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The Nova Scotia Keltics defeated the Newfoundland Rock on a damp Friday evening in Halifax by a score of 25-14 in the Atlantic Senior League. The result ends a 15-year winless run against the Rock that Nova Scotia had suffered through, with the final whistle bringing jubilation from both players and spectators.
A tense first half saw flyhalf Federico Cisneros knock over a penalty for an early lead, but no further scoring would take place until Jordon Power thundered over, converted by Tony Pomroy, to put Newfoundland in front by four points.
That seemed to give the game some life, and after the Keltics stole a scrum against the head, the ball went wide to Brett Johnson, and the Truro flyer danced his way around would-be tacklers to score a great try and restore his team’s lead. Cisneros was on target with the extras and Nova Scotia were up 10-7.
Jeremy Archibald was sent to the bin after a number of team infringements, but the Keltics managed to hold out with a man down, and just after the break it was Johnson again who turned heads. This time he skated through two men before spinning his way out of the clutches of another two defenders to score a remarkable solo effort. Cisneros landed the easy kick and the lead was stretched to two scores.
A nifty Mike Hamson break was followed up by Cisneros, and the flyhalf cut through before finding Tapiwa Rabwi in support to score a third try. The conversion was missed, but Cisneros would add another penalty moments later to give his side a commanding 25-7 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Rock attacked tenaciously and managed to put Matt Murphy over, but it was academic as the difference was too great and the Keltics had their win at last. Head coach Jack Hanratty was restrained in his appraisal of his team.
“More than anything it’s a huge relief, especially for the players to finally get a win. The Rock has set the standard for so long and we’re always trying to reach it. I thought we stepped up to the physical battle today, and I am proud. This can’t stop now though, it’s only the next step. We now need to lift our standards once more, as a program.”
The Keltics finish the season with a record of 3-1, while the Rock move on to face the New Brunswick Black Spruce in Fredericton on Sunday.
KELTICS 25
Tries – B. Johnson 2 (34, 46), T. Rabwi (55)
Cons – F. Cisneros 2 (35, 47)
Pens – F. Cisneros 2 (10, 59)
Yellow cards – J. Archibald (37)
ROCK 14
Tries – J. Power (29), M. Murphy (68)
Cons – T. Pomroy 2 (30, 69)
NOVA SCOTIA KELTICS
1 T. Rabwi (V. O’Malley 72) 2 J. Archibald 3 J. Steinbach (J. Hughes 66) 4 D. Smith (K. Cigolotti 53) 5 E. Dickie (G. Forrest 66) 6 S. Edmonds (M. Abdelmonem 20) 7 T. Hartlin 8 M. Hamson 9 M. Sweeney (capt.) (M. Simpson 68) 10 F. Cisneros 11 B. Johnson 12 A. Anshan 13 K. Gauthier 14 E. Gray (V. O’Malley 37-47) (J. MacNeill 75) 15 A. Pottie
NEWFOUNDLAND ROCK
1 B. Rogers (J. Aylward HT) 2 J. Power 3 S. Cutcliffe (M. Murphy 56) 4 B. Lester 5 C. Browne (R. Tingskou 56) 6 O. Parfrey 7 C. Hammond 8 Z. Coughlan 9 T. Pomroy 10 P. Parfrey 11 T. Prestarri 12 A. Rafuse 13 B. Dillon 14 G. Bjarnason 15 J. Daley
