In the end, the score didn't matter for the PGSS Polars Friday afternoon.
It was all about progressively getting better for the senior girls rugby side.
"With this sport you can't teach them something until they experience it in a game," said Polars head coach Jeremy Greenfield. "Watching them gel, the Grade 8s to 12s all playing together, it was pretty nice to watch. The enthusiasm is still there."
The Polars lost a friendly match 38-0 to the visiting Nechako Valley secondary squad from Vanderhoof.
The game signalled the end of the season for PGSS, the only high school in Prince George that fielded a registered team with B.C. High School Sports this season. (Duchess Park and D.P. Todd played exhibition matches against each other this year).
The Polars competed in a high school zone that includes Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and Quesnel, but only Williams Lake had a team this season. PGSS also travelled to Vanderhoof and Smithers for matches and competed at a tournament in Kamloops last month.
Friday's game at PGSS's lower field was their first and only home game of the season.
"We're a very developmental squad competing at the senior level," said Greenfield. "We had 19 players [that included] five Grade 8s and two Grade 12s and everybody else in between and this was our first season together."
The Polars began training indoors in February, working on fitness, tackling and ball handling.
Because of the long winter and late spring, they didn't get outdoors on their home pitch until May 7.
"Typically a core of 12 [players] start playing in February and then they tell their friends and they start the ball rolling," said Greenfield. "Rugby is for girls who don't fit into any other sport, it doesn't matter what size you are, anybody can play. It's inclusive."
Because of their limited time on the outdoor pitch this season, the Polars declined to compete in the zone championships.
The Polars will resume play in September in the sevens league.
