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The Blues exacted their revenge against the Wolf Pack by pitching a shutout at Fletcher’s Fields in an 18-0 win on Thursday evening. A smothering defense gave away little to the visitors, and complete dominance at the breakdown saw the Blues reach double digits in stolen possession.
An extended feeling-out process saw several turnovers awarded at the breakdown, with Eric Howard nabbing four himself in the first half-hour. The Wolf Pack turned down a kick-able penalty for the corner but could not get the lineout right. When it finally came Ontario’s turn, Andrew Ferguson took the points on offer for a 3-0 lead.
Line speed was clearly a focus for the Blues and put all kinds of pressure on the Prairie offense. Robbie Povey struggled to get his hard-running centres into the game with little time and space t operate. A loose pass went to the wrong hands and Jordan Wilson-Ross put a nifty chip through for Peter Milazzo to run collect. The Pack were adjudged to have infringed at the breakdown, and this time Derek Daypuck struck it true from nearly 50 metres.
The first try came quickly in the second half, and a little too easily. An offside penalty handed the Blues an attacking lineout just five metres out, and after Lucas Rumball plucked the ball from the air nobody bothered to stop him from simply stepping through and reaching over the line. The Wolf Pack gambled on the Blues forming a maul and looked very foolish in the process.
Another try was nearly leaked just a couple minutes later. The Pack’s midfield got their wires crossed and Dan Moor went clean through. His pass found Kainoa Lloyd in support and the replacement winger crashed through Graham Turner only to be driven into touch just short of the line by Conor Desmond.
Continuity continued to haunt the Wolf Pack as Rumball pinched a ball in Blues territory, but the towering Eric Lopatinsky won it back at the lineout. A crash ball from James Buchanan made the gainline and again Rumball was in the thick of it, but this time entering incorrectly from the side to condede a penalty well within range.
Once again Povey opted for the corner, and again the attack was repelled. Howard nearly nicked another turnover but then Hank McQueen went off his feet at the breakdown and the skipper was sent to the naughty chair to think about his actions.
On came the cavalry in Nanyak Dala and Grant Crowell. From a five metre scrum Clay Panga peeled off but was stopped short. The black jerseys clashed against the Blues but found no purchase. Each ball to the backs was stopped behind the gainline and only another penalty won them territory. The ball came down safely from the ensuing lineout but at the collision it was Rumball on his feet to win yet another turnover for the home side.
The Pack finally got a break from a midfield scrum when Mozac Samson made inroads on an outside line and found Turner on his inside in support. Quick ball came from the ruck but somehow the Blues ripped the ball away in the tackle and Daypuck cleared to snuff out the attack.
Frustration crept into the Wolf Pack and Adam Bontus earned a 10 minute break for a sneaky jab off the ball just as McQueen returned. The overlap proved costly as Moor took the corner from virtually his own goal line and his chip ahead left Turner with no option but to take the tackle. Jake Robinson’s clearing kick went straight down the pipe to Daypuck and two passes later Lloyd turned on the afterburners to score a cracking try. Daypuck’s extras were good and it was all over bar the shouting.
Combined with the Rock’s victory over the Bears earlier in the day, the result throws the competition into a dead heat heading into the final day with three teams capable of lifting the MacTier Cup. Both the Blues and Wolf Pack are on nine points, and the Rock just behind on eight.
A bonus point victory for the Blues against the Bears will ensure the title for Ontario. Anything less and the door is open for the winner of the game in St. John’s where the Rock look to create a little history over their own by upsetting the Wolf Pack.
BLUES 18
Tries – L. Rumball (43), K. Lloyd (71)
Pens – A. Ferguson (29), D. Daypuck (33, 73)
Yellow cards – H. McQueen (56)
WOLF PACK 0
Yellow cards – A. Bontus (66)
ONTARIO BLUES
1 Rob Brouwer 2 Eric Howard 3 Tom Dolezel 4 Hank McQueen (capt.) 5 Mike Sheppard 6 Peter Milazzo 7 Lucas Rumball 8 Andrew Wilson 9 Andrew Ferguson 10 Mitch Richardson 11 Jordan Wilson-Ross 12 Derek Daypuck 13 Dan West 14 Dan Moor 15 John Sheridan
16 Brandon Black 17 Doug Wooldridge 18 Ryan Surgenor 19 Myles Dingwall 20 Marcello Wainwright 21 Josh Campbell 22 Kainoa Lloyd 23 Rich Lebel
PRAIRIE WOLF PACK
1 Peter Houlihan 2 Casey Reed 3 Ryan Kotlewski 4 Eric Lopatinsky 5 Conor Turner 6 Lucas Albornoz 7 Wayde Hodgen 8 Clay Panga (capt.) 9 Jake Robinson 10 Robbie Povey 11 Adam Bontus 12 James Buchanan 13 Mozac Samson 14 Conor Desmond 15 Graham Turner
16 Matt Harrison 17 John Braddock 18 Nick McAuley 19 Grant Crowell 20 Nanyak Dala 21 Jake Bentley 22 Cam Hall 23 Ian Shoults
Referee: Doug Hamre
Assistants: Michael Jones & Talal Chaudhry
