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Women’s rugby team builds experience

Vernon Jackals women’s rugby team jumps sink everything into improving
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Bretany Tourout/Morning Star Vernon Lady Jackals, from left, Alice Bradley, Becky Johnson, Anna Kennedy, Sydney Hofer, Kara Wilhelms, Jen Schneider, and Marie Jones stand over their coach Bryan Cragg during a practice at Polson Park.

Vernon Jackals women’s rugby team snaps into the sport head-first.

Playing seven-a-side, the ladies found a complication in their first game of the season when they had only four players; but, luckily the Salmon Arm team had plenty to spare and let them borrow the bodies needed.

Not long into the game, newbie Sydney Hofer received a hard tackle that gave her a concussion and kept her out of the game.

Captain Jen Schneider is confident in the growth of her team and said the women have already made a trying-improvement.

“Some of us have never played before; and, some of us haven’t played since high school, but we catch on fast,” said Schneider.

The woman’s Jackals game ended in a 10-10 tie with Schneider scoring both tries.

She believes that, in time, their communication skills will grow to make them a stronger team; and, by getting to know each other better, they will by more in sync with one another.

Fans can watch the ladies Saturday in a mini tournament at Grahame Park where they will face Salmon Arm at 12:30 p.m. and Merritt at 4:15 p.m.

The male Jackals take on the Penticton Harlequins in the Okanagan Rugby Union final, 1 p.m., at Grahame Park. Their will be a bavaran garden. Penticton outlasted the Salmon Arm Manthers 34-31 in the semifinals.

Schneider, meanwhile, has some knowledge of rugby from playing in high school, but as a team, the lack of experience is what she considers to be their biggest weakness.

“It won’t last forever; experience can develop fast,” said Schneider.

Three new players showed up at practice after the tied game: Anna Kennedy, Alice Bradley, and Becky Johnson.

Each of the rookies said they had never played the sport before, but were ready to jump in and have fun.

The women are aware of the learning that needs to be done, but they each have their own specific weakness they would like to work on.

“Not to be scared of the ball,” laughed Johnson.

“Everything. Fitness,” said Kennedy.

Cragg went to work with the new additions to the team and started with showing them the proper technique on throwing the ball.

“Their progress is inspirational, really. They pick things up surprisingly fast,” said Cragg.

Not long into the ball-toss coaching session, a newly found “wicked toss” arose out of Bradley to add to the team’s dynamic.

The Jackals men’s team have been a very positive influence for the women and have let them join their practices.

Kara Wilhelms works well with the men and holds her own during their scrimmage games.

“It’s okay to drop the ball; the boys don’t get impatient,” said Wilhelms.

The ladies have taken to Cragg’s coaching skills and believe he’s going to be a great leader for their team.

Wilhelms said Cragg doesn’t “sugar-coat things” and understands their current experience and works with them accordingly.

“If it’s not great, he says it,” said Wilhelms.

The women agree that the most work needs to be done in learning more about the rules and safety of rugby.