Trent Rugby: A Proud Tradition |
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by Mark Haskins This April I had the pleasure of attending the Trent Rugby formal and awards banquet, along with a number of other alumni. The rugby formal has become a tradition with the team, and part of that tradition has been to invite past members of Trent Rugby to share the evening with the current team. I always look forward to these chances to get together with friends, to re-live past glory (on and off the field), and to meet the new members of Trent Rugby. The traditions of Trent Rugby have always been strong, in large part due to the team's ties with its alumni members. In the fall, past team members come up for Head of the Trent to play in the alumni game, and in the spring they come back to attend the formal. This year, in an effort to strengthen those ties between past teams, and the current team, some new traditions were added to the old. Coinciding with the formal this year was the 1st annual Trent Rugby sevens tournament. Players came from Sir Sanford Fleming, Trent and from the alumni, to meet on the pitch and do battle. Coming out to play for the alumni this year were Colin Matthew, Scott Campbell, Morgan Spencer, Mark Haskins, Caleb Smith, Jay Murchison and Sergio Grice. Each team played the other twice in a round-robin style tournament. Teams met on the field in the morning, and were greeted by a bright sun and a clear sky, making it a great day for rugby. Colin Matthew and Morgan Spencer's thunderous hit, on the first kick of the day, set the tone for the alumni team, and was followed up with Caleb Smith's dazzling ball movement, Scott Campbell's unyielding defense, and Sergio Grice's incredible quickness. The alumni team played with skill, and pride, but in the end it was the current members of Trent rugby who proved victorious. Afterwards players, and fans alike were treated to bar-b-q hot dogs, and refreshments on the side lines. From the rugby pitch to the bar, alumni team members were invited to Crawpadies that evening, to take part in a little wine and cheese. Walking around with sunburns and smiles, the alumni began to mingle with the current team, and tell stories about Trent Rugby. On hand to introduce old members to new, and to tell a few stories of their own, were Paul Wilson and Tony Storey. After the wine and cheese, everyone was invited upstairs, to the Lady Eaton College Dining Hall for dinner. Still talking about the day's events, and making jokes about things that happened years ago, but feel like they happened yesterday, we sat down to enjoy a meal together. After dinner Scott Campbell took the microphone, and began to MC the evening. This year the alumni donated four new awards to the team; a plaque for best forward, a plaque for best back (sponsored by Labatt's), the captains cup for team M.V.P., and the PSB Wilson award for outstanding contribution to Trent Rugby. Speeches were made by the coaches of both the men's and women's teams, members of each of the team's executive passed the torch on to the next year's executive, and the evening was capped with a speech from Paul Wilson himself. After all the speeches were made, and the awards handed out, people Ūltered back down to Crawpadies to continue the festivities well into the evening. Going back fills me with mixed emotions. I feel nostalgic for the times when I was here as a student, and playing for Trent rugby, and at the same time I'm excited to see old friends, and the school that helped shape who I am. In coming back for the formal, it was good to see so many people who are now a part of Trent Rugby, and who are carrying on the traditions I once carried. Trent Rugby is, and will always be a part of me. It's where I made some of my closest friends, and it's where I perhaps learned the most. In the future I hope to see even more of Trent Rugby's alumni come out to support the team, and to take part in events like the formal. We will always be a part of Trent Rugby, and Trent Rugby will always be a part of us. | |
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