By Jeff D'Andrea

The newbie Whiskey Jacks on back-to-back wins

Jul 18, 2015 | 9:05 PM

Shea Holtforster had a storied high school rugby career in his day, which was capped off by winning the Top Forward Award in his Grade 12 year in Oromocto, New Brunswick back in 2009. But despite the award and the impact he had, Holtforster never scored a try in that time.

Despite a six year absence from the game, Holtforster transformed into a try scoring machine on Saturday at Prime Minister’s Park. He pounced into the in-goal not once but two twice for the Prince Albert Whiskey Jacks senior men’s rugby club as they beat the Saskatoon Gophers 28-26.

For the Whiskey Jacks, it’s their second win on the trot after picking up their first ever victory on Wednesday, 25-22 against the Saskatoon Badgers.

“I came to this team not expecting to win for a couple years, but was I [ever] wrong,” said Holtforster, who has lived in Prince Albert for the last five years. “We’re doing really good and hopefully we can keep it up… The team that we do have together this year, this is our first year back.

“Half the team hasn’t had any experience but we’re doing really well, I’m really pleased with the team we have.”

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As for his personal performance, Holtforster credits a provincial team tryout earlier on Saturday on getting him focused and ready well in anticipation for the 6 p.m. kickoff. Having not played the sport for over half a decade also made him that much more excited to dig into the match.

“It got me very in the zone, having everything set in my head to play,” said Holtforster. “Six years not playing the game and being back, I’m so happy and stoked to be back, for sure.

“Rugby is my first love. Just to be back, it’s amazing. All my life, back when I was in high school, it was all rugby, rugby, rugby. I’m just happy to be back.”

The Gophers got on the board first early to have a 7-0 lead. Holtforster got the Whiskey Jacks on the board with his first try of the game, perfectly executing a swim move he learned out east, to break through the line and glide in past the try line.

Lukas McConechy followed it up soon after with an excellent individual effort of his own. He broke through the teeth of the Gophers defence, was knocked down from behind but quickly regained his balance to dive between the posts to put the ‘Jacks up 14-7.

The Gophers tied it up at 14-all but before the half ended, the Whiskey Jacks got a little magic from their winger Keegan Larson. He broke through the line and cut to the inside and had the Gophers on their heels. As Larson was being tackled, he offloaded the ball to the supporting Ryan Esopenko who then scored a try to put the Whiskey Jacks up 21-14 at the half.

Moments after the second half whistle blast, Holtforster completed his double to put the Whiskey Jacks up 28-14. Clayton Johnson was good on all four of his convert attempts, which played a big part in the match’s final result.

The Gophers scored two more tries but missed one of their converts as once again, the Whiskey Jacks were able to hang on late.

The Whiskey Jacks now sit 2-4 in the North Saskatchewan Rugby Union second men’s division. 

Saturday’s match was their third game in a week’s span. They’ll finish the four-game homestand on Thursday with a matchup against the Saskatoon Krems at 8 p.m.

After that, the Whiskey Jacks have one more game remaining on their schedule. It will be a rematch against the Gophers on Aug. 8 in Saskatoon.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea