BANFF – Despite veteran players departing last offseason, the universal goal remains the same for the Banff Bears men’s rugby team.
“We’re not only here to defend the southern provincial title, we want to win the provincial title this year,” said veteran back Jeremy Woodcock.
On Saturday (June 15), the Bears won “probably their hardest game” this season, eking out the Calgary Hornets, 38-34, to even its overall record at 3-3.
Daniel Dixon led the Bears with two tries and Woodcock, Ben Rada, Max Lozeman and Elliot Smith each scored one.
Smith kicked four conversions including a crucial two-point bump after a try in the dying minutes to give the Bears a four-point advantage, which was a key moment against a Hornets team utilizing the three-point penalty kick. The Hornets’ kicker went four-for-four on conversions and two-for-two on penalty kicks – one being from beyond midfield.
“The biggest thing we tried to do was to play our game,” said Bears captain Frank Dwyer. “If we give them penalties, he’s just going to kick it from anywhere, so let’s keep it simple, keep it honest, hit ‘em hard and hit ‘em low and they started kicking because they couldn’t get into our zone, so to me that’s a positive.”
Chirping was on full display towards the end of the tight match, as Hornets players spat barbs at the Bears to try and force bad penalties.
“We were at each other’s throats a little bit because we haven’t really been pushed like that, especially where it’s close,” Woodcock said.
An emerging star scorer for Banff, Dixon nearly got caught up in the Hornets shenanigans during a ruck in the fading minutes of the match, but kept his composure. The two tries scored by Dixon and his huge gain deep down the pitch into the Hornets end during the dying seconds, helped secure the Bears’ third victory this season.
“I kind of got upset at one point, but it’s all in the game and we all pulled it together,” Dixon said. “It happens sometimes, I guess, and we came together as a team and you got to do what you got to do.”
It’s Dixon’s first season with the men’s team, after the Bears lost seasoned players and welcomed a new young core that previously played for the Banff high school team in recent years.
Dwyer said there are about four players on the team with over two years experience in the club. It’s one of reasons the Bears are always scouting and recruiting former high school players to join the club.
“I’ve always said this, especially to the high school kids, you can play it,” Woodcock said. “On the field, we’re here to play and win, but off the field, we’re like a big family, you know, we all take care of each other.”
Despite constant recruiting, the Bears are still filled with “a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of skill” and have the mindset to make playoffs.
“Obviously we’re the defending (southern) champs and we’re trying to get back up there,” said Dwyer. “But having said that, obviously it’s always a different ball game once you get to playoffs … Obviously, the goal is always be at the top, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
The Bears’ next home match is Saturday, July 13 at the Banff Rec Grounds. The time is yet to be determined.
