The Bow Valley Grizzlies Alberta Cup team evened their record to 1-1 with a home opener win against the Calgary Saracens, June 1.

The Grizz clawed back from a 14-0 deficit early in the game to orchestrate a 34-31 win against the Saracens, who are in their first year in the premiere Alberta Cup division.

"We had all the possession and we were playing good field position but we couldn't seem to punch it through," says Grizz coach Tyler Hawes. "They got some lucky breaks that made for some distance tries. It was a strange game but the boys definitely showed some character and pulled it together and punched in a few tries for the win."

The Grizz premiere team won't be seeing action again until they go on the road to face the Calgary Irish on June 22. That time will be well spent.

"We definitely have to make a few adjustments. A win's a win but I think the boys were a little let down with how they performed. But that's what we're training for. If we ran away with that game we wouldn't have anything to work on this week so hopefully we'll have a couple of good sessions and build towards our next game."

Their next regular season home game is against the Canucks on July 3.

The Grizz lost their season opener on the road against the Hornets, 50-17, on May 25.

Rugby fans will be happy to hear they'll be some rugby action at Mitford Pond on Saturday afternoon. Bow Valley is hosting Red Deer in an exhibition game that starts at 2 p.m.

One June 15, the secondary Bow Valley team is heading to Lethbridge. In their first game this season they beat the Titans, 52-14.

The Grizz have eased off a bit on their second team this season and opted for exhibition play.

"I think it would have been just two much of a stretched for the players so I wanted to make sure they are enjoying the rugby and not getting over extended."

Hawes is impressed with the growing number of rugby players on the high school teams that is translating into more teams playing at the junior level who will be stepping into roles with the senior team in the future, some of them possibly as soon as late this season.