When bears square off against grizzlies, it’s always a spectacle, and not only in the wildness.
The long-awaited rematch between the Banff Bears men’s rugby team and the Bow Valley Grizzlies from Cochrane was as intense as expected. Both teams had been waiting to face each other for ten months and didn’t hold back during the match.
The rematch started with a lot of energy and tough plays. But for the hometown Bears, a victory was not in the cards. After making some costly plays, the Bears lost 33-19 to the Grizzlies.
The Bears’ captain, Frank Dwyer, claims the team is known for being tough and fierce. Because of this, there is no shortage of teams in the league looking for a shot at the Bears.
“I think we’re one of the most hated teams in the league just because everyone knows they will come down and get a game, and it will be heavy-hitting,” Bears captain Frank Dwyer told the Rocky Mountain Outlook.
The Bears have had a tough season, with two consecutive losses. Coach Lee Garrett said they must win all their upcoming games to make it to the final. No pressure, right?
They are currently third in the standings, behind the Grizzlies and the Red Deer Titans, and they still have to play against these strong teams in three of their six remaining games.
“Our backs are against the wall, for sure…,” expressed Coach Garrett.
The Bears faced some challenges this year, including other teams forfeiting games and needing better teamwork. Coach Garrett stressed the importance of everyone showing up for practice and working together.
The Grizzlies dominated the Bears in the first half jumping out to a 26-5 lead. In the second half, the Bears fought back with getting ten points with two hard-earned tries, but two wild passes were intercepted, costing them valuable points.
In case you didn’t know, a player gets a try for grounding the ball in the opponent’s in-goal area, similar to football. The player’s team is awarded five points.
“I thought we played pretty well, but they were too good, too big, too physical, and they were more switched on and aggressive,” expressed Bears rookie Will Maslin.
Despite the loss, the Bears remain determined to bounce back. The two rival teams will have another chance to face off in the upcoming rematch at Mitford Park in Cochrane on Saturday, July 22.
The Bears hope to hold on to the Bears Cup, a trophy they won last season after defeating the Grizzlies in a best-of-three in-season battle.
“Hopefully, we hold on to that Bears Cup…Next week, if we lose, they take the cup, so it’s a big game, and we’ll keep building that rivalry between the clubs,” said Coach Garrett.
