Comets rugby squad ready for stretch of tough weekend tournaments

Posted on April 24, 2025 by admin

By Garrett Simmons
Westwind Weekly News

After the next few weekends, the Raymond Comets girls rugby team should have a pretty solid idea about where its strengths lie.

It all starts with a big tournament in Edmonton this weekend, as Raymond is set to head north on Thursday.

The Comets will see some tough competition up north, as the highly competitive tournament will put Raymond to the test. Last year, in fact, the Comets came in second at the event.

The following weekend, Raymond will be in Okotoks, where the Comets will see many of the top teams in the province.

And while these weekend events will be massive, Raymond set the tone for the 2025 season a few weekends back with a big 41-19 win at home over archrival Notre Dame.

In the annual clash of the titans in Raymond, the Comets delivered with a dominant victory on its home field.

“We handled them pretty good but they were tough,” said Comets head coach Dan Bickman. “There was some back-and-forth scoring for sure.”

Playing a four-quarter contest for the exhibition tilt, the coach added his team didn’t pull away until the end.

“In the fourth quarter we really cemented the lead,” said Bickman, whose team was only up by a single try, well into the hotly-contested game.

A runaway try turned the tide for Raymond, after Notre Dame worked the ball down the field.

“Once we started to move the ball, we were able to find some holes,” said Bickman, as Raymond’s offence came to life late.

The Notre Dame game was a welcome test for a Raymond team that often wins its league contests by wide margins.

“You can see areas where we can get beat,” said Bickman of the difference in playing a team that possesses a high level of talent, such as Notre Dame. “Where you’re pressed with an equal level of competition, the things you think you’re doing well, you’re not. And you learn which kids really want to compete at the highest level.

These games show you which kids really thrive in that setting.”

And while the senior team was using a late rally to run to victory, Raymond’s JV team put together a clinical 40-0 win.

“Our JV program is strong,” said Bickman. “We have lots of good players in the younger grades this year.”

Last week in league play, Raymond easily dispatched Pincher Creek in the junior and senior contests. This coming week, the Comets will take on Chinook High School in league competition.