Expect the unexpected at the Tier III boys rugby provincials. For the second straight year the prohibitive favourite entering a medal match between the South Central Zone rival Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans and Banff Bears has been on the wrong end of the scoreline. Despite dominating the season series, the Spartans fell 25-14 to a determined Bears squad to take provincial silver, June 9 at the Calgary Rugby Park. “They got two trys within the first 10 minutes,” said Spartans coach Chris Ruskay. “They were just wide open. It’s one of those sports things. One team’s got nothing to lose, they come out all guns blazing. We got ourselves in a hole and were trying to dig ourselves out of the hole the whole game. “We just couldn’t overcome them.” Down 13-0 at the half, the Spartans surged back in the second half and were within striking distance of the Bears after being awarded a penalty try and claiming seven points through Frasier Parry. Banff scored late to stuff any designs of a comeback. “They played their style which is quite wide, quite expansive and they kick the ball,” Ruskay added. “They executed extremely well in terms of line-out and their scrum was certainly stronger than it was 24 hours before. “It was very physical, we just couldn’t break them down as we had done in previous games.” The shock result is starting to become a bit of a trend in the seesaw rivalry. Last year the Spartans were bested by the Bears in the zone final only to charge back and defeat their nemesis in the provincial bronze medal match. “This is not a unique phenomenon to 2018,” Ruskay said. “This has been going on for years and years. Last year they took the zone banner and we saw them a week later and we ended up beating them for the bronze medal at the provincials. We’ve been back and forth for a decade like this.” See Spartans on page 47 The four-team field in the Tier III provincial ranks saw both teams meet on day one of round-robin. The Spartans took it by a 28-5 count and overwhelmed the Parkland Composite Pacers in a 47-0 romp to advance to the championship match. “Unfortunately for us it was night and day between Friday and Saturday,” Ruskay said. “We had a pretty good idea it was going to be Banff the following day.” Despite not finishing the tournament the way they wanted, the baby-blue clad Spartans have continued what is a tradition of excellence with their fourth straight podium finish. It could be challenging to keep that going next season with the scuttlebutt that tiers II and III could be set to merge. “I don’t know what the direct quote is, but Tom Brady said ‘just get me there and give me the shot,’” Ruskay said. “We’re certainly satisfied we’re in the competition, we want to be there every year because otherwise you can’t win it.” The Spartans roster: Alex Chase, Andrew Kalnicki, Connor Wiebe, Daniel Rusnac, Frasier Parry, Garrett Sten, Griffen el Baroudi, Heiden Jacobi, Henry McArdle, Jonah Prevost, Josue Targino, Matt Haverko, Matt Schneider, Matthew Baker, Noa Nguyen, Oliver Little, Oliver Turski, Oscar Hadwin-Guardiola, Paul Ostlund, Pete Matthews, Raymond Olsen, Rex Armour, Saul Huck, Spencer Kalnicki, Tom Cochrane, Will MacIntyre.
