Finally.
After a decade of frustration, the close-but-no-cigar feeling, the Okanagan domination, the having rivals Terrace Northmen and Rocky Mountain Rogues from Cranbrook ruin their dreams, then visiting the players in their nightmares...
After all that, the Vernon Jackals finally defeated their demons.
The Jackals ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ winners of the Okanagan Rugby Union (ORU) championship eight of the last nine years ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ ventured to the provincial dance each time after winning their league. Each time at the provincials, they returned to the North Okanagan without the coveted Saratoga Cup, emblematic of B.C. Men's Summer Rugby League 15s supremacy.
Vernon finally brought the trophy home Sunday, Aug. 10, downing the defending champion Northmen 20-19 in the Saratoga Cup final played 45 minutes north in Salmon Arm at the Little Mountain Sports Complex.
"It's fantastic," said Kevin Stecyk, 39, a second row lock forward for the Jackals, who is one of the longest serving players, having joined the club in 2006. "It's a big-time, huge momentum swing for us. It was great to slay both of our dragons on the same weekend."
Trailing 19-15 in extra time ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ and yet another possible Saratoga Cup heartbreak looming ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ the Jackals had the ball deep in Terrace territory, and there would be no denying them. Vernon got the ball out to Tristan Gaudry who dove over the try line for the Cup-winning five points.
With the score locked at 5-5 in the first half, the Jackals took control and led 15-5 heading into the intermission. However, the Northmen scored two converted second-half tries to lead 19-15 inside the final four minutes, paving the way for the Jackals' comeback.
"It feels so great," said Jackals club spokesperson Trevor Feeney, 29, a forward. "I honestly feel like I need someone to pinch me to make sure I'm not dreaming."
The Jackals and Northmen advanced to the final with semifinal victories Saturday.
Vernon slayed its first dragon, dismantling Rocky Mountain 27-0 in a rematch of the 2023 Saratoga Cup final, won 31-10 by the Rogues on their home Cranbrook pitch.
Terrace made it back to the gold-medal final with a tough 12-5 victory over the host Salmon Arm Yeti.
The Yeti knocked off Vernon in the final ORU regular-season game for the right to host the championship match. After the Jackals defeated the 2024 ORU champion Penticton Harlequins ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ avenging a regular-season defeat ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ they claimed another league title with a victory over the hometown Yeti.
"I want to play for as long as I can," said Stecyk, who joined the Jackals at age 20 when encouraged to do so by a hockey teammate. He had only played high school football before, never any rugby. Then he showed up at a Jackals practice.
Stecyk has never left.
"I still have the energy and the excitement for the game, and I love the camaraderie with the guys, that's what keeps me playing," he said.
The Rogues doubled the Yeti 34-17 in the third-place game.
Salmon Arm and the Hideaway Public House also hosted the women's six-team Saratoga Cup BC Summer Rugby Championship at Little Mountain Sports Complex with the hometown Yeti capturing the B.C. title after a 28-10 win over the Rocky Mountain Rogues.
Trail RFC ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ in its provincial tournament debut ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½“ finished third, defeating Kootenay Rivals Elk Valley RFC 12-7.
Defending champions Terrace RFC placed fifth after beating the Penticton Harlequins 17-12.
