In 1978 the Saracens R.F.C. played the now demised St. Vital R.F.C. in what proved to be a notorious game of rugby football. The game was intended to determine the year's provincial champions. It was staged at Frobisher Park, immediately east of where our own magnificent Maple Grove Rugby Park now stands. But on that particular day surely no-one present thought our own park an achievement even remotely possible.

In prior years, going back at least to 1968, the Patrons Challenge Cup - one of the oldest trophies played for in Manitoba sport - went to the club with the best league record. It was only the season before, in 1977, that play-offs had been implemented, and so the game played between the Saracens and St. Vital, while not the first. was certainly the worst final ever played, in what has now become the traditional way whereby a provincial champion is declared. Most regrettably the game was marred by ill temper, by poor refereeing and by some disgraceful displays of violence on and off the field. It was a miserable sight to see opponents leaving the field in a fit of pique. chasing one another into the bordering trees. The game survived it all and was eventually won by St. Vital though in truth no one really won that day. Certainly the sport came out the loser.

In marked contrast, the 1979 final played at Lipsett Hall on a Fall Saturday afternoon between the Saracens and the Wasps was a game well worth watching and remembering, both in terms of the spirit in which it was played and the closeness of the score.

Fortunately this game is not too late for the remembering. However it does seem too late for the remembering well and, despite all efforts, no extant written account of this match has been found, nor can the participants asked (many and often) remember the details that would be so valuable to possess. Of course, once this account is published, claims of knowing the whereabouts of relevant reports will abound and memories of the day, solicited or otherwise, will, all of them, be infallible.

Despite lost detail there remains much to be re-said about the game. For this final the Saracens fielded a mixture of veterans and rookies, at least with respect to first division rugby. Of the fifteen picked to play, six had not played in the previous year's battle at Frobisher and seven were recent graduates or would-be-graduates of St. John's High School. The team had enjoyed a relatively successful season, defeating the Wasps in the season's opener and losing only two games all year. One loss was to last year's winners, who, oddly, were to take the Wooden Spoon in 1979. The other loss was to a tenacious. and now unfortunately defunct, St. Jame's side. This same club would prove to be a real thorn in the Saracens' side in 1980, and again in 1983.

Played in good weather and on a firm ground, the 1979 final manifested itself as a real struggle between two old rivals. The struggle was well under way when remarkably, and with great confidence, the Wasps opted for a scrum in lieu of a penalty close to the Saracens' goal line and duly scored a pushover try - taking the first points of the match. It was not converted but someone on their side managed to kick a penalty, giving them a total of seven points The Saracens also managed a try - but who scored it? - and a penalty by Jeff Harrison, for an equal number of points. The Wasps scored first in the game and probably led at the half,

However, as the game progressed, the Saracens slowly built up slight domination of possession and territory. But regardless, at the end of regulation time the scores were leveled at 7 all - a try and a penalty apiece - and no one, including the referee and any M.R.U. officials present quite knew what to do. In only its third year of staging finals the Manitoba Rugby Union had yet to formulate provisions dealing with any such contingencies. Following a mid-field discussion between referee Derek Milton and the two coaches it was decided to play two additional ten-minute periods with a two-minute interval to change ends. No plan was really discussed as to what should be done if the game remained tied at the conclusion of this additional playing time. A sign of optimism on the part of both coaches.

The over-time period belonged to the Saracens during which time they doubled their score without any answer from the Wasps. From a play initiated within the Wasps' 22 and involving some fairly good support play Ihor "Smithy" Holowczynsky scored the winning try. Jeff "Beaver" Harrison failed to convert it but did kick a further penalty for an additional three Points. Hence the final score: Saracens 14, Wasps 7.

In the last analysis it was, for the Saracens, an extremely strong effort and a portent of things to come, Firstly, it was the initial victory in a total of eight sequential first division Provincial Championships that they were to win. Secondly, and above all else, in this game the Saracens revealed their tenacious will to win: the hallmark of a strong team. Frequently since, the Saracens have won games in over-time. For example: in 1984 they tied the Wasps in the first of two semi-finals in over-time, then required extra-time to eventually win the re-match before going on to defeat the Wanderers in an over-time final. All this, 300 minutes of play-off rugby, in the space of eight days and ultimately victory! The Saracens have also frequently won games coming from behind to defeat sides they should not have been able to. They came from behind to tie St. James in the 1980 semi-final, then defeated them in a re-match. Their 1987 defeat of Wasps II in the second division final was a great come-from-behind victory, while their victory over the St. Paul's Pigs, SNAFU '86, was against all the odds. (Accounts of both these games are included here for these very reasons.) Of course none of these latter events could be foreseen on that particular Saturday afternoon at Lipsett but the potential displayed gave bright promise for pending years. It certainly turned out well.