Trail rugby team wins at Greenwood tournament
By Shara JJ Cooper
Greenwood’s first annual social rugby tournament — held Aug 3 to 5 — was deemed a success with the Trail Colonials coming out ahead.
Organized Oliver Glaser said the Colonials won a “very hard fought, final match” against the East Vancouver Scribes with the game ending 35 to 20.
Glaser subbed in many of the games that weekend and felt the final match was the most intense of them all.
Social rugby also focuses on the fun factor, so there is an award for the most social team. This year, that went to the Chilliwack team – the Chilliwack/Chuckanut Platypuses.
“(They) came dressed in their neon tights and form fitting costumes, showed no shame and hoisted a pint and shared a laugh with everyone else out there,” said Glaser.
The tournament stands out because it is the only Rugby team in the Boundary. To make it even more special, the teams got to play with a custom-made, cowhide ball made in Greenwood at Ingram Creek Saddlery. This one-of-a-kind ball had its own personality, which added “unknowns” to the game, according to Glaser.
There were four men’s teams at the tournament plus a couple mixed teams. One team was made up of “Old Boys,” referees and women. There was also a mixed team made up of women from Nelson and a few of the Scribes men. Glaser had hoped more teams would come out but a few last minute dropouts kept the teams small. He’s optimistic the tournament will gain in popularity and expects there to be twice as many teams next year.
Glaser is happy with how the tournament went. The crowd had fun and felted welcomed by the Greenwood community. He credits Greenwood Coun. Barry Noll with helping the weekend go smoothly.
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