(CALGARY, AB) - Wednesday, August 16 saw round two of age grade action kicked off at this year’s 2017 Canadian Rugby Championships at Calgary Rugby Park. The Ontario Junior Blues High-Performance department sent a total of four teams to compete at this year’s competition in Calgary. Age grade Junior Blues teams competing at this years CRC include: Under-15 Men, Under-17 Men, Under-16 Women and Under-18 Women.
For full results, standings and schedules, go to www.canadianrugbychampionship.com.
Day 2 – Round 2
Game 2: U17 Men v. Prairie Blizzard
Score: Ontario – 70 Blizzard – 17
Tries: Ian Maclean x3, Will Abbott x2, Ben Burnside, Cameron Davey, Andrew Easson, Thomas Smith, Grayson Tucker, Carson Young.
Conversions: Will Abbott x2, Nick Holmes x2, Cole Brown.
The Under-17 Men faced off against the Prairie Blizzard in their second game of this year’s Canadian Rugby Championship in Calgary, Alberta. The Ontario Blues came into game two of this year’s competition with two words in mind: “Try Time.” From the opening kickoff, the Blues were eager to keep ball in hand and maintain possession, setting the tone early against the Blizzard. Structurally, Ontario came out in an organized fashion with proper spacing on both sides of the ball – limiting the Blizzard’s opportunity offensively and defensively. In the opening five minutes, Blues Prop, Cameron Davey scored Ontario’s first try which was shortly followed up by a speedy score from outside centre, Ian Maclean. Ontario led at half by a score of 34-12. The Blues lead was maintained through the entirety of the contest with tries coming from seven different Blues players. In a one-sided affair, the Ontario Blues did not let up against a gritty Blizzard squad in the second half. The Blues rallied together in the second half to put up 36 more points on the Blizzard. Blues outside centre, Ian Maclean scored three, while winger, William Abbott both scored two tries on the day. The Blues took this contest in a convincing fashion, defeating the Prairie Blizzard by a 53-point differential.
Game 2: U15 Men v. Alberta Wolf Pack
Score: Ontario – 7 Alberta – 35
Tries: Ben Shaw
Conversions: Harry Hibbert
Much like games one and two, the Under-15 Ontario Blues came out strong in the opening first half against the Under-16 Alberta Wolf Pack, scoring first and playing in what looked to have been an even match up. After scoring the game’s first try, the Blues defense was put to the test as a hungry Wolf Pack squad had their sights set on executing some white line fury. Momentum was on the Blues side leading up to the second half as a frustrated Wolf Pack offense could not penetrate the Ontario defense. The Blues defense maintained its structure throughout the entire first half as the game was deadlocked at 7 a piece going into halftime. At halftime, Alberta made several player substitutions which ultimately decided the outcome of the game. The Wolf Pack came out in the second half with fresh legs and a significant amount of energy. A tired Blues defense could not fathom the high energy Pack – as Alberta didn’t let up on a fatigued Blues squad, scoring 26 unanswered points in the half. The Under-16 Alberta Wolf Pack was too much for Ontario to handle in game three of this year’s Canadian Rugby Championship, defeating the Blues by a final score of 35-7.
Game 2: U16 Women v. Nova Scotia Keltics
Score: Ontario – 50 Alberta – 0
Tries: Amy Dirks 2, Maddy Kushner 2, Kendra Cousineau , Claire File , Elizabeth Gibson
Conversions: Kendra Cousineau 3, Danielle Michaud 3
Penalties: Danielle Michaud
Coming off of a tough first match – which saw the Ontario Blues Under-16 Women give up a first half lead to the British Columbia Bears – the Ontario side was looking to come out with resilience and prove they are a force to be reckoned with. They did just that against the Nova Scotia team in this one. Amy Dirks opened the scoring for the Ontario Blues, crossing over the line for one of her two tries on the day. The Blues were resilient with their scoring, doing so early and often. After 15 minutes, the Blues were up 19-0 on their rivals from the East. At half time, the Blues were up 26-0 on Nova Scotia. They almost doubled their point total in the second half, winning the game by a half-a-century mark. The Blues’ defense was strong, as they did not concede a point. Dirks and Maddy Kushner both had two tries, while both Kendra Coisineau and Danielle Michaud notched three conversions each. Cousineau also had a try in this one. The Blues will play the Alberta Wolf Pack at 8pm ET on August 17.
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?
Dylan Meredith
High Performance and Communications Intern
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