The Banff Bears boys’ rugby squad overcame a late rush from the Highwood Mustangs in a match that could have teetered either way, last week.
The Bears couldn’t have asked for a better start at home on May 12 at the Rec Grounds.
Up by a couple of tries on a cold evening with their offence flowing, it looked like a mauling in the mountains was underway and the Bears would cruise to victory.
Then three key injuries happened to veteran Bears, which changed the tempo of the game and a re-motivated Mustangs squad shook off the cobwebs and began a second half charge.
At that point, it was anything but cruising for Banff as they found themselves reeling to maintain a one-point lead in the dying seconds.
The Mustangs pushed for victory at the Bears’ goal line, but the Banff boys were able to hold them off for a 25-24 victory, but boy, it was “lucky.”
The Bears pulled out two huge stops as the Mustangs pressured late in the game after trailing 17-0, and Bears head coach Ian Higginbottom thought the comeback was complete.
“I definitely feel lucky to have won that with the way they were pressing at the end. They had two chances in front of the post,” said Higginbottom. “I’m surprised they didn’t score at the goal line. From my angle, I thought they were in, so I feel really fortunate to have pulled off that victory.”
Banff’s Duncan Thorburn scored two tries, and Phillipp Hoeftmann, Alex Kellas and Mitchell Wainmain each scored one try.
Grade 11 player Thorburn said the team had to let everyone know to keep pushing forward toward the end.
“When we didn’t have the ball, and then throughout the second half, the other team got a little stronger and we started losing our feet a little. The cold kind of withered down our hands a little bit and made it harder to hang onto the ball,” said Thorburn.
Temperatures dropped quickly during the evening game at Banff Rec Grounds. In between action, the boys on the pitch were warming their hands by rubbing them together or sticking them in their armpits.
Higginbottom said the cool climate wasn’t an excuse, though.
“Their hands were cold, for sure, but missed passes were not because of cold hands, it was because of bad passes,” he said.
Three veteran leaders on the Bears suffered game-ending injuries during the game, which Higginhbottom believes “100 per cent” affected the outcome of the game.
“Losing three of your key players, losing leaders like that changed the way our defence looked and communication is such a big part of the game,” said Higginbottom.
Wainman, Jasper Dimarucut, and Adam Harrouche are hopeful to play at home Thursday (May 19, 5 p.m.) against the Strathmore Spartans.
