Shawnigan Lake prop Andre Janse van Rensburg (left, 1) can attest to the hard-hitting nature of Wednesday's B.C. Quad-A semifinal against Vancouver's St. George's Saints. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca)
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Furious Saints comeback falls short, dynastic Stags rally late as Shawnigan Lake now preps for B.C. Quad-A final against Oak Bay

VANCOUVER — The Shawnigan Lake Stags almost let some mental lapses torpedo their bid for a fourth straight B.C. senior boys top-tiered high school rugby championship.

Oak Bay's Nick Carson was a force of nature near the try line on Wednesday. Here, he powers his way to a first-half try in the B.C. Quad A semifinals against North Van's Carson Graham Eagles. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca)
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Barbarians show no nerves! Oak Bay’s encore to Shawnigan shocker is BC Quad-A semifinal win over Carson Graham

ABBOTSFORD — Last week, Victoria’s Oak Bay Barbarians turned the 2018 B.C. high school rugby season on its ear by defeating the previously unbeaten, three-time defending B.C. top-tier champion Shawnigan Lake Stags 20-15 in the Vancouver Island AAAA final.

Carson Graham's Joseph Spooner (left) locks on to tackle St. George's Dillon Hamilton during the lates stages of Thursday's 93rd N.Z. Shield clash at Brockton Oval. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca)
It's another B.C. Quad A title for the Shawnigan Lake Stags and another tough loss in the provincial final for the St. George's Saints. (Howard Tsumura, Varsity Letters photo)
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Why Shawnigan Lake’s Stags are the closest thing we’ve seen to a sure thing

ABBOTSFORD — Given both the quality of the opposition and the height of the occasion, it was a moment that served as a very pronounced reason why the Shawnigan Lake Stags are the closest thing B.C. high school sports has ever seen to a sure thing.

The St. George's Saints topped Oak Bay on Thursday by scoring four unanswered second-half tries. (Varsity Letters photo by Howard Tsumura)
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Saints take Oak Bay’s home-run try to heart, turn on jets for Quad A final rematch with Shawnigan

ABBOTSFORD — The Shawnigan Lake Stags didn’t need any cues to ignite their attack on Thursday, their 108-13 win over Surrey’s Earl Marriott Mariners a reminder to everyone just who the No. 1 program in the province is.

Bateman's Sam Davenport was simply unflappable in BC JV quarterfinal win over Brentwood College over the weekend, accounting for 21 points off five penalties and three converts. (Photo by Oswaldo Lopez Dantes)
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Sudden Sam can’t miss, Bateman joins Stags, Saints, Eagles in B.C. JV rugby Final 4

ABBOTSFORD — The Robert Bateman Timberwolves survived a dramatic finish over the weekend, in the process earning an opportunity to fashion a memorable hometown finish to their 2017 rugby season.