Rugby Ontario – (TORONTO, ON) – The Ontario Blues found themselves in a must win situation in their second last matchup of the 2016 Canadian Rugby Championship presented by Johnsonville, shutting out western Canadian rivals Prairie Wolf Pack 18-0 at Fletcher’s Fields in Markham, ON.

Ontario kept their chances of winning the 2016 CRC alive by defeating the Prairie side. The Blues played a very physical match with every sub being used in the game in an attempt to fight fatigue. It was a very humid evening with temperatures peaking at 33 degrees Celsius.

In 29^th minute of the match the Blues got on the scoreboard first with a penalty from Andrew Ferguson. Derek Daypuck converted another kick from just inside the 50 yard line only four minutes later to give the Blues a 6-0 lead taking them into half.

The second half saw the Prairie team come out hard and fast looking to take the lead early. The Blues stayed vigilant and played smart rugby forcing turnovers and making big drives. By the 44^th minute the Blues lead was extended to 11 when Lucas Rumball drove through the Wolf Pack defence for the first try of the game – the conversion by Ferguson was missed.

It was a very evenly matched game but the Blues defence held strong. Late in the game captain Hank McQueen was sent to the sin bin and the Prairie side pushed hard trying to get back in the game but the short-handed Blues held strong for 7 minutes frustrating the Wolf Pack.

In the 71^st minute Kainoa Lloyd had a massive run stuffing multiple Wolf Pack tackle attempts to put down another try for Ontario. Derek Daypuck completed the conversion making the score to 18-0, which would be the final.

“We came into this match expecting a very physical game and we got what we expected; the Wolf Pack were the number one seed and we knew they were a very tough, fast side so we made sure we didn’t let them have any space to work with” said Blues head coach Chris Silverthorn, following the match. “Winning gold is the ultimate goal and the guys weren’t going out without a fight – the win keeps us alive and we are looking ahead to Sunday to win it all”

“The Wolf Pack played a very solid game and they made us work for the win,” said captain Hank McQueen. “Every single guy on this team left it all on the field tonight and now we have a quick turnaround with another game Sunday against BC. We are going to rest up over the next couple days and get ready to do it all again”

The Blues will host the BC Bears at Fletcher’s Fields on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for their final matchup of the 2016 Canadian Rugby Championships. Ontario still has a chance of winning the entire Championship so be sure to come out and back your Blues!

Ontario Blues Score Report

Tries: L. Rumball (44) K. Lloyd (71)

Conversions: D. Daypuck (71)

Ontario Blues Squad vs. Atlantic Rock – Name (Club)

1. Rob Brouwer (Lindsay)*

2. Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins)*

3. Tom Dolezel (London St. Georges)*

4.Hank McQueen (Balmy Beach) – captain

5. Mike Sheppard (Brampton Beavers)

6. Pete Milazzo (Toronto Saracens)

7. Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach)*

8. Andrew Wilson (Crusaders)*

9. Andrew Ferguson (Crusaders)*

10. Mitch Richardson (Stoney Creek)

11. Jordan Wilson-Ross (Barrie)*

12. Derek Daypuck (London St. George’s)*

13. Dan West (Crusaders)

14. Dan Moor (Balmy Beach)*

15. John Sheridan (Markham Irish)

16. Brendan Black (Markham Irish)

17. Doug Woolridge (Lindsay)*

18. Ryan Surgenor (Bytown Blues)

17. Creag Johnston (Toronto Scottish)

18. Armin Gurdic (London St. George’s)

19. Marcello Wainwright (Toronto Saracens)

20. Myles Dingwall (Bytown Blues)

21. Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga Blues)

22. Josh Campbell (London St. George’s)

23. Rich Lebel (Waterloo Counties)

*denotes Canadian capped player

Ontario Blues Staff

Chris Silverthorn – Head Coach
Paul Connelly – Assistant Coach
Mark Winokur – Manager
Rodin Lozada – Performance Analyst
Chris Kelly – Athletic Therapist
Dr. Chris Gallimore – Team Doctor
 

Ontario Blues 2016 Match Schedule:

Alberta Selects 9 v. Ontario Blues 19
Sunday, May 22, 2016*
1 p.m. MDT; 3 p.m. EDT
Ellerslie Park, Edmonton, Alta.

Ontario Blues 12 v. Atlantic Rock 22

Saturday, June 4, 2016

5 p.m. EDT

Sherwood Forest Park, Burlington, Ont.

Ontario Blues 0 v. England Counties 73
Saturday, June 11, 2016*
3:30 p.m. EDT
Fletcher’s Fields, Markham, Ont.

Atlantic Rock 13 v. Ontario Blues 24
Saturday, July 2, 2016
3 p.m. NDT; 1:30 p.m. EDT
Swilers RFC, St. John’s, N.L.
 

Ontario Blues 18 v. Prairie Wolf Pack 0
Thursday, July 21, 2016
6:30 p.m. EDT
Fletcher’s Fields, Markham, Ont.
 

Ontario Blues v. British Columbia Bears
Sunday, July 24, 2016
3:30 p.m. EDT
Fletcher’s Fields, Markham, Ont.

* indicates non-CRC match

About Rugby Ontario:

Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to promote, govern, and develop rugby at all levels in a safe, affordable and enjoyable environment within the province of Ontario.

There are more than 10,000 Rugby Ontario members registered with 63 rugby clubs and four branch unions located across the province, with participation in age grades ranging from minor (age 6+) to masters (age 35+) in male and female divisions.

For more information, visit http://www.rugbyontario.com/

About Ontario Blues:

The Ontario Blues program is the high performance representative program for male rugby players in Ontario. It is designed to develop and showcase male athletes for Canadian national teams.

The senior team represents Ontario in the annual Canadian Rugby Championship, and has earned four national titles, having won the competition’s MacTier Cup annually from 2011-2014.

The under-19 team represents Ontario at the annual under-19 men’s Canadian Rugby Championship, and is designed to develop and showcase male athletes for the under-20 national team, as well as serving as a feeder program for the Ontario Blues senior team.

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For more information, please contact: 

Eric Forrest
Communications Assistant
Rugby Ontario
(647) 560-4790 x106
eforrest@rugbyontario.com

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