A short bench and early season jitters worked against the Port Alberni Black Sheep in a 25–25 tie with Cowichan Piggies in B.C. Rugby Union road play last Saturday.
The Black Sheep hit the score sheet first with a try from Matt Kelly then a penalty goal from Jordan Kurucz, going up 8–0. Cowichan responded with three unanswered tries to take a 15–8 lead.
Ty Shannon intercepted a pass and ran 50 metres to score for Port Alberni, and with a conversion by Kurucz that brought the Sheep even at 15–15 at halftime.
Cowichan scored off a driving lineout early in the second half to go up 20–15. Ryan Turner and Kurucz scored for the Black Sheep to put Port Alberni up 25–20, before penalty trouble cost the Sheep the game.
“Our discipline let us down and they got us pinned in our end,” coach Jas Purewal said. Cowichan was able to score the tying try.
The Black Sheep pressured for the final 11 minutes but were unable to capitalize.