|
|
ONTARIO BLUES DAY FIVE RECAP
|
| Sunday, August 11, 2013 - Submitted by Brock Smith - Rugby Ontario |
|
Please visit www.nationalfestivalrugby.com for full updates throughout the tournament, including photos, video, statistics and other game information.
Sunday, August 11th was Day Five of the 2013 National Championship Festival – the final day of the tournament, and the day where the Cup and Plate winners were determined.
Ontario teams put forth an absolutely incredible performance! Two teams – the U18 Jr. Blues and the U18 Jr. Storm – were crowned National Champions. The U16 Jr. Storm earned National Silver medals. Two teams – the U18 and U16 East Jr. Blues – won National Plates in their first year participating in the tournament. The U17 Jr. Blues and the U15 Jr. Blues came in fourth place in their respective men’s divisions, with both teams largely playing against men a year older than themselves.
Congratulations to all of our players, coaches, and team staff of the nine teams that represented Ontario at the National Festival
Ontario Matches – Day Five
U18 Men
Ontario-3 (East Jr. Blues U18) 26 vs. 7 British Columbia-2 – Plate Finals
In their first appearance at the National Festival, the U18 East Jr. Blues had a perfect 5-0 record throughout the tournament, en route to the National Championship Plate.
Taking on British Columbia’s U17 team, the Eastern Ontarians proved up to the task, using their bigger size to plow through British Columbia’s defences. Ontario led 21-7 at the halftime, and bolstered their defensive duties in the second half to ensure the victory.
Tries: Mason Dingwall, Irving Casabon-Sosa, Connor Plumpton, Vincent Brady
Conversions: Nick Carriere (3)
British Columbia-1 21 vs. 29 Ontario-1 (Jr. Blues U18) – Cup Finals
The U18 Jr. Blues earned their National Title by defeating British Columbia 29-21, in what proved to be an incredibly thrilling match. Both teams exchanged tries throughout the match, with neither team able to jump out to a sizable lead until late in the second half, when Ontario began to pull away from their Western counterparts.
British Columbia held the lead at halftime, 16-15, but the sheer size and stamina of Ontario’s pack eventually began to wear down BC’s defences, accounting for two grinding tries in the second half courtesy of Mac Kea and John Shaw.
The Jr. Blues end the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record, and return home as Canadian champions!
Tries: Andrew Coe, Robert Wingrove, Mac Kea John Shaw
Conversions: Andrew Coe (3)
Penalties: Andrew Coe
Ontario-2 (Jr. Blues U17) 5 vs. 6 Alberta – 3rd Place Match
In a match that showcased some of the National Championship’s top defensive play, the U17 Jr. Blues fell to Alberta in a heartbreaking match for the U18 men’s division Bronze medal.
The match featured a lone try, via the Jr. Blues’ Troy Matthews, but Ontario was sunk by two Alberta penalties.
Despite the loss, the U17 Jr. Blues still ended their tournament in fourth place, based on a pool of 12 teams, and left Vancouver with their heads held high.
Tries: Troy Matthews
U18 Women
Ontario (Jr. Storm U18) 25 vs. 5 British Columbia – Cup Final
Like the U18 Jr. Blues, the U18 Jr. Storm earned their National Title by defeating a tough British Columbia side. The final score was 25-5 in favour of the Jr. Storm, whose four-try effort against BC ensured they would finish the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.
While the Jr. Storm’s speed and ferocity was unmatched throughout the entire National Championship, it was stalwart defence that carried them to the title. The ladies gave up a mere 15 points in their five games – an average of only three points a game.
The Jr. Storm are returning home as Canadian champions!
U16 Men
Ontario-2 (East Jr. Blues U16) 17 vs. 7 Quebec – Plate Round
Similar to their U18 counterparts, in their first appearance at the National Festival the U16 East Jr. Blues claimed the National Championship Plate.
The Eastern Ontarians completed the tournament with a 4-2 record and a point differential of +42, and went 3-0 in the Plate Round to ensure they would be heading home with some hardware.
British Columbia-1 50 vs. 0 Ontario-1 (Jr. Blues U15) – Cup Round
Despite falling to British Columbia on the final day of the National Championship, the U15 Jr. Blues played an outstanding tournament, finishing with a record of 3-3 against opponents who were almost exclusively a year older than themselves.
The U15 Jr. Blues’ strong play improved as the tournament progressed, as many onlookers noted how the lads vastly exceeded expectations on the pitch. The team returned to Ontario with a fourth-place finish at the National Championship.
U16 Women
British Columbia-1 19 vs. 0 Ontario (Jr. Storm U16) – Cup Finals
In the inaugural year of the Under-16 women's competition at the National Championship, the U16 Jr. Storm finished the tournament with a Silver medal.
The final score of the match was not indicative of just how close the game was, as it proved to be a defensive showdown. With a 0-0 score at halftime, all of British Columbia's points were scored in the second half, as the Western province began to wear down Ontario’s defences.
The U16 Jr. Storm finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, and return to Ontario with their heads held high and a medal around their necks!
U14 Boys
British Columbia-2 19 vs. 5 Ontario-2 (Jr. Blues U14 Squad #2)
British Columbia-1 7 vs. 17 Ontario-1 (Jr. Blues U14 Squad #1)
-30-
|
|
|
