The Dinos men’s rugby team was belted by the University of Alberta 31-0 in the Little Brown Jug game Sat., Oct. 1. The U of A made full use of their home-field advantage, getting players over Calgary’s less experienced backs to earn several quick tries before the half.
“We had a lot of younger, smaller guys in the backs,” explained Neil Cosco, who put in Calgary’s man-of-the match performance. “For some, it was their first men’s game. But they did really well.”
As the 45-year-old tradition of the Brown Jug competition dictates, wine was drank from the trophy by the winning U of A team.
“It’s never good to see your booze being drank from the trophy you were just beaten out of,” admitted Cosco.
The Dinos will have a good chance to exact some revenge; the Western Intercollegiate Rugby Championship was rescheduled and will be held in Calgary rather than Burnaby. Cosco reckons the Dinos will be better prepared to defend their WIRC title Oct. 21-22.
“By then, the team itself will be more effective. Hopefully, there will be fewer defensive lapses,” said Cosco, adding that the presence of more Calgary spectators could spur them on. “The more [fans] we get out, the better and the more fun we’ll have playing.”
Deep in the scrum:
For the third consecutive year, the Dinos will be holding the Brian Collins and Joah Atkinson Memorial Cup to raise additional money for a scholarship set up in their names. The men’s and the women’s teams will take on Atkinson’s and Collins’ respective club teams at the Calgary Irish Rugby Club Sun., Oct. 16.
In one of the U of C’s most tragic stories, Atkinson and Collins were struck and killed by a minivan in a pedestrian walkway Sept. 30, 2003. Atkinson and Collins had just left the university following a rugby club executive meeting.
Dave Lougheed, the Dinos’ Head Coach, stressed that the games are a celebration of the players’ lives and a chance to build team spirit.
“It’s not a downer, just a time to get together and share old memories,” he said.
The goal of the club is to raise enough money to make the scholarship self-sustaining. After raising $7,000 in the last two years, the club has almost reached their $10,000 goal.
If you fancy going to watch some rugby, or want to contribute to the Brian Collins and Joah Atkinson Memorial Scholarship, visit the Dinos’ website: www.dinosrugby.com.