Saturday 6 May 2017

Toronto Wolfpack 62, Oxford 12, Lamport Stadium, Toronto, ON

Toronto Wolfpack is a Canadian professional rugby league club, based in here in Toronto, which began play in the 2017 League 1 season.  They are notable as being the first Canadian team to play in the Rugby Football League system, the first fully professional rugby league team in Canada and the world's first trans-Atlantic rugby league team.

Coming into today's game, the Wolfpack was in first place in the league.  They had already played ten games overseas and today was their first home game.  Their home stadium is Lamport Stadium (aka "The Den"), which is just a couple blocks from where Gord and I live.  Rugby caught our attention in July 2015 when we went to the Rugby Sevens games during the Pan Am Games.  When we saw that Toronto now has a professional team and they play not from from home, we thought we'd check it out ... and we're glad we did!  Tickets are cheap (about $20) and you sit where you want.

They have a store across the street from Lamport Stadium where they sell shirts, hats, etc.  There was a line-up there this afternoon before the game (there was also a huge line after the game).


Gord and I had popped in last night to get our gear.


We got there early enough to watch the teams warm up.


The Wolfpack's cheerleaders are the She-Wolves and they entertained before the game started.


The players were introduced and brought onto the field.  Then God Save the Queen and O Canada were sung before the game.


And then the game began ... it's a rough game but a lot of fun to watch.

Wolfpack player is kicking a ball through the goal posts
The Wolfpack were leading 40 to 6 at the end of the first half

The She-Wolves entertained before the second half.


Then the junior She-Wolves entertained.


A fella was shooting hot dogs wrapped in tinfoil into the crowd.  Who wants a hot dog?!  Me!!!!


Then the second half started ...


It was cold and damp ... 7C (but felt like 3C) and rainy ... but the 6,200+ enthusiastic howling fans didn't seem to mind.

There's the beer garden at the end of the field

Here are Gord and I.


The Wolfpack won 62 to 12.  Whoohoo!


Despite being a scrappy game, the players shook hands after the game.


The She-Wolves entertained again.


Some of the Wolfpack players came out to thank the fans after the game.


There's Gord by the field.


The next home game is in a couple weeks and we'll be there (we already have our tickets)!  Should be fun!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Great to see you enjoying Rugby League. It is a great game!