Pagans winless in three after home loss
Coach thinking long-term as team joins Ontario Rugby Union’s top league
The Peterborough Pagans are still searching for a win in their inaugural season in the Ontario Rugby Union’s top league.
The Pagans slipped to 0-3 in the Marshall Premiership following a 31-13 loss to Balmy Beach in their 2018 home opener at Nicholls Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Pagans women, defending Toronto Rugby Union A Division champions, lost their season opener 22-17 to Belleville on the last play of the game.
The men were within 12-8 against Balmy Beach about 20 minutes into the game but things slipped away before lightning halted the contest with 20 minutes remaining. After winning the Marshall Championship division last year, it’s been an adjustment to the higher level for the Pagans and to suffering defeats.
With the majority of the team between 19 and 26 years old, head coach Paul Hunter said it’s important the players look at the long-term picture of developing a sustainable team in the Premiership.
“The biggest challenge is keeping the guys motivated and focused on trying to improve weekin and week-out rather than getting too disheartened by the results,” said Hunter. “They want to win but we don’t want to make all the focus about winning. We need to make sure the players see bits of success.”
With some key players like Steve Commerford, Jeff Watson and Sean Harrison unavailable on Saturday, Hunter said their depth was challenged.
“We had to play some players out of position and that’s probably where we got found out,” said hunter. “There were some real positives in that some younger players really played well. Hamish McMaster played a fantastic game. Alex Haystead was strong and Carl Williams was back from injury so we’re starting to get players back. I think we were competitive in most areas of the game.”
Duncan White and Haystead scored tries for the Pagans. Josh Boyles recorded a penalty kick.
The Pagans Seconds fell 46-22 to Balmy Beach.
Casey Hill scored a try and convert while Liam O’Connor, Donald Glover and Chad Hoskin also scored.
The Pagans host the Markham Irish next Saturday at Nicholls Oval starting at 1 p.m.
In the women’s game, Emily Challice, Megan Dick and Harlynn Beauchamp scored Pagans’ tries and Dick added a convert.
“The team played very hard,” said women’s coach Aaron Stinchcombe, “and executed our game plan. We made too many small mistakes that cost us at certain points in the game and that was the difference.”
They visit Oshawa on Saturday.