The Bow Valley Grizzlies men's team is one step closer to bragging rights in the first annual Grizzly Bear Cup competition against the Banff Bears Rugby Club.
The Grizzlies squared off against Banff at home in Cochrane May 28 in their first game of the season and the first half of the inaugural two-game tournament between the two teams.
"The boys are quite pumped and excited to play," said Bow Valley head coach Tyler Hawes. "It showed on the pitch, especially in the first half, they played really well to our system and I think they were having a lot of fun."
The team was triumphant in the end, with a final score of 47-17, but Hawes said they still have some work to do.
"Our discipline is the biggest thing," he said. "In the second half, we kind of fell off the mark a bit, we could probably do with less penalties.
"You have to play to the referee and react to how he's calling, but other than that — we can fix that — I think we'll be alright."
The Grizzlies and the Bears will meet again for Game 2 in Banff on June 25.
The match-up against Banff was also the team's first season game playing in their brand new commemorative jerseys.
The 10 yellow stripes on the shoulders symbolize the same amount of years since the inception of the club's men's team.
"[The jerseys] also have the names of everybody's that played with us on the back," said Hawes. "This is a nod to guys that have played in the past."
On the left sleeve, the initials T.P. stand out in the club's brand of navy blue against a yellow cuff, meant to honour the late past player, Toby Price.
Price, who was an officer with the Calgary Police Service, played with the club for many years around the time of its establishment. He died in early 2019.
"He was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet off the pitch," said Hawes. "We're trying to honour him with his initials on our shoulders."
Earlier in the day, the club's women's team took to the pitch at Mitford Ponds against the Foothills Lions in what was also their first game of the season.
Both teams are currently feeling the pinch of low registration and had to do some jersey swapping to have enough players on the field.
Grizzlies women's coach Tyler Green said it was great playing alongside the Okotoks players and their plan going forward may involve forming a combination team to help build their numbers.
"I think most clubs have been short for numbers for rugby across the spectrum," said Green. "But especially for the women's teams."
Green and her fellow coach, Matty Bouchard, have been working "very hard behind the scenes to recruit more girls," she added.
This week, however, they anticipate their schedules will be reworked within the Calgary Rugby Union's Social League to address registration numbers across the board.
Registration remains open for both the men's and women's teams and Green said all are welcome to join. No experience is required.
