On the hunt

P.E.I. Mudmen begin quest for B division rugby title Saturday in Charlottetown

It’s playoff time in the Nova Scotia Senior Men’s Rugby League and the Hunter’s Ale House P.E.I. Mudmen are gunning for a long run.

It begins Saturday when the Mudmen (6-1) host Windsor (2-3) in a B division quarterfinal. Game time is 2 p.m. at Co-op Field and long-time Mudmen player and organizer said the busy squad is in deep against a tough Windsor side.

“The Island squad is pretty banged up with a lot of guys now playing with UPEI also. Guys are playing and practicing pretty much five or six days a week doing double duty,” said Gallant. This season the playoffs changed to a relegation system where the top two teams in B division (Mudmen and the 7-0 Valley) and the four bottom teams in A division (Dartmouth, Truro, Pictou County, Windsor) tussle for the B division title. Dartmouth and Pictou County earned byes to the semifinals.

Meanwhile the rest of B division (Halifax Tars, Enfield, Caledonia, Pictou County, Eastern Shore, Riverlake) play for the third division crown. Gallant said the Mudmen B side isn’t without reserves and though beat up is ready to go and will look to brothers Mark and Ryan Lloyd, James Coyle and Steve Macmillan to head the attack. “We have a strong resilient squad and a lot of depth which is extremely helpful,” said Gallant.

The Mudmen A side is off this weekend and host the Halifax Tars in one A division next weekend. Start time to be announced later.