Make it 3 straight for Whiskey Jacks, eyes now set on .500

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

With their triple, the Whiskey Jacks have a chance to do something that seemed near impossible at the beginning of the season, get to 4-4 and end their first regular season in the North Sask Rugby Union with an even record.

Series tied 1-1

Raiders comeback falls short, series returning home tied

1h ago

World

Person dies after being hit by plane that was taking off at Denver airport

8h ago

Carney's remarks

Prime Minister Mark Carney touts Canadian values in speech at global progress summit

8h ago

“Now, the big thing is to go away and get that fourth one, away from home, and try to get to .500 in our first year,” said Whiskey Jacks coach Dominic Elsbury. “That’s a real big thing for this club right now.”

In their three-game winning streak, the Whiskey Jacks have been able to eclipse the 25-point mark each time thanks to an ever-evolving playbook as the team gets more familiar with the game. But a lot of it has been due to some hard running and creative play from the backs after some tough work in the trenches from the pack.

“We’ve got some very hard runners with the ball, Bryce Ethier, Ashton (Milligan), Clayton (Johnson), they’re very good with the ball in hand and they’re very strong and they’re very difficult to stop,” said Elsbury. “Our game plan is to get the ball in the hands of the guys that can really do some damage.”

After the Krems scored early to go up 5-0, it was Ethier that got the Whiskey Jacks on the board and started a 26-0 run.

After securing a loose ball, Ethier broke two tackles and outran a third to score a 50-metre try.

“I was honestly going to go in position to tackle somebody and the ball came loose, bounced up right at me and into my hands,” said Ethier. “I took the advantage and went forward.”

Clayton Johnson found himself a hole and darted through it for a 14-5 advantage soon afterwards.

Mike Harasyn made it 21-5 after the Whiskey Jacks stormed down the field with quick and effective pass and go’s.

Johnson made good on all three of his converts in the first half.

After 20 scoreless minutes had gone in the second half, Whiskey Jacks’ Darcy Murphy took the ball and three Krems on his back over the try line to put the Whiskey Jacks up 26-5. The Krems quickly answered back 26-10, but could not get any closer than that.

Not just the coach anymore

Elsbury officially changed his rank with the Whiskey Jacks from coach to player/coach on Thursday.

The reason he waited until the seventh game of the season was due to an Achilles injury that has ailed Elsbury throughout the season. He entered the game at the start of the second half and played the final 40 minutes for the Whiskey Jacks to help close out the game.

“It’s been great coaching, but it’s also been frustrating watching from the sideline every time when you really want to play,” said Elsbury, who added he’s “very glad to have finally stepped out on the field.”

A little time off

After playing four games in a matter of 13 days, the Prince Albert Whiskey Jacks will get a well-deserved week off next week before their final regular season game on Aug. 8 against the Gophers in Saskatoon.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea