Spectators filled bleachers, reclined in folding chairs or laid towels on the grass, and rugby players from the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University ran practice drills on College Field to gear up for the Mary Cronin Memorial Game on Oct. 6.
Cronin, a former member of the UNB Varsity Reds women’s rugby team and the STU Tommies women’s soccer team, died on April 29. She was 23 years old. According to CBC News, a preliminary autopsy found a blood clot in an artery in one of Cronin’s lungs.
The game marked a symbol of remembrance and helped fundraise money for the UNB Mary Cronin Women in Engineering Bursary, which raised more than $3,000. Planning started at the end of last season during the rugby team’s year-end debrief.
“We had to do something and it seemed logical to do it with St. Thomas, where she had played soccer there for so many years,” said Kevin Wilson, head coach of the UNB Varsity Reds women’s rugby program, in an interview.
Wilson remembers Cronin as “a nice, pragmatic young lady” whose playing career at UNB was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite her one-year career with the Reds, she made an impact — she liked everybody; everybody liked her.
“It was just a natural thing to do; that her legacy has to live on in our program,” said Wilson, who added that the rugby program plans to make the Mary Cronin Memorial Game an annual event.
As the Canadian national anthem faded out, the Reds crowded in a tight pre-game huddle, bathed in the warm glow of a golden sun, before erupting in the cheer: “For Mary!”
That motivation played well in UNB’s favour, racking a score of 22-5 over STU at the end of the first half. The Reds continued to dominate the Tommies in the second, which led them to a 49-5 victory.
Accompanied by the song Celebration by Kool & The Gang, blasted out of nearby loudspeakers, the Reds gathered once again to celebrate their big win.
“Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray,” yelled the team. They ran to the edge of the College Field pitch and screamed a huge “thank you” to the crowd just as they packed up to leave.
The Tommies also joined the Reds to give each team a round of applause. Two players from STU cradled Tommies centre Macey Steeves, who injured her right ankle in the second half, so she could join the rest, resulting in more applause from both sides.
Before they disbanded, they met for a final time at the goalposts for a group photo. Two of the players in that photo were Cronin’s cousins, Rachel and Darcy, both of whom play for UNB.
“[Today was] really emotional,” said Darcy Cronin.
Before the game began, Darcy and her sister, Rachel, took a minute to themselves away from the rest of the team so they could disconnect from discussing plays. They wanted time alone and walked around the field to think about Mary and shed a few tears.
When it comes to Darcy Cronin’s favourite memories about Mary, she’s quick to respond.
“Partier,” she recalled with a smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere with Mary where it wasn’t fun … it was always a good time with her.”
Darcy Cronin appreciates the support she and her family receive from her teammates and feels proud to be a part of a team that lifted her over the roughly five months since Mary’s death.
“Just with everything through the year, like grieving and suffering mentally, we’re not doing the best, and they’re really good about it,” she said.
As the sun set over College Field, Darcy Cronin is left with only two things she would want Mary to know.
“That I love her and that I’ll play better next time.”
