Rainier Junior Rugby team eyes playoffs

With the season winding to a close, the Rainier Junior Rugby team is looking to take the top spot into the playoffs and, with a bit of luck, the state championships May 14.

With the season winding to a close, the Rainier Junior Rugby team is looking to take the top spot into the playoffs and, with a bit of luck, the state championships May 14.

The team hasn’t lost a game yet with its latest victory April 9 in Yakima.

With two more games remaining in the South Division, a pair of wins would give the team the division championship and the top seed to go against the North Division.

“Momentum is on our side and we think we can win those,” coach Andy Ramsay said.

The team made a weekend trip to Silverdale and will host its final home game Saturday at White River Alternative School.

Ramsay said the team is hovering around 30 to 35 kids, bolstered by players from Sumner High and its football program.

“We didn’t have a big presence from there,” Ramsay said. “But their football coach helped the program. He’s been to a couple games.”

Another big team-building experience was the appearance of Jake Christiansen, a former player now with the West Point Academy team. He stopped by when he was home during spring break.

The team is building for the future with a handful of kids younger than 14 who are practicing with the program and getting playing experience with another team in area.