On Sunday, April 5, the host school laid claim to its fifth championship title in this annual event on the spring high school rugby calendar, and for the fourth time over the past five years.

The final was everything you would expect to see from both teams – a high level of pace, skill, inventiveness, defensive pressure, commitment in contact, crunching tackles, many tries and few errors.  After winning a nine-second sudden death semi final over number three ranked Shawnigan Lake, number two ranked St. George’s came out on top over number four ranked Earl Marriott.  The Saints scored two quick tries to take the lead, but the Mariners showed everyone present why they also deserved to be in the final.  Their power and effective use of the ball resulted in three tries and a half-time lead.  However, the second stanza belonged to St. George’s whose defense forced Earl Marriott into errors which in turn led to two more tries for the home team and a well deserved win.

The Premier Series was initiated in 1997 as a means by which the top school rugby programs could play each other on a formal basis.  In 2000, the competition moved to a regional format (Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island) with all of the teams involved  meeting for crossover games on a gala closing day known as ‘Super Saturday’.  In 2008, the competition broadened further with schools also playing at the 2nd XV level.