Bring on the Rams.
The Banff Bears men’s rugby squad is playoff bound after a decisive 61-10 win over Red Deer on Saturday (Sept. 6) and will host the Calgary Rams this Saturday at the Banff Rec Grounds.
With a home playoff berth on the line, the Bears steamrolled over a shorthanded Red Deer squad.
“We were pretty dominant. It was a solid effort. To be fair, Red Deer only had 15 players at the game and they weren’t a match for the guys we had. We brought out the best end of season team we’ve ever had,” said Darrell Cranny.
For the past three seasons, the Bears have faded in autumn, losing players who return home or to school after a summer of labour in Banff. However, this season, the Bears have maintained a strong core and are poised to challenge for a championship.
“We have a solid 20 players, even after the kids have gone back to university,” Cranny said. “It’s been a good year off the field and it will be a good one on the field for us. We have solid confidence in our forwards and our backs.”
The Bears will seek revenge on the Rams after they dropped their only regular season meeting against their arch rivals.
“They beat us by seven during the year. It was a really sloppy game for everyone and we’re looking for retribution,” Cranny said.
If the Bears win on Saturday (Sept. 13), they’ll play again next week and could reach Calgary Rugby Union finals at the end of September. Cranny believes they can string together a solid win streak in the playoffs if they keep their egos in check.
“I’m pretty sure this team can make a run. Early on, we got big wins, but when the Rams came out, we got put in our place. We have the potential, fantastic players, and we could go all the way, but we need to stay grounded. The boys have learned their lesson,” Cranny said.
Against Red Deer, Banff took over quickly and spread out the offence. Mark ‘Hoops’ Hooper, Malcolm Wilson Harry Morrow, Tyler McLeod, Shane Cranny, Koji Seki and Harry Morrow all scored for the Bears.
