great try in the corner. Late in the game, Heritage Park managed to score another try in the corner and although they threatened several times, the She Devils fell victim to the whistle.
While the final score was 10 - 5 for our opponents, our scrum clearly dominated the set plays and both teams played well defensively. Considering only one of our girls had ever played in a game, we did exceptional! It was a great start and we're hoping the foundation is being built for a permanent girls program at South Delta.
Our second game was against Rick Hanson and we lost a hard fought 17-7 battle. Hanson scored early and then scored again late in the first half, both tries in the corner. Then, midway through the second half, Jessi Triano went for a scat, weaving her way through the Hnason team on her way to a 80 yard romp scoring between the posts for our second try ever.
At home againt Tweedsmuir in our third game, the team missed Courtney Trinao, our scrum half out with an illness. The gilrs played another hard fought defensive battle and came out on the wrong side of a 5-0 game. We dominated the scrums and line-outs but didn't fair as well in the loose play.
Our fourth game was against Haney Secondary with only 13 players. We were still missing Courtney and Kelsey, Christine and Jessi had a track meet but we still managed to squeeze to victory in a tight 5 - 0 game. Marisal or 'Mexico' playing scrum half, took the ball from a scrum and rambled up the middle, then handed off to Prop Erica Tetzil who powered over the line late in the first half.
The Tuesday victory against Haney meant a Thursday game against Hanson in the first round of the Fraser Valley Playoffs. The team was still a bit battered from the previous game and we where missing Chelsa and Coutney two of our key team pivots. We were late getting to the game and fell behind early and at the half the score was 10-0. In the second half the girls game out better but then injuries to Marisa, playing scrum half and Chelsa, our hooker put the team against the ropes and Hanson scored three more times in the seocnd half. The game was a good schooling for the team. It requires courage to stay focused in a hard battle and the team requires everyone to work a little harder when things aren't going well on the field. This is part of the mental temperment required to play rugby and one either has it or doesn't.
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