SURREY — The Surrey Beavers are off to a rough start this spring but the first division team is hoping to make up for that in the last half of the season.
While the third and second division Beavers are each ranked second in the standings, the first division team is in sixth, having logged three losses in four games since January.
They fell 56-10 in their season opener against the Meraloma Rugby Club, but they were facing stiffer competition than usual due to relegations from the Vancouver team's premier division.
"They were premier side last year and they dropped down," explained Beavers Captain Mitchell Hicks. "They've got imported guys and it does make all the difference."
Not only that, the Cloverdale rugby club has been missing two of its star backs, and games just haven't been going their way on the field, according to Coach Kevin Taylor.
"Last week, we showed up, we had a bunch of things go wrong in the first half, they got a big lead and we didn't have enough time to come back," he said. "That's just the way the season's been. It's frustrating."
That's a stark contrast from the Beavers' fall season, in which their losses came down to the wire.
"The majority of our games were within four points — less than a try," said acting captain Darcy Littlewood. "Two of them were right down to the last five minutes or less of the game.
"Every team, when they play us, they always thank us for the defensive struggle.
They always know that we come to play."
The captains are hoping to instill that same drive into the young team as they go into their last few games of spring.
Hicks said over the last three years, the average age of players is around 22, but they haven't gained the experience of working together like some of the neighbouring teams.
"The talent is there - I think we just need to keep moulding and growing as a team together," he said. "The wins will come as we get that figured out."
Coach Taylor echoed the sentiment, noting that it won't take a lot to turn around this season.
"At times when things are going successful, it's a lot easier to show up to practice," he said. "It seems like you carry momentum with you.
"We just need guys to recommit to coming to training. It's not that complicated."
Looking ahead, the Beavers are gearing up to bring back Rugby Sevens to the Cloverdale Rodeo, which is perfect timing, as the shorter, seven-man form of the sport is gaining popularity. Rugby Sevens is set to make its Olympic debut in 2016, and Vancouver is set to host the World Rugby Sevens Series tournament next March.
"A lot of countries are really pouring a lot of their rugby money into the Sevens because the Olympics is going to push rugby up more and more," said Littlewood.
"It would be awesome if we got some teams from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, England to come over," added Hicks. "To have that rugby atmosphere in Vancouver, maybe it will spark some interest in the younger players."
Hicks and Littlewood said some of their teammates have their eyes on playing for Team Canada, including Nathaniel Silva (who was recently named to B.C. Rugby's U-23 Sevens team) and North Surrey Secondary grad Joey Murphy.
"They've got the talent — it's just how hard these guys work to get there," said Hicks.