It was a full day of rugby action at Cumberland Village Park this past weekend as both the Comox Valley Kickers women’s and men’s teams faced off against the Nanaimo Hornets. The women opened their pre-season with a dominant 63–0 victory, while the men battled hard but ultimately fell 17–68.
For the women, this matchup was a familiar one — a rematch of last season’s Division 2 finals, though both teams have now moved up to Division 1. Despite the new level of competition, the result remained much the same, with the Kickers displaying their cohesion from start to finish.
Tries came from across the roster, with Hazel Bice (2), Amelia Gallow (2), Sophia Julien (2), Kristin Johnson (1), Sienna Stigant (1), Lily Hart (1), Cali McKay(1), and Thea May (1) all finding the try line. McKay added four successful conversions to round out the scoring.
Coach Andrew Stigant praised the team’s effort and attitude, saying, “I am very proud of how the players all handled themselves yesterday — from the minute their feet hit the pitch to the minute the final whistle went. They supported each other throughout the game and played with intensity. The high-pressure phases on Nanaimo’s 5-meter from our forward pack to the extreme continuity of our backs’ plays — it is a great start to the season.”
The men’s match told a different story, with the Kickers facing a strong and well-organized Hornets squad. Despite flashes of strong play and determined phases, the home team struggled to maintain momentum against the Hornets’ pace and precision. Tries from Craig Whiley, JB Nikkel, and Derek McCubbin showed moments of promise, and Kyle Hall added a successful conversion to bring the total to 17 points, but they couldn’t hold the onslaught from Nanaimo. While the scoreboard didn’t reflect their effort, the Kickers showed grit and commitment — qualities they’ll look to build on as the season progresses.
Coach Tim Quek reflected on the match, emphasizing accountability and perseverance. “We lost ourselves in some of the tough moments of the game and let ourselves down. The boys expect more of themselves and each other. Credit to Nanaimo — they did a lot of great things out there and ran a disciplined show. Right now, it’s our job to be accountable for what happened and make sure we put in all the work required to make things right. We’re confident in what we’re building, and it’s early days in the season. Proud of the heart the lads have. We’ll get around each other and keep fighting. It’s what Kickers do.”
Both teams will look to build on their performances as they travel to the mainland on October 25 for a doubleheader against the Bayside Sharks.
The Comox Valley Kickers practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30–8:00 p.m. at Cumberland Village Park. New players are always welcome — no experience required.
For more information, visit comoxvalleyrugby.ca, follow the Comox Valley Kickers Rugby Club on Facebook, or check out @cvkickersrugby on Instagram.
Photos courtesy of Lorne Collicutt.
