For a home opener, the Fellowes girls rugby team did not have a good start. Not only did they lose against the Mackenzie Mustangs 5-0, they also achieved lots of injuries, including hurt pride.

The game started with lots of pumped up energy and fierce competitiveness to the excitement of Fellowes’ coaches, Sara Ward, Kristy Bennet-Dahms and Candice Levesque. In only the first few minutes Fellowes managed to get the ball to Mackenzie’s end of the field almost scoring themselves a try, but the Mustangs managed to get them pushed back.

Only 10 minutes in and the Falcons had two injuries; one knee injury for Bailey Ducet and Katherine Stephenson got hit in the head and blacked out for a few minutes. Teammates carried her over to the side of the field where she sat out only for a few minutes before she insisted on being back in the game.

Just before halftime, to the Mustangs’ happiness and the Falcon’s downfall, Mackenzie scored a try, earning them five points.

Falcon Michaela Berry said, “Considering it’s their first game, and all the newbies we have, they’re doing rather well.” Berry and half of her team members were not given the chance to play in the game, only to watch and observe how it should be played. Ward, Falcon coach, said this is because the some of the girls were not ready to play such a vicious game yet; they needed more training.

Falcons and Mustangs collided into each other over and over throughout the game, never giving each other the opening they needed. Falcons Emily Kathen, Bailey Gilchrist and Katherine Stephenson played their hearts out and took the most hits for Fellowes. Stephenson earned herself another injury for her shoulder.

The game lasted roughly an hour with the Mustangs winning 5-0 and more Falcons hurt. Mackenzie only received minor injuries while Fellowes’ girls received more serious ones that would sit them out for the night. The Mustangs climbed their bus to go home, victorious for a well-earned rest.

“The girls played hard. There were lots of positive things they did for the first game and I’m proud of them. Though we lost, it was a good place to start the season,” said coach Ward

One person who was not pleased at all was the referee. He pulled Fellowes’ coach Bennet-Dahms aside and chastised them: “Your team cursed and swore too much throughout the game and overall, did not show good sportsmanship to the other team.” She expressed these concerns with her team, which only added to their irritation.

Overall, it was a rather tough game for both teams and both went home with the feeling of accomplishment, and the knowledge that no matter the outcome, they tried their best, played their hearts out and will try that much harder at the upcoming games.

Micheala Philpitt is a co-op student from Fellowes High School working at The Daily Observer.