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SMUS takes back the Boot

Sam Reid remembers the feeling last year. He watched the Gareth Rees Boot, named in honour of the St. Michaels University School grad and four-time World Cup great for Canada, being presented to Oak Bay on SMUS’s home pitch.
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Wednesday: Oak Bay High Tate Morgan runs through the tackle of SMUS David Boroto in the Annual Boot Game.
Sam Reid remembers the feeling last year.

He watched the Gareth Rees Boot, named in honour of the St. Michaels University School grad and four-time World Cup great for Canada, being presented to Oak Bay on SMUS’s home pitch.

Turnabout proved fair play Wednesday as Reid, the SMUS captain, accepted the Rees Boot on Oak Bay’s home turf following the Blue Jags’ 10-5 victory over the Barbs before a large and boisterous gallery which ringed the field.

“[The 38-17 Oak Bay victory in 2012] was motivation for this year,” said a beaming Reid.

“This feels absolutely amazing,” added the darting No. 9, whose brother Alex Reid was the Blue Jags’ centre the last time SMUS won the B.C. championship in 2007.

“Both teams played hard and turned in great defensive efforts.”

SMUS ended a two-year Oak Bay winning run and tied the all-time Rees Boot series record at 9-9-1 between two programs that have produced numerous Canadian national team players over the years.

Zach Kahn scored a SMUS try. Grade 12 Seattle-native Dawit Workie, headed in the fall to study medicine and play rugby at Dartmouth in the Ivy League, managed to navigate the stiff winds with his kicking for the Blue Jags.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more in my last Rees Boot game,” said Workie, also a standout on the SMUS basketball team.

James Carson scored the Oak Bay try in the taut but exciting defensive struggle.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com