by Natalie Ramsay | Jul 17, 2019 | Club Events
During the summer season, please join us on Wednesdays at 6:30PM at Lower Lake Trail for co-ed touch rugby. Everyone welcomed. No experience...
by Natalie Ramsay | Jul 9, 2019 | Club Events, Community Involvement
The Comox Valley Kickers Rugby Club were on hand in Cumberland for Day 3 of the 2019 BC Bike Race. This event is a seven-day mountain bike stage race with over 600 riders from over 36 countries. As a fundraiser, the Kickers helped to set up and take down tents in which the riders stayed in for their two night stay in the Comox Valley. For more information about the event, please check out: https://www.bcbikerace.com/...
by Natalie Ramsay | Jun 17, 2019 | Club Events
On Saturday, June 15th, the Comox Valley Kickers celebrated a great 2018-2019 season with an Awards Banquet held at the Elks Hall in Courtenay. All of the following awards were voted on by the players, making the results very representative. Comox Valley Kickers Women’s Award Winners: Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award – The player who contributes the most to the team’s success. Winners: Paula Simpson & Natalie Nguyen Best Back Award - The player who is the pivotal piece in the back line and played in the positions of Scrumhalf, Flyhalf, Inside Centre, Outside Centre, Right Wing, Left Wing or Fullback. Winner: Daris Tendler Best Forward Award – The player who is the pivotal piece in the forward pack and played in the positions of Loosehead Prop, Hooker, Tighthead Prop, Lock, Blindside Flanker, Openside Flanker or Number 8. Winner: Audrey Jones Rookie of the Year Award – The player who accomplished the most on and off the field in their first season with the Kickers. Winner: Hazel Bice Most Improved – The player whose hard work resulted in the biggest improvements in their rugby game throughout the season. Winners: Carlie Beaulieu & Carrie Weekes Taco Award (Most Tenacious) - The player who is the most unwilling to yield or give up on the field. This player has the biggest heart and works hard to hit the rucks, make big tackles and run plays while always hustling to gain and maintain possession of the ball. Winner: Danelle Campbell Pink Bra Award (Most Sportsmanlike) - The player who best embraced rugby’s values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. Winner: Natalie Nguyen Comox Valley Kickers Men’s...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 29, 2019 | Game Reports
That’s the end of the Comox Valley Kickers Women’s rugby season. This past Saturday, the Kickers were on the road to face off against their Island rivals, the Nanaimo Hornets in the BCRU Division 1 semi-final match. The game started with great intensity with a lot of back and forth action. Defense was strong on both sides of the field. In the first half, the Kickers had strong scrums, were quick to the rucks and ran the ball well. In the second half, two key injuries in the Kickers forward back changed the game. Momentum favored Nanaimo who scored several unanswered tries. Kickers points were scored by Outside Centre Daris Tendler and Fullback Tanya Timmons, with Paula Simpson adding a successful conversion. The final score was 12-39. “It was a very tough, physical game. Both teams came to play. We started out well but at the end just couldn’t find an answer to Nanaimo’s attack,” said Kickers Captain Natalie Nguyen. “The game didn’t go our way this time around but all in all, we had a phenomenal season. I am proud of the hard work and effort that all the ladies put into practices and at the games. The camaraderie between the players on and off the pitch make it all worth it. I am excited for what the next season brings.” Join the Kickers for their Burger & Beer fundraiser on Thursday, May 2nd at the Cumberland Hotel. The event starts at...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 22, 2019 | Game Reports
The Comox Valley Kickers Women’s rugby team had a dominating game in the first round of playoffs, knocking out the defending champions. This past Saturday, the Kickers hosted Vancouver’s Meraloma RFC in the BCRU Division 1 quarterfinal game at Cumberland Village Park in front of a huge crowd of community supporters and fans. The Kickers scored a frenzy of unanswered tries to start the game off strong. With the forward pack gaining the hard yards by crashing the ball and the back line utilizing the opportunities given, the Kickers were consistent in their offensive attacks throughout the whole game. There was a lot of back and forth action, but the Kickers demonstrated solid defense, only allowing one score against. Inside Centre Natalie Nguyen and Flyhalf Paula Simpson both had a strong game with a hattrick of tries a piece with Outside Centre Daris Tendler and Winger Tanya Timmons each scoring once. Simpson was perfect with her kicks, adding 8 conversions. The final score was 56 – 5. “We played with an intensity that was hard to match. We’ve improved from the last game as what we practiced on during the week, we executed during the game. Everyone did their job and contributed to the win,” said Kickers Captain Natalie Nguyen. “Our back line had great line speed and ran our plays well which allowed us to exploit their defense. Once we were able to break the line, it was very difficult to catch us. Our forwards were quick to the rucks and were strong in the scrums and lineouts. Overall, it was a very well-rounded game for us. We...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 15, 2019 | Game Reports
This past weekend, the Kickers hosted Burnaby’s Simon Fraser RFC (“SFU”). In the first half, the Kickers spent most of the time inside SFU’s 22-metre line hungry to score. SFU demonstrated exceptionally sound defense and thwarted off several attacks before surrendering a try mid-way through the half. Once the Kickers were on the scoreboard, it was difficult to contain them. Hard hits, fast rucks and line speed were the main themes of this rugby game. In the second half, the Kickers were able to hit their rhythm and used their opportunities to make big plays. Inside Centre Natalie Nguyen, Outside Centre Daris Tendler and 8-man Karli MacFarlane each scored two tries while Lock Hazel Bice scored once. Flyhalf Paula Simpson added one try and four conversions. The final score was 48 – 5. “This game was the culmination of all of our practices and trainings since the start of the season in September and was a great game to end the regular season on. I am so proud of the hard work that the ladies have put in and the improvements from the start of the season to now,” said Kickers Captain Natalie Nguyen. “Our forward pack contested every scrum and lineout and demonstrated great strength. Mauls were especially on point this game. Our back line executed plays well and used our speed to our advantage. We need to continue this momentum going into the playoffs, which start next week.” The Kickers finished 3rd in the BCRU rankings which will have them hosting 6th ranked Meralomas for the quarter-final playoff match held over Easter weekend. For more information about...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 15, 2019 | Game Reports, Uncategorized
The Comox Valley Kickers Women’s winning streak ends. This past weekend, the Kickers travelled to Nanaimo to face off against the Hornets, the second time in a span of 3 weeks. This was a very different game than the one played just two weeks prior in Cumberland. The Hornets scored a fury of unanswered tries right out of the gates. The Kickers were playing behind the whole game and never hit their rhythm. Points were scored by Outside Centre Daris Tendler and 8-man Audrey Jones. The final score was 10-60. “This was a big wake up call. We still have a lot to work on. Nanaimo played a great game. We played most of the game on defense and didn’t really get an opportunity to run the ball,” said Kickers Coach Thyssen de Goede. “Everything considered, I am proud of the hard work and effort displayed by the ladies on the pitch. They never gave up. All we can do is learn from this game, regroup and focus on our next opponent.” The Comox Valley Kickers are still recruiting players for the season. No experience needed. For more information, please visit comoxvalleyrugby.ca or email cvkickers@gmail.com....
by Natalie Ramsay | Mar 20, 2019 | Game Reports
L-R: Paula Simpson, Aaron L’Arrivee, Kristianna Bouwvers, Stephen Hextall After a league-wide bye to attend the HSBC Canada Sevens tournament last week, rugby resumed this past Saturday with a double header at Cumberland Village Park. First up were the Comox Valley Kickers Women facing off against their Island rivals, the Nanaimo Hornets. The Hornets scored first which provided the Kickers with a sense of urgency to answer back right away and helped kickstart a comeback. Nanaimo’s defense was sound and very fast to advance, which made the Kickers backline use quick hands to try and get the ball out wide. The Kickers forward pack were unrelentless with crashing the ball. It was a very evenly matched game, with a lot of back and forth action. Lock Cailey Collins and Winger Kristianna Bouwers both scored twice with Outside Centre Daris Tendler scoring once. Flyhalf Paula Simpson added one try and five conversions. The final score was 40 - 24. “Our team came in ready as they knew it would be a hard and physical game. Every person on the pitch rose to the occasion, from the forwards who worked hard to produce good balls to the backs who made good use of every opportunity” said Kickers Coach J.P. Lussier. “There are still things we still need to work on, especially with our next opponent being the Meralomas, who are the defending BCRU Division 1 Champions. Next week will be another hard and physical game.” Secondly, the Comox Valley Kickers Men hosted Westshore RFC. The opposing team started off fast, putting up four unanswered tries in...
by Natalie Ramsay | Mar 4, 2019 | Game Reports, Uncategorized
After a very cold and snowy February, the rugby season resumed this past Saturday with the Comox Valley Kickers Women’s team travelling to the mainland to face off against the Brit Lions, who are based out of Delta. Travelling with only thirteen women, the Kickers knew that it would take a Herculean effort to win shorthanded, but they were up to the task. The Kickers started off strong, scoring first and then never let up. With high intensity throughout the game, the team utilized their strength and speed to score. The forward pack crashed the ball with ferocious intent and gained the hard yards, which allowed the back line to shine by running some great plays. Outside Centre Daris Tendler lead the efforts with four tries with Inside Centre Carlie Beaulieu and Scrumhalf Natalie Nguyen each scoring once. Flyhalf Paula Simpson added two tries and four conversions. The final score was 48 – 17. “We are coming back from a one-month hiatus due to the weather and I was unsure of what the team was going to look like. It was disappointing that we could not field a whole side, but I was so very proud of the ladies who made the trip. Everyone played with tremendous heart and conviction in our ability to win.” said Kickers Captain Natalie Nguyen. “Due to the fact that we were playing short, we were very strategic in our game plan. Our forwards had great set pieces and contested every scrum and lineout, stealing possession on a few! Our backs had great chemistry and ran some good lines. As a team, we were...
by Natalie Ramsay | Jan 28, 2019 | Game Reports
This past Saturday, the Comox Valley Kickers Women’s Team hosted Cow/West, a combined side from Cowichan and Westshore at Cumberland Village Park and earned a 33-10 win to start the second half of the rugby season off strong. Fittingly enough, the Kickers kicked off to start the game. It was a very competitive game with a lot of back and forth action. Comox’s first try came from Outside Centre Daris Tendler, who managed to sprint and deke her way around the several defenders. Utilizing her speed, Daris had a dominating game scoring 4 tries in total with Winger Michelle Hamilton adding 1 try to the scoreboard. Flyhalf Paula Simpson kicked four successful conversions. “We are coming back from a two-month break and we look like a different squad. There are lots of new faces on our team for this half. I wasn’t sure how the first game back would go, but all the ladies stepped up and played hard,” said Kickers Captain Natalie Nguyen. “We made a handful of errors which resulting in penalties against us, but we were able to overcome those mistakes through our physical play. Our forwards had great set pieces; the scrums and lineouts were strong. Our backs had great chemistry and we ran our plays well. I am excited to see how the team continues to improve and grow. This was a great start to the season.” The after-game festivities continued at the Cumberland Hotel, the Kickers Sponsor Bar & Clubhouse. The Women’s team have a bye next week. The Comox Valley Kickers Men’s team will host the UVic Saxons in their season...
