If it isn’t a virus, it’s atmospheric rivers. Any thoughts of a normal post-pandemic return to school sports have been dashed by the rains and washed out highways.
It has caused the splitting of the B.C. championships into Coastal and Interior sections in fall sports because of the difficulty of travel. The Reynolds Roadrunners won the provincial Coastal section boys’ Triple-A soccer championship over the weekend in Burnaby with a 1-0 victory in the final over the Argyle Pipers of North Vancouver on a goal by Remi Barbot. The Grade 11 striker also scored both goals in the 2-1 semifinal victory over the Panorama Ridge Thunder of Surrey.
“We were just happy to be able to play,” said Reynolds coach J.J. Atterbury.
And play the Roadrunners did with five games over three days.
“It was a grind but our work ethic was exceptional,” said Atterbury, who co-coaches the Roadrunners with Chris McDonald.
“It was a tremendous effort from the boys.”
The Roadrunners were full measure for the partial provincial crown. Not taking anything away from the Interior representatives unable to attend, Rutland and North Peace, but these talented Roadrunners likely would have taken the title regardless of who was there. The two Interior slots were given over to the next highest ranking Lower Mainland teams.
“All 16 teams were very competitive,” said Atterbury.
The Nanaimo District Secondary Islanders placed fifth.
“It was great to see two Island teams in the top five,” said Atterbury.
Reynolds has always been a factor in boys’ soccer but it took 50 years for the school to win its first B.C. championship in 2016. The other best Reynolds finishes in B.C. were third places in 1973 and 2017.
Several Roadrunners alumni have gone on to play U Sports with the University of Victoria Vikes.
Atterbury said it’s hard to compare the 2016 championship with this one.
“Both championship teams battled hard,” he said.
The Roadrunners triumph comes on the boot heels of the St. Andrew’s Sabres winning the B.C. boys’ Single-A high school soccer championship this month by beating Glenlyon-Norfolk in the all-Island final. That was a full provincial title because it occured before the heavy rains with all qualified teams able to attend.
Meanwhile, weather is playing havoc with the 2021 Colonist Cup championship game between Reynolds and the Claremont Spartans. Originally scheduled for tonight at Centennial Stadium, it has been moved to Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. on UVic Field No. 3 because of the deluge expected today.
The venerable F.A. Cup-style tournament for Greater Victoria teams, contested since 1942 when Vic High was the first victor, is held concurrently with the regular season and Island and B.C. tournaments.
“It is so historic and there’s a lot of pride that goes with winning the Colonist Cup,” said Atterbury.
The Roadrunners will be looking for the three-peat after beating Oak Bay 1-0 in the 2018 Colonist Cup final and the Royal Bay Ravens on penalty kicks in 2019. The 2020 Colonist Cup was not played due to the pandemic.
