Defending champions

The Dal Tigers men's rugby teams defend their titles as Maritime University Rugby champions this weekend in Truro. (Karyn Boehmer)

The Dalhousie Tigers men’s rugby teams faced off against St. Francis Xavier last Sunday in Halifax for the chance to be crowned Nova Scotia University Rugby champions in their respective divisions.

The Dalhousie Tigers first division men’s rugby club kept their tradition of winning alive, defeating St. FX 33-17 at the Wanderer’s Grounds on Sunday, October 31 to capture their fourth straight championship.

The Division 1 Tigers, who have not lost a regular season game for the past three season, trailed 7-14 at half.

“The play was really back and forth for the first part of the game,” says Adam Sketchley, a third-year forward. “Luckily we managed to pull ahead in the second half with a few key tries. St. FX came out really strong but our guys left everything on the field, we couldn’t be happier with how everything went.”

David Holmes, Tim Loney, Adam Fitzpatrick, Paul Forrest and Curtis Enman each scored tries for Dalhousie, while Loney also added four conversions for the win.

The Dalhousie men’s second division team was not as fortunate when they had their turn to face St. FX, losing in the provincial championship match 19-34.

St. FX took the early lead and never looked back. The Tigers battled hard but couldn’t hang on for the win.

Emerson Hawkins, John Hewitt, and Adam Sketchley scored tries for Dalhousie, with Hewitt adding two conversions as well.

Both Tigers teams finished first in their divisions during the regular season and will be competing this weekend at the Maritime University Rugby Championships at Farnham Park in Truro. Both teams are the current defending Maritime University Rugby champions.