The Capilano Rugby Club’s premier women’s team is in the top spot in the BC Rugby Premier League and looking to add to their tally with back-to-back home games over the next two weekends.
The Caps have scrapped together a 2-1 record in early season play, including a 27-15 win in their last contest on the road against Burnaby Lake. The Burnaby squad was up early in the match but Capilano wore them down to earn a comeback win.
“They threw a lot of pressure at us and the girls managed to keep them to five points for quite a while until we actually got a score,” said head coach Carlos Valle. “And then it was a little bit of a gun battle and we got ahead at the end of the game with our fitness.”
It was the second win ever at this level for Valle, who is in his first season as Capilano’s head coach.
“The team has looked really good,” said Valle. “We’re very fortunate to have quite a bit of talent from previous years. … I have a lot of talent, I’m very fortunate to work with them. It makes the job a little bit easier. Experience is what’s keeping us together.”
A pair of experienced players have been leading the way on both ends of the pitch for Capilano, said Valle, with Nevene Hammoud taking charge of the forward pack and fullback Ashley Robinson organizing the backs. Gillian Boag has also been an early standout, said Valle, while national-level players Andrea Burk and Demi Stamatakis are not currently playing but are expected to join the team this season. Burk helped Team Canada finish fifth at the Women’s Rugby World Cup held in Ireland in August.
As for Valle, he takes over the team after spending a year playing in the Capilano men’s program. The Alberta native grew up playing with the Edmonton Clansmen Rugby Club but now, at age 33, is moving away from playing and into coaching.
“This is kind of a dream that I’m chasing, to see how far I can get within coaching,” he said. “It’s a thrill for me. I love it. I can’t stay away from the game. If I can’t play, I might as well be involved in some way.”
Valle said his personal goal for his first season as a premier league coach is to help the Capilano women raise their game to a new level.
“My favourite part of coaching is when you can explain something to somebody, and then they start to get it, he said. “You start to see the progression of how much better they’re getting with each thing they’re doing each week. Just seeing the progression and knowing that them putting the work in as well as us giving them the technical abilities – seeing them grow as players, that’s the best thing for me.”
The team is winning so far by playing a defence-first style.
“We like to stop teams and really make them panic under pressure,” he said. “Defensive would be our style, but we like to add a bit of flair, we’ve been able to put up a lot of points lately.”
They’ll be looking to put more points up on the board this Saturday when they host Castaway Wanderers, 12:45 p.m. at Klahanie Park.
One week later they’ll host Burnaby Lake as part of the Capilano Rugby Club’s famous Pink Day. The sixth annual Capilano Rugby Breast Cancer Awareness Day will be held Oct. 21 at Klahanie Park. All of the club’s senior teams will be in action, highlighted by the premier women taking on Burnaby at 12:45 p.m. and the premier men taking on Burnaby at 2:30 p.m.
On Pink Day Capilano players wear special, customized jerseys that have been purchased for $100 by club patrons. Funds raised are donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
“I’m really looking forward to my first Pink Day,” said Valle. “You see the comments from all the players, the past players, the emotions they get – it shows how big of a deal it is. Especially having family members and others always dealing with these types of things, it kind of pulls on the heartstrings a little.”
On the field Valle will be hoping to keep his team in the win column as they fight for a Premier League title. The team made the Premier League playoffs last season but were knocked out in the first round.
“The women came close last year, and they have a lot of returning talent,” said Valle. “Our expectation really is to win the competition. Anything less is not really what we’re looking for.”
Regardless of where they finish the season, Valle said he is happy to have found a home at Capilano.
“It’s great to be part of something where you have that community, club feel,” he said. “You never feel unwelcome here. It’s actually quite a pride thing to be part of this club, because when you mention it, people know who they are.”
