Calgary Rugby Park – The fantastic firsts are back where they belong as the powerhouse of premier men's rugby.
The firsts refused to lose Saturday's showdown for the Labatt's Cup after four second-place finishes in five trips to the provincial final in six years.
They also knocked the Calgary Hornets off their throne with an unrelenting show of force, which was extra special for the players, coaches and supporters who bleed red and blue for the St. Albert Rugby Football Club.
"To do it away from home and have all our fans, friends and family here today just means the world to us," said head coach Jo Hull after the overwhelming 39-5 verdict.
The 14th victory in 15 matches this year brought out the very best in the firsts.
"This is an incredible group of men and I'm really proud of them," Hull said. "I've never worked with a team that is so dedicated. I asked the guys at the start of the season to improve on everything they did and we just kept building and building."
The firsts were on a mission after last year's embarrassing 47-10 pratfall to the Hornets in the final. It marked the third time since 2009 the Hornets ruined a season of excellence by the firsts with provincial honours at stake and all three finals were staged at Ellerslie Rugby Park.
"This year we were more ready. We knew what we needed to do," Hull said. "The difference is we believed. We didn't over hype. We knew what we were all about."
Hull was hired last year after the firsts lost the 2012 Ken Ann Cup north final to the Clansmen, an unacceptable result for anybody associated with the club.
Hull's overall record with the firsts is 22-7.
"When I came to this club I knew it would be a hard slug but it was a real hard slug," Hull told the giddy players and assistant coaches' Simon Hill and Gerald Kiernan in the post-match huddle. "Every single one of you should be so proud. This is our day so enjoy it and be proud of each other and be proud to wear that shirt on your chest.
"I will never forget this day so thank you very much. It means everything."
Back on top
The return to glory for the firsts started percolating in the spring and intensified during an amazing 11-1 run in league play before out-scoring their playoff opponents 105-23 in three victories.
"We did that training camp back in April and we set our goals back then. They were simple goals: we wanted to be at the top of the league table, win all our games and win the city cup and this cup," said lock Johnny Moloney, the team captain in the playoffs. "It was one hell of a year and a lot of hard work too."
The wait between championship celebrations was longer than expected after the first Labatt's Cup in club history in 2010.
"To have that feeling again is unbelievable. I love it," said veteran Brett Kelly, the men's club captain. "We've been training for every season just to get that feeling again."
When asked if it was extra special to beat the Hornets, a stoic-looking Kelly replied: "Obviously it's a big rivalry but no matter who it is we go into the game with the same mindset. We want to win. We're there for that reason and it doesn't matter who it's against."
The second victory against the Hornets this year, both in Calgary, after eight consecutive losses over several seasons boiled down to the team's will to win.
"The biggest thing is heart. The boys that stepped out there got the job done. I couldn't be prouder," said Kelly, a true warrior who dragged his left leg across the pitch as a second-half substitution. He filled in at eight-man and flanker despite a taped-up knee that looked twice its size and the injury sidelined the fearless forward for the last four matches.
"It's not too bad," shrugged Kelly, who played despite doctor's orders.
The firsts also scrum down without national 7s winger Duncan Maguire, who broke his ankle halfway through the season, and forward Kyle Gilmour, the captain for Canada at the IRB Americas Rugby Championship this weekend in Langford, B.C.
"The effort you guys put in and the heart you guys have is unbelievable," said an emotional Moloney in the post-match group hug.
The smiling Irishman and last year's team MVP pinpointed a determined defence as the strength of the firsts. They allowed eight or fewer points in eight of their 14 wins this year, highlighted by two shutouts in league play. In the final the Hornets were slapped around by the ferocious firsts, who didn't surrender a point until a try in the 70th minute.
"Our defence got stronger and stronger every game. We knew we had to be on those guys in order to put them down and we basically just smashed them," said Moloney, who hinted at retirement after the match.
The firsts also joined the women's second division team as provincial champions. In total five cups – two for the women's team and three for the firsts – are prominently displayed at the "club and a half."
"The club is constantly growing and everyone keeps improving together. It's more of a family, our club. Everyone would go out and fight for each other and that's why we keep making it to the final. We just really play for each other," said scrumhalf Jake Robinson, one of a handful of players who contributed to the second division team's provincial Lor-Ann Cup championship in 2007, the year club didn't field a premier team.
