The BCHS Bears rugby team has one mission this year: destroy Winston Churchill High.
For the past three years, the Lethbridge-based high school has defeated the Bears in the Div. 1 provincial high school rugby finals, thwarting plans for a Banff dynasty at the Banff Rec Grounds.
But this year, with a veteran squad that includes 17 returning players, the coaching staff believe they have the horses to unseat their titanic rival. Winning five straight zone titles has left the Bears hungry, while losing 38-5 in the provincial finals to Churchill last year has them ravenous.
“Winston Churchill, our arch nemesis, has beat us three years in a row. With them, it’s a matter of attack. Last year our attack was as good as I’d seen it all season, but their defence was too good to get across the line. Hopefully this year, with our back line, we’ve got a few big guys there to be our attacking weapons,” said assistant coach Alex Boston.
Practicing in a frigid snowstorm a day before the first game of the season, the extremely committed Bears spent much of the time bringing their rookies up to speed with the game, and preparing for a tricky Strathcona-Tweedsmuir team on April 15. Six of Banff’s seven games will be on the road, and the home opener doesn’t fall until May 20.
“We’re going to have another good season. We have another good team with lots of veterans returning and a good crop of Grade 10s for future years,” said head coach Ian Higginbottom.
He’s counting on co-captains Ben Rada and Kyle Mills to lead the team, supported by veterans Alex Barrett and Ty Pecsi. The leadership group has embraced its new role, and will plug the holes left by last year’s star players, Koji Seki and Geordie Barrie.
“Those four boys have shown massive leadership on and off the field. They’ve been hunting down players in the halls, recruiting players. They’re taking the reigns and they’re having fun taking the lead,” Higginbottom said. “We have a strong forward pack and good hands in the back. There are a couple of little holes, but that’s the nature of a small school.”
Boston said returning players have obviously all hit the gym, and they’re bigger, stronger and faster than last year’s squad.
“You can tell the guys have been working hard in the off-season. A lot of guys have come back bigger than last year. The effort they put in the gym has really paid off,” Boston said. “It’s been a great commitment this year. To see them all come out is excellent.”
The Bears see a provincial title as the ultimate goal, as the squad is still hunting for a followup victory to a 2011 title. Higginbottom said a lot can happen during the short season, but his team will improve as the season goes on. By the time zones role around in June, Higginbottom said, he’ll have a good idea if his team can go all the way.
Last year, the Bears bested Winston Churchill in the first half of the title game, despite giving up an obvious size disadvantage, only to be bowled over by their attack in the second half.
“We’re going to know in the zone final. The first game in our division is with teams in the same situation as us. Between April 15 and June 1, a lot can happen. It’s a matter of keeping the pedal down and making sure the boys keep developing through the season,” Higginbottom said.
