With the formalities out of the way, it’s down to business for the Bow Valley Grizzlies.
Having devoured everything in their path, the Grizzlies have a date with redemption and another shot at a Calgary Rugby Union Div. 3 men’s championship title. Undefeated in 15 fixtures, including two playoffs, the Grizzlies get their chance to knock Calgary Canucks off the top of the hill in CRU men’s Div. 3.
Sept. 20’s 42-7 league-semifinal dismantling of visiting Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club at Mitford Pond Rugby Pitch was as emphatic a message as Bow Valley could send Canucks that Grizzlies are hungry. And charging.
“I was pretty happy with how the boys performed on the weekend there. They answered everything,” said Grizzlies head coach Ty Hawes. “We’re going to have to play at least that well, if not better, to get up on the Canucks.
“The Canucks are the last team to beat us. And we’re the last team to beat the Canucks. Like they Tweeted on the weekend, something’s got to break. It’s definitely not going to be easy, that’s for sure.”
The Canucks defeated the Grizzlies 25-9 in last year’s Div. 3 men’s final, with Grizzlies winning 32-17 in their regular-season meeting in May. No stranger to the Calgary Canucks rugby program, Hawes plays Div. 2 and Div. 1 with Canucks, and coaches their Div. 2 side.
He knows how they roll.
“They’ve got a strong side. A veteran side. They’ve been there before. They’ve won before. They’ve played together for years and years.
“But we’re coming together as a good young squad ourselves. I like how we’re playing together. It’ll be a great game.”
A well-balanced side, the Grizzlies don’t favour any one element of the game to claim an advantage. Although, the reliable foot of “Sockless” Dave Evans can be singled out as one of the team’s strengths.
Bow Valley’s success this season has come largely from all 15 players on the field, and their skilled execution of set plays from scrums and lineouts.
“We’ve got a really good one-through-15,” Hawes observed. “It’s pretty solid. I’m going to back every one of those guys against the Canucks. But so do they. I think it’s going to be who plays as a team better.”
