RCSL

The Toronto Xtreme of the Rugby Canada Super League is pleased to announce their expanded coaching structure and a new sponsor for the 2005 season. The team is well positioned to build on the successes of previous years with a healthy budget and Toronto Rugby Union support.

Rugby Canada Director of Rugby, Martin Gallagher, takes over as Head Coach, replacing Mark Winokur, who will share the Director of Rugby role along with Balmy Beach RFC halfback Glenn Miller.

Foster’s Lager has come aboard as a long term sponsor – “We at Fosters are excited about our new relationship with The Xtreme” says Alan Palmer of Foster’s.

The Toronto Rugby Union is lending both financial and administrative support to the team, who finished second in the East last year after winning the Eastern championship in 2003, posting an 11-2 record over two seasons. Rugby Ontario is once again sponsoring The Xtreme.

“We will settle for nothing less than the National Championship in 2005” states Glenn Miller, Co-Director of Rugby.

The Xtreme open their preseason with The Golden Horseshoe Cup match against Niagara Thunder at Oakville Crusaders Rugby Centre Thursday, May 19, @ 7 pm, and host Quebec Caribou on June 10 in the league opener.

Other Xtreme home games are June 25 v Ottawa and July 1 v Newfoundland.

The Toronto Xtreme plays in the 14 team Rugby Canada Super League, the elite league of rugby in Canada. Players are selected for the National Men’s Team based partially on their play in the Super League. For an exciting day of top-flight rugby, be sure to come to The Xtreme home games.

The Niagara Thunder Rugby Team, the regions’s rep team in the Rugby Canada Super League (RCSL), continued their pre-season success in an exhibition match Tuesday evening in Burlington against Buffalo, in a rather one-sided contest.

Buffalo had just clinched the Mid-West Championship in Chicago and are in the USA Men’s Div II Club play-offs and Thunder were expecting tougher opposition. However, the Niagara region team looked sharper, fitter and faster throughout the game.

Thunder captain for the game, Harry Cheung, led by example scoring four of Niagara’s 12 tries. Fullback Jonathan Goldie was successful on seven converts. The opening try came from Goldie with a well-timed entry in the backline. Minutes later a chip ahead from flyhalf Paul Kelly bounced perfectly into the hands of #8 Dave Knowles at full pace who took it in from 20 metres out. Seventeen minutes gone and Thunder were up 17-0.

Bufflalo came back though with several recycling phases and were rewarded with a try from left winger Brian Biro who created the overlap and ran in at pace to score on the right. It was again Biro who scored after a breakaway run down the left wing, and when obstructed after his chip ahead, was awarded a penalty try by referee Derek Stoltz. The score at half-time was 29-12 for Thunder.

In the second half Thunder mixed both forward and back movements, including two pushover tries from the forwards and 3 tries from the wings. Final score was 74-12.
Buffalo hooker Jeremy Dittmer conceded after the game that Niagara were bigger and faster and every mistake Buffalo made was pounced on by Thunder.

Niagara Assistant coach Jeff Prince stated the teams’ forwards played very well at mauls and lineouts, were patient in offence and cool in defense. He did comment also that Buffalo never gave up, were tenacious to the end and tried to run the ball at every opportunity, even from deep in their own half.
Thunder were missing Prop Dan Pletch and 8 Man Aaron Carpenter who left today for Japan to play for the Canadian National Side in the Nations Cup in 2 weeks time.

Before their first league fixture on June 12 against Quebec Caribou, Niagara Thunder will have one more pre-season game on May 19th when they meet local rivals, Toronto Xtreme, for the Golden Horseshoe Challenge. That game will be at Crusader Park, Ninth Line, Oakville. KO 7.00 PM. Entry $10 at the gate or by season ticket.

The Niagara Thunder Rugby Team, the region’s rep team in the Rugby Canada Super League (RCSL), play Toronto Xtreme, current holder’s of the Golden Horseshoe Challenge Cup, on Thursday evening in Oakville.

This will be Thunder’s final pre-season game before the RCSL commences June 12th with Quebec Caribou visiting Thunder in Burlington, so Thursday’s match presents somewhat of a dilemma for Thunder Head Coach Gary Whitley. On the one hand, the club would like to take back the Cup from their Toronto rivals, but it is also Whitley’s last chance before the RCSL begins, to see his current roster in action and choose his first-string starting line-up for the season. The team is still building and the style of play may well evolve around the strength of key players in the squad. Doubtless, players who hit the field against Xtreme will be motivated to show their capabilities and earn a spot on the final roster.

Thunder will be missing Prop Dan Pletch and Number 8 Aaron Carpenter who are in BC preparing to play for the Canadian National Side in the Nations Cup in Japan in 2 weeks time, but confidence is high in camp as Thunder have just come off a 74-12 over USA Mid-West league leaders Buffalo and a 17-5 win the week before over Young Canada.

Thursday’s game will kick off at 7pm at Crusader Park, Ninth Line, Oakville.
Tickets are $10.

Following a training session in Burlington yesterday, Niagara Thunder today announced five new faces to their starting line up for tonight’s game against the Toronto Xtreme for the Golden Horseshoe Cup. A strong presence from the Oakville Crusaders will take the field tonight. The success of the Thunder is increasing the interest and attention of players and fans alike which bodes well for the success of the Super League’s goal in this region. This will be the Thunder’s last exhibition game before the beginning of the league season against Quebec Caribou to be played Sunday June 12th at Burlington. Head coach Whitley is encouraged by the performance and commitment of the player so far. Good wins against the Pacific Pride and Buffalo have set the standard that the coaching staff are looking for. After tonight’s game over 80 players will have tried-out for positions and 38 will have had the opportunity to show their paces in game situations.

Kick-off 7.00 Crusader Park, Oakville on 9th line between Dundas Street and Upper Middle Road. Entrance $10.00

Prop Matt Lindsay Brantford
Hooker Harry Cheung Oakville
Prop Mike Pletch Oakville
Lock Teo Schwartzentruber Burlington
Lock Nick Manz Burlington
Flank Andy Bauer Waterloo
Flank Andrew Wilson Oakville
No. 8 David Knowles Irish Canadians
Scrum Half Ryan Stickle Aurora
Outside half Spencer Fullerton Oakville
Wing Andrew Thomson Oakville
Centre Tyler Leggat Oakville
Centre James Woods Oakville
Wing Mark Jacklyn Brantford
Full Back David Snidal Oakville

Though leading 10-0 at the break, Niagara Thunder’s attempt to win the Golden Horseshoe Challenge Cup in Oakville last evening was thwarted by a strong second-half performance by Toronto Xtreme.

The first half was relatively even, with slick passing from Toronto but good defense from Niagara with some fine tackles made by center Tyler Leggat and flanker Andrew Wilson. It was 38 minutes before the first score. Following a penalty with resultant lineout in the right corner, Thunder quickly moved the ball wide left and when wing Mark Jacklyn was halted two yards out, Andrew Wilson obtained the ball from the ruck and dived over for the try. There were two more penalties against Xtreme for preventing quick release and a yellow card left Toronto a man short for the rest of the first half.

In the final minute, a nice break by Thunder flyhalf Spence Fullerton, pass right to Jacklyn who came in off left wing, quick ruck and then once again Thunder moved the ball wide left where the other flanker Andy Bauer drove over to give Thunder a 10-0 lead.

Toronto came out determined in the second half and controlled the game for the next 25 minutes, moving the ball left and right across the field. Within 5 minutes, fullback Damon McLachlan found a gap and was over for the try. Flyhalf Simon Rodgers easily kicked the conversion. Five minutes later, Rodgers made a break down the right side, feinted outside then passed inside to his center for the try. Another successful conversion from Rodgers and Toronto were ahead 14-10. Niagara defended for the next 10 minutes but eventually conceded a penalty and once again the kicking boot of Rodgers was straight through the uprights, 17-10. Niagara struggled to get into Toronto territory but were pushed back repeatedly by the pinpoint strategic kicking of Rodgers. Eventually an errant return kick from Thunder was picked off by McLachlan in centerfield who used his pace and angled running to get his second try of the evening. The conversion by Rodgers from near the sideline was again successful to put the score to 24-10.

Penned deep in their half from Rodgers’ kicking and with only a minute left, Number 8 Dave Knowles suddenly broke from a maul inside the Niagara 22, and reached the half-way line before passing off to Andrew Wilson. Wilson was caught by the speedy Damon McLachlan just 10 yards from the line but broke out of the tackle and scored in the corner. Final score was 24-15 for Toronto.

The first game of the season for the Vancouver Island Raiders against the Vancouver Wave,
was, as earlier suggested, a daunting task…but, in a 79-22 lopsided loss the Radiers will keep the chins up and full credit goes to the Wave as they are full value for the win. The Wave’s #10, and BC Premier league star, Matt Direen had a tremendous game and would be my pick for player of the match. #8 Colin Mackenzie, the two centers, Andrew Hoffman and Adam McCluskey were also standouts throughout with several long runs from the gain line for scores.

The Raiders forwards did hold their own with fairly even sets and lineouts and one try resulting from a successfull mauling situation in the first half. The Raiders also scored some points! Matt Melagaard, Konrad Nikkle and Trevor Geach all contributed with trys with Robin McDowell securing a convert and penalty goal.

Raiders seventeen year old Brady McDowell came in on the Wing in the second half and played his heart out, making several big tackles and decent runs for his time on the field.

In the changeroom the players were up after the game after a spirited talk from Coach Mays. It’s back to the practice field with no where to go but up and get a little better as we move on through the season.

One bright spot was the hospitality of the wave in their historic Brockton Oval clubhouse after the game and surprising to see more Vancouver Island fans at the game than mainland folk…..A lot mind you were at the BC High School Championships being held at UBC.

John James

For the first time in its eight year history, the Rugby Canada Super League championship has been won by a team from the east as the Newfoundland Rock beat the Saskatchewan Prairie Fire 26-13 in front of 3,000 fans at Regina Rugby Park.

The Rock, in their third final in four years, fought back from a 13-3 half time deficit to hoist the MacTier Cup, breaking the perfect record of western champions taking the national title.

A huge roar came from the crowd as coach Pat Parfrey finally got his turn to hold the silver challice, shaking it dramatically to the cameras and smiling broadly as he took in the moment he had waited so long for.

Rock Captain Peter Densmore said after the game that the dramatic 20 point turn around in the second half was a result of their patience in sticking with the gameplan established by Parfrey.

“We just stayed on the plan and knew things would turn around after a while,” said the burly hooker.

Parfrey’s son Brendan, one of three named to the starting 22, received the MVP award as he worked tirelessly from the scrum-half spot, throwing precision passes and quickly gathering in recycled ball all afternoon.

“I knew we could come back,” said Pat Parfrey.

The Rock opened the scoring in the third minute with fullback Ciaran Hearn slotting a long penalty for a 3-0 lead.

The Fire equalised a few minutes later when Matt Sherwood hit from thirty metres.

The in a great passage of play Shane Thompson stormed through the Rock defense, placing a well weighted kick that bounced into the hands of Sherwood who touched down. Sherwood added the conversion to give his team a 10-3 lead.

Sherwood provided another penalty just before the half and their was a quiet confidence that the boys from the Queen City just might pull it off.

However that hope was shortlived in the second half as injuries began to hit the Fire. Dick Cornish, the 43 year old prop, who was only expected to play for a half, stayed on a bit too long and left with a head gash. Fire Captain Jered Kirkland then moved from the flank to the front row – and the pressure from the Rock forwards began to build.

Rod Snow and reserve Dave Penney, who came on thirty minutes into the game, began to impose their will and tire out the Fire forwards.

It was huge drive through the gap in fiftieth minute that saw Brendan Parfrey gather the ball quickly and feed it to a streak Mike Webb, who plunged over from three metres.

The conversion was missed but the comeback had started as the Fire’s lead fell to 13-8.

The Rock began to employ the rolling maul to great effect, eventually springing second row Chris Mooney over the line in the sixtieth minute, though Hearn missed the extras, tying the two sides at 13-13.

The Newfoundlanders continued to pressure, putting multiple phases of rugby together, with the ball finally spinning wide to Tyler Wish who threw a pefectly timed pass back inside to Robert Wilson, who scored on clean heels. The kicking woes continued with another missed conversion, this one taken by Dean Banks, but the tide had changed as the Rock enjoyed an 18-13 lead.

Newfoundland continued their mistake free ways, with Mike Simpson scoring a try and a penalty to put a wrap on a 7-0 season.