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Will the real Dalhousie AC Rams please stand up?

After a mixed bag of results to open their Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) rugby season last weekend – a 62-5 thrashing from the Mount Allison Mounties after pasting the Kings Blue Devils 45-10 – it could be difficult for many to pick which Rams squad more closely resembles its true identity.

But coach Owen Hutchinson feels he has it pegged down – it’s neither.

“I don’t think we’ve gotten to that step yet where we find ourselves,” Hutchinson, now in his fifth season coaching the team along with Dave Cotterill and Dan Mosley, said. “Hopefully by playoffs we will be where Mount A is. That’s the goal.”

Seniors  - Katie McQueen (on the left) and Jill Bent (right) preparing for scrum in ACAA action

But there is work to be done to get there. Although the Rams managed to take advantage of a young and inexperienced Kings squad that is likely to struggle for wins this season, the Mounties, winners of two of the past four conference titles and likely to contend for another this year, highlighted several areas the Rams need to improve. Mount Allison put DAL AC’s defence under constant pressure, giving the Rams a first-person clinic on the importance of hindering the opposition from scoring.

“Our defence needs to be on point,” Hutchinson said. “If we can do that, then the scoring, the offence, will naturally fall into place. It’s something we worked on this week and something we will be working on all season – defence, defence defence.”

McQueen carries for the attack in ACAA play

Now three years removed from their last conference championship, the Rams didn’t have the season they were hoping for in 2015. They missed a berth in the conference final after posting a 2-5-1 (W-L-T) record in the regular season to finish fourth on the five-team circuit. The top two teams from the regular season moved straight to the conference final. This year the ACAA is going back to a semi and then final, which opens a spot to take that final step.

In order to get back on top, the Rams will need solid performances from captains Katie McQueen, a scrum half and last season’s most valuable player, and Jill Bent, a flanker. Hutchinson is also counting on contributions from senior players like Melanie Wood and Brittney Carkner.

“Those girls all lead by example and usually however they go, the younger girls follow,” Hutchinson said.

The Rams play UKC at home tomorrow, Friday, September 16th at 4:00 p.m. at the Truro Rugby Park.