Ontario Blues - U19 Men and Sr. Women Game 3 Recap

July 20, 2017

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Ontario Blues - U19 Men and Sr. Women Game 3 Recaps

U19 Blues Semifinal vs. Atlantic Rock

The U19 Ontario Blues took the field in semi-final Canadian Rugby Championship action to play the U19 Atlantic Rock. The Blues came into this game with a perfect unbeaten 2-0-0 record after defeating the U19 Voyageurs and U19 Wolfpack in games one and two of round robin action.
Both teams came out hungry for the ball and eager to get on the score board right from the opening kickoff. The Rock were the first to score as they took an early 7-0 lead within the opening five minutes. The Rock’s lead was short-lived as Blues scrumhalf, Josh Engelbrecht connected with strike runner Callum Tam as he powered his way into the try zone – making it a 7-7 game.
The Ontario backline saw action as Winger Ethan Hager took the ball at pace – burning down the sideline to put the Blues up by seven points nearing the end of the half. The Rock were quick to respond as they spun the ball through their backline–  scoring a fast paced try on the wing. After 30 minutes, the Blues were up by two: 14-12, going into the second half.
Ontario didn’t waste any time getting the ball rolling in the second half of semi-final action. After executing a textbook lineout – the Blues forwards took the ball to ground and mauled their way into the try zone to make it a 21-12 game early in the half. Not letting up – the Ontario pack rolled over the Rock in a scrum inside Rock territory – setting up Blues centre, Puwayi Chinoda for an easy score from 5 metres out.
The Blues defense was put to the test as an attacking Atlantic Rock backline ran another one in – taking advantage of an unconcealed overlap, making it a 28-19 game.
Keeping it within arms reach – Rock Winger, Jack McCarthy scored his second try of the day to make it a 33-26 game late in the half. The Blues took no time to respond as Fullback James Hammond put this one out of reach – sending up a kick, recovering the kick and taking it in for the try. In what might be noted as the try of the tournament –  Hammond added insurance using his pace, footwork and agility to end the game with a highlight reel try.  
The U19 Ontario Blues were victorious in a back and forth semi-final matchup, defeating the Atlantic Rock by a fulltime score of 38-26. The Blues play for gold on Saturday July 22, 2017 at 10am (ET).

Be sure to catch the game LIVE at goo.gl/my2y4b.

BLUES SCORING

Tries Puwayi Chinoda , Joshua Engelbrecht , Jeremy Gamm , Ethan Hager , James Hammond , Callum Tam  
Conversions Callum Tam 4

ROCK SCORING

Tries James Duguid , Jack Mccarthy , Jordon Montgomerie  
Conversions Campbell Clarke 3

Sr. Women Game 3 vs. British Columbia

The Senior Women met their rival British Columbia Bears in the Blues' third game of their CRC schedule. The Blues continued their dominant play, winning the match by a score of 25-7. The Bears kept the Blues on their toes for much of the game and at half, Ontario's lead was only one point.

The first half scoring was started by Blues centre Lauren McEwen. After a British Columbia penalty, the Blues elected to kick for points and McEwen made no mistake in splitting the uprights, giving the Blues an early 3-0 lead.

Shortly thereafter, Sara Svoboda grabbed the ball after the Blues rolled over a British Columbia scrum and brought it over the line for five points, bringing the Blues lead to 8-0.

British Columbia took the reigns from there in the first half, as they strung together some offensive phases and scored their first try. The conversion was successful, as the Bears were just one point shy of the Blues at half. This try was the first try that the Blues Senior Women have conceded at the CRCs.

The second half saw tremendous offensive pressure from the British Columbia side. The ball did not cross half into BC territory for the first fifteen minutes, but the Blues defense was able to hold strong and stop the ensuing attack.

The Blues turned their defense into offense in the second half of the final frame, as Sara Svoboda once again punched a try in off of a scrum at BC's 5-metre line for her second try of the match.

A true test of the Blues defense came when Lauren Walkden was sent off after receiving a yellow card, but the Blues did not budge and later Tobi Owotomo broke through two BC defenders to put the Blues up 18-7. 

McKinley Hunt added an insurance marker late in the game, finishing off a strong set of phases by the Ontario side. Irene Patrinos nailed the conversion and the Blues were up 25-7 at the final whistle. That win brings Ontario's record to 3-0-0, with 97 points for and only 7 points against!

The Blues Senior Women's side will play their final match against the Prairie Wolf Pack on Friday, July 21 as the only Ontario team in action. That game will be at 3:00pm ET from Truro Saints Rugby Club.

Be sure to catch the game LIVE at goo.gl/my2y4b.

BLUES SCORING

Tries Sara Svoboda 2, McKinley Hunt , Tobi Owotomo  
Conversions Irene Patrinos  
Penalty Lauren McEwen
BC SCORING

Tries Gillian Boag  
Conversions Sya Trafford

ABOUT THE ONTARIO BLUES

The Ontario Blues program is the high performance representative program for male and female rugby players in Ontario. Rugby Ontario is represented at the provincial level by the Ontario Blues High Performance program. The program includes representative teams from Under-15 to Senior in both Women’s and Men’s Fifteens. Specifically, the program is designed to develop and showcase rugby players for Canadian representative national teams.


ABOUT RUGBY ONTARIO

Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to establish a stronger identity for rugby in Ontario by promoting the sport’s core values and by fostering a culture of inclusiveness and excellence on and off the field of play.

To learn more, visit https://www.rugbyontario.com/


WANT MORE INFORMATION?

Kevin Baxter

Communications Coordinator - Rugby Ontario

647-560-4790 x 1006

kbaxter@rugbyontario.com


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