It was the third day of the Rugby Canada National Championship in Calgary, and while most of the games went according to the form sheet, in the men's U16 category it was the story of an improbable semi-final win by Newfoundland that captured the interest of the day.
The easterners pipped the Ontario 2 team 18-17 for the historic advancement to the final.
The win is even more amazing considering the Newfoundland team had a total of three yellow cards and they fought back from being 17-8 down to score two second half tries including the game winner from flanker Joel Tompkins with a minute to go. Tompkins was then given a red card thirty seconds later for his second yellow of the game, but Newfoundland held on for the win.
Newfoundland built an 8-5 first half lead with a try and penalty goal from Mark Petro. Justin Elias responded with a try in the 34th minute.
In the second half Elias got his second of the game with Tony Pomroy adding the conversion to put Ontario in front 12-8. Ontario's Marnus Coetsee scored a try to further bolster his team's lead to 17-8.
Newfoundland fullback Sean O'Grady then hit for a try in the 21st minute pull his team within a try at 17-13 before Tompkins crossed for his 29th minute heroic score and the come from behind win.
In Women's U18 category British Columbia advanced to the Gold Medal round after beating Quebec 61-10. In the other pairing Ontario 1 held on 26-24 over Ontario 2 to get to the medal round.
On the men's U18 side Ontario pummeled Newfoundland 69-12 to book a spot in the final while B.C. showed no mercy on the host Albertans in a 86-5 pasting to get to the Gold Medal round.
Sunday Medal Games
U18 Women
British Columbia vs Ontario 1 - 10:45 AM - Gold Medal
Ontario 2 vs Quebec - 10:45 AM - Bronze Medal
U18 Men
Ontario vs BC 12:30 PM - Gold Medal
Alberta vs Newfoundland - Bronze Medal
U16 Men
Newfoundland vs BC - Gold Medal - 9:00 AM
BC 2 vs Ontario 2 - Bronze Medal - 9:00 AM
Saturday Results
Men's U16
Saskatchewan 7
Alberta 27
Consolation Semi-final
New Brunswick 0
Ontario 1 45
Consolation Semi-final
BC (2) 17
BC (1) 29
Semi-final
Newfoundland 18
Ontario (2) 17
Semi-final
Alberta 3
Ontario (1) 20
Seeding for 7th place
New Brunswick 12
Saskatchewan 17
Seeding for 6th place
Men's U18
Quebec 0
New Brunswick 15
Seeding Round Robin
Manitoba 19
Saskatchewan 5
5th place decider
Nova Scotia 0
Quebec 29
Seeding Round Robin
Nova Scotia 3
New Brunswick 31
Seeding Round Robin - New Brunswick finishes in 7th place
Newfoundland 12
Ontario 69
Semi-final
Alberta 5
British Columbia 86
Semi-final
Women's U18
Nova Scotia 5
Alberta 22
Consolation Semi-final
New Brunswick 5
Saskatchewan 29
Consolation Semi-final
Manitoba 17
Newfoundland 13
9th place Seeding Decider
