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UPDATE: Times Cup postponed due to field conditions

Dec 6, 2016 | 12:53 PM

NANAIMO — The Hornets will have to wait to see if they can win their first island title in 23 years. The Times Cup has been postponed due to unsafe field conditions at Pioneer Park.

EARLIER:

They’ve been close so many times but the Nanaimo Hornets haven’t won an island championship since 1993.

The Hornets went to the final in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 only to fall one game short. On Saturday Nanaimo hosts the Port Alberni Black Sheep, and they go into the Times Cup as the favourite.

After a dominant 8-0 regular season, the Hornets took care of Westshore RFC 55-17 on Saturday in the semi final game.

Nanaimo coach Clive Stocks says the victory was impressive, especially because Westshore just dropped out of the premier division and they had some of those premier players in the line up.

“Our guys really stepped up to the plate, really played well as a unit – a whole 15 man unit. When we brought our subs on during the game, if anything we actually gained momentum with them coming on. With fresh legs and everything else it was a great team effort,” said Stocks.

In two meetings in the regular season against Port Alberni, Nanaimo won 54-13 and 40-15.

Winter weather wasn’t a factor then, but it will be this week.

Stocks says it’s going to be cold and the ball will be wet, leading to mistakes by both teams.

“It’s a matter of us being able to capitalize on them. Port Alberni has a very heavy set of forwards so we have to work really hard against that. Most of our games have been fast, open rugby so that will hamper us a bit, but we’ll work around that,” said Stocks.

Saturday’s game is a 1 p.m. start at May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park. Admission is free, although if the weather forecast is any indication there could be a long line up to get some coffee and hot chocolate.