The Cochrane Bears boys rugby team is showing their potential as the Big Sky Rugby Union high school regular-season begins to wind down.
Any doubts as to whether the team would continue its hot streak were put to bed as the Bears romped to a 38-10 home victory over the Black Diamond-based Oilfields Drillers on May 11.
“We didn’t know what to expect from (the Drillers),” said Anthony Battistone, Bears head coach, and Bow Valley Grizzlies team member. “We played with a split squad for this match and did alright. Then, when we got up by a few points we put in our reserves similar to what we did against Springbank.
“It was a great opportunity to give all our guys some playing time.”
Things kicked off right from the first drive of the game, on a dreary night at Spray Lake Sawmills Legacy Field, when the home side took the lead thanks to Bryce Crawford.
Rylen Waugh, Brennan Bourchier, Craig de la Mare, Alex Anil, and Marcus Herbert, all added tries with the contest always looking to be in the strong grip of a dominant Bears side.
The Cochrane side next travel to face the Holy Trinity Academy Knights whom they edged 19-17 in a match earlier in the season (May 5).
Battistone feels the rotation of his 35-man squad is going to be key in the Bears making it 2-0 against their Okotoks-based rivals.
“We see a lot of big scores on the schedule, and I think that’s because teams just play their starters the whole time,” he said. “We try to give all our guys playing time because it’s not fair for them to come out to training and then not play.
“Furthermore, when we go up against a team like (Holy Trinity) how can we expect all our guys to come on and do a job against a quality side if they don’t have experience? They would be totally lost.”
After their May 17 encounter with the Knights, the Cochrane boys will looking to make an impact at zones – which start on May 25 – when they play the Strathmore High School Spartans, a team they have yet to face this year.
“We know absolutely nothing about them,” Battistone said of his opponents. “We need our entire squad to be ready to play, and they will be.
“They’re all craving playing time and looking forward to the challenge.”
