CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – It’s been a bit of learning curve for flanker Tyler Jurkowski as he manoeuvres through his first Nova Scotia Senior Men’s Rugby League campaign with the P.E.I. Mudmen.
But so far so good given he returned to the pitch this season following a two-year layoff.
“I definitely have improved. I played in the backfield my first two years (in high school) then switched to forward my last year. I’m just starting to get used to playing (up front),” said Jurkowski. “After two years you realize how much you start to miss it. It’s great fun… great people and it’s kind of a wee little family.”
And the biggest difference? Jurkowski answers quickly.
“Definitely size. This is a lot more physical than high school, not that high school rugby isn’t physical. (At this level) you have to be more aware. It’s like going from practice to the show, really. It’s a big step.”
Jurkowski and the Mudmen (1-0) return to Division 1 action Saturday versus the Dartmouth PigDogs (1-1) after a four-week break. Game time is 2 p.m.
And it’s on the 21-year-old Summerside native’s old stomping ground at Three Oaks Senior High School, so he’s looking ahead to that. And he’s expecting his parents Darlene and John and brother Blake to be watching.
“It’s kind of interesting to return to where it all started,” said Jurkowski, who lives in Charlottetown.
Starting to play again is the focus for Phil Gallant.
The longtime Mudmen player and organizer is happy to get back on pitch. Four weeks is a long time to keep the Mudmen train on the track without the rudder of games, he said, given work and family commitments and the summertime drift pulling players in other directions.
“That’s kind of tough. It’s like a bye week in football, but early in the season so it’s hard to keep guys engaged. It’s a lot of work, but we’re doing things, team-building exercises, etc., to keep guys around,” said Gallant.
Tangling with the PigDogs, last year’s Division 2 champs, will help. Dartmouth moved up to the first division this season and sits at .500 after getting thumped by the Halifax Tars 71-0 then beating the Valley Bulldogs 28-0.
But, Gallant said, Dartmouth isn’t a pushover so the Mudmen can’t look past the ‘Dogs to its pending matchup next week versus the rival Tars in Halifax.
“Dartmouth is a big strong team. It’s important for us not to look ahead, not to look past Dartmouth,” he said. “We’re bringing in a new system and we’re trying to perfect it. We want to fine tune our game. Maybe we win the game, but not play well. We want to be dynamic, be that team that is consistent every week with no ups and downs.”
On the women’s side, the Charlottetown Rugby Football Club Tier A and B teams hit the road for games Saturday on the mainland.
The Tier A club (2-0) faces the Valley Bulldogs (0-2) in Port Williams, N.S., at 3 p.m., while the Tier B team (0-1) takes on Riverlake (0-1) in Fall River, N.S. Kickoff is noon.
After Saturday’s Mudmen-PigDogs matchup, the combatants head to the Huck It Disc Golf Course in Middleton for a friendly. The course, operated by Charlie McCardle, is co-hosting the nationals Sept. 14-16 with Hillcrest Farms in Bonshaw.
