The Steinbach Regional Secondary School's two-year reign as Provincial Rural High School Boys Soccer champions came to an end Saturday in Niverville.

The SRSS lost 1-0 to the Morden Thunder in the championship game at Hespeler Park.

"All the credit to them," said Sabres coach Steve Rebizant shortly after the medal and banner presentations. "They played a very good game. They have some very strong players and I think they're the better team. Our plan to play was better. Our form was the right decision in terms of how we were going to play. At the end of the day I think their spirit and experience maybe edged it out that way. They're strong players."

Steinbach Regional defeated Northlands Parkway Collegiate of Winkler 5-2 in the quarterfinals and then beat the Miller Aces of Altona 4-2 in the semifinals.

Prime scoring chances against the Thunder in the last game of the provincials were few and far between.

"In this game we didn't really control the middle of the field at all," said coach Rebizant. "It was almost a tennis game back-and-forth. They were lumping the ball forward and trying to hit their main offensive threat and they did a good job of that. At the same time, nobody was really in control at any one time it seemed, but they were beating us to the second ball and they were beating us to the first ball. If you don't control the middle there is always a chance that you won’t win the game."

The Zone 13 champions have played in a lot of championship games and haven't brought the finalist banner back to the SRSS very often.

"This is our second time being second best and our 10th time in the finals," said Rebizant. "We were hoping it would be the ninth victory. It's always tough being second best but realistically I have to keep things in check and say that this team did very well and they did a good job. Hopefully we'll be here again next year and we'll be on the other side of the banner presentation."

The Minnedosa Chancellors blanked the Morden Thunder 1-0 in the girls final.

The Zone 13 champion Lorette Scorpions took the third place game.