A three-week hibernation appears to have caught up to Bow Valley Grizzlies.
Playing against a fired-up Calgary Saracens side in Calgary Rugby Union Second Division men’s play, Grizzlies let the Calgary side come at them in waves until midway through the second half. Awakening from their slumber, Grizz staged a furious comeback push before the final whistle, but fell short in a 37-36 decision Aug. 8 at Calgary Rugby Park.
“This is clearly a game we shouldn’t have won,” Grizz player/coach Ty Hawes told his group following the team’s first loss since May 30 at Red Deer. The squad had combined bye weeks along with no slated games for the August long weekend.
“They clearly acted like they had three weeks off, which they did. And we didn’t have the greatest turnout at training this week,” Hawes, drenched in sweat from the stifling heat and activity, said on the pitch following the loss to Saracens. The on-field official called at least one mandatory water break in the second half.
“The results on Saturday come from the hard work during the week. We just didn’t put the work in.”
It showed.
Saracens took it straight at Cochrane-based Grizzlies from the opening kick, running the ball with authority, breaking tackles and displaying crisp passing in advancing the ball seemingly at will.
Grizzlies tries from Grant Bauer and Ollie Mayo kept the score close at the half.
“Guys were playing too individually in the first half,” Hawes noted.
Saracens kept coming in the second half, scoring twice before Grizz awakened.
“We went back to the game plan in the second half and things started to work out,” Hawes said. “Then we got back on the same page and that’s when we started scoring tries.”
Bauer went across for his second on the day, Isaac Townsend ran one in through traffic from about eight metres out and Trevor Johnson sprinted 35 metres to score after stealing an ill-advised, no-look back pass that put Saracens on their heels. Paul O’Grady scored in the final minute and Mayo’s good convert was the game’s final play. But Grizz were a play late and point short.
With two CRU Second Division fixtures left, Hawes wants to have his lads prepared for a playoff push.
“We’re starting to build,” Hawes surmised. “We have two games left. We’re starting to build for the playoffs. Hopefully this will get the guys to pull their heads out of their (rear ends).”
Grizzlies (6-3) face Red Deer Titans (7-2) Saturday, Aug. 15, at Mitford Pond rugby pitch, 2 p.m. kick.
