One is a schoolteacher. Another is an electrician. There’s a framer, and a student, and an employee of a non-profit organization.
But last Saturday, on a rugby pitch in Calgary, those seemingly different people all came together as one to fight a vicious battle they’ve been preparing for five long years.
In the end, they lost the war – the Bow Valley Grizzlies fell to the Edmonton Leprechaun Tigers in the Rugby Alberta Division 2 Provincial Championship – but they gained a new appreciation for each other, and for what it takes to win … and lose. Tears flowed freely from these “bunch of beauties” and bears of men, who gave everything they had for the love of the game.
“That feeling. It … sucks,” an emotional Ty Hawes, head coach of the Grizz, told his team after the difficult loss. “We gotta learn from it and rise for the next one. I applaud the effort you guys put in … Let’s just keep driving, lads.”
“We didn’t give up,” echoed player Joey Clarke. “It was a … well-fought game. We didn’t give up, even though we were struggling.”
Less than two weeks ago, the Cochrane-based senior men’s squad made history by clinching the Southern Alberta Division 2 City Championship. Securing the club’s first big win brought the team just one game away from a fairytale ending for the season.
But after a slow start against the Lep-Tigers on Saturday – followed by a red card for an alleged punch about 20 minutes in to create a deficit on the field – that legendary finish just wasn’t to be.
The Grizz got as close as they could in the second half, when Joey Clarke streaked down the field to complete a successful try at the 55-minute mark. The breakaway brought the score to within three points – and brought the crowd to their feet.
“Come on fellas!” yelled a jubilant fan, setting in motion a rambunctious “Let’s go Grizzlies/Let’s go Tigers!” chant-off.
The momentum continued for a good part of the last half, with the Grizz tearing through opponents but never quite making it across the line. Then, with six minutes left on the clock, the Lep-Tigers grounded the ball into the try zone to add seven more points to the board, bringing the score to 19-29 – and effectively shutting down the Grizz for the last time.
When all was said and done, the Grizzlies’ Mac Tivendale dropped to his knees in defeat, burying his face in his hands. Some teammates hugged, while others stood silent.
Despite the loss, the team received a standing ovation from the crowd in the stands. Whether or not the spectators were fans of the team, it couldn’t be denied this season that the Grizzlies were the division story of the year.
“We’ve got to give all the credit in the world … (for) coming very, very close to a victory,” Calgary Rugby Union board president Colin Ogilvy said about the Grizz, before handing the cup over to the Lep-Tigers.
Hawes said the club’s awards banquet will take place in the next month or so, then the team will take some time off from play before starting things up with barn sessions again in January.
Since the guys are both teammates and friends, however, he knows it won’t be long before they all see each other again.”
“The team is pretty tight and do a lot off the field together as well,” he said.
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