Ontario Blues defeat ARP Selects

Four tries from Kainoa Lloyd led the Ontario Blues to a 38-20 victory over the ARP Selects in Ottawa on Saturday, in front of a 1,500 strong crowd at Twin Elm Park. Ontario’s senior provincial men’s rugby team put in a six-try effort against the top domestic league players in the USA, with American Rugby Premiership clubs Boston Irish Wolfhounds, Boston Rugby, Life University Running Eagles, New York Athletic Club and New York Old Blues all represented on the select roster.

Taking the pitch immediately following the international test match between Canada and USA – a fixture that saw six Blues regulars feature for Canada – it was the traveling ARP Selects side that opened the game’s scoring, with flyhalf Richie Lobb notching a penalty just five minutes into the match.

Recovering from the early shock, the Blues quickly settled into the match, and wasted little time in responding; young wing Lloyd, making just his second start for the senior provincial side, used his agility to strike for two tries in the span of three minutes. With captain Derek Daypuck connecting on both conversions, the Blues jumped ahead 14-3 just before the 20-minute mark.

While the remainder of the first half saw Ontario spend large spells inside their own territory, their defensive lines held firm, limiting the visiting side to the lone penalty scored early in the match. Two try-saving tackles from fullback Jon West helped to ensure the ARP Selects were kept from crossing the whitewash in the frame.

The opening stages of the second half were highlighted by the Blues using their size and speed to apply significant offensive pressure, allowing the provincial side to add three more tries en route to amassing a 31-3 lead: Lloyd hit for two more tries through 57 minutes, with his tallies sandwiching a well-worked try from debutant Johnny Sheridan.

The ARP Selects began to cut into Ontario’s sizable lead in the final 20 minutes of the match, with the visiting side notching three late tries to reduce their deficit to 31-20. A try at the death from scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson sealed the season finale win for the hosts.

Blues head coach Chris Silverthorn featured an up-and-coming squad in the win, showcasing 14 under-23 players in his provincial side, including six teenagers. While he noticed a drop in intensity in the final quarter of the match, Silverthorn was largely impressed with what he saw from his young charges.

“The young guys really performed, and their hard work paid off, perhaps none more so than Kainoa Lloyd, who had a very impressive match,” said the Blues head coach. “There’s a lot of talent coming through the system in Ontario, and today was a great example of what’s to come. The future looks bright.”

Three recent Blues development side graduates – Sheridan, starting flanker Peter Milazzo, and substitute lock Max van Dijk – all earned their first senior Blues caps in the victory.

While Saturday’s victory was positive for Ontario’s provincial program, the match itself proved to be bittersweet, with Blues veteran Scott Dunham announcing his retirement from provincial rugby following his side’s win.

Dunham, a four-time winner of the Canadian Rugby Championship’s MacTier Cup, represented Ontario on the pitch for 16 years, and was one of the original Ontario Blues when the program was established in 2009. The veteran lock’s start against the ARP Selects represented his 35th cap for the Blues.

“In all of my time as a coach, it’s hard to come across a more passionate, dedicated, and team-oriented player than Scott Dunham,” added Silverthorn. “Our program is much stronger as a result of Scott’s years of service. He’s been the rock of the Blues since day one, the heart and soul of the program, and we’re grateful for all of his contributions, both on and off the pitch.”

The match closes the book on another successful season for the Ontario Blues program, which saw the provincial side finish with a 5-1 record in all competitions.

ONTARIO BLUES 38
Tries – K. Lloyd 4 (13, 17, 47, 57), J. Sheridan (52), A. Ferguson (80)
Cons – D. Daypuck 3 (14, 18, 48), A. Ferguson (80)

ARP SELECTS 20
Tries – S. Verma (60), C. Llewelyn (74), G. Gibbs (79)
Cons – R. Lobb (80)
Pens – R. Lobb (5)

ONTARIO BLUES
1 Rob Brouwer (Lindsay)
2 Eric Howard (Brantford Harlequins)
3 Matt Tierney (Mississauga Blues)
4 Hank McQueen (Balmy Beach)
5 Scott Dunham (Balmy Beach)
6 Lucas Rumball (Balmy Beach)
7 Peter Milazzo (Toronto Saracens)
8 Andrew Wilson (Oakville Crusaders)
9 Jamie Mackenzie (Oakville Crusaders)
10 Matt Alexander (Oshawa Vikings)
11 Dan Moor (Balmy Beach)
12 Derek Daypuck (capt., London St. George’s)
13 Josh Campbell (London St. George’s)
14 Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga Blues)
15 Jon West (Aurora Barbarians)

16 Sawyer Herron (Oakville Crusaders)
17 Brendan Blaikie (Markham Irish)
18 Tyler Doran (London St. George’s)
19 Paul Ciulini (Aurora Barbarians)
20 Max van Dijk (Oakville Crusaders)
21 Andrew Ferguson (Oakville Crusaders)
22 John Sheridan (Markham Irish)
23 Trent Cooper (Oshawa Vikings)

Head coach – Chris Silverthorn
Assistant coach – Paul Connelly
Manager – Mark Winokur
Analyst – Rodin Lozada
Therapist – Chris Kelly

ARP SELECTS
1 Paul Unsworth (Old Blue)
2 Pat Fife (NYAC)
3 Chris Sullivan (Old Blue)
4 Trevor Cassidy (Old Blue)
5 Brodie Orth (Boston RFC)
6 Gareth Austen (Boston Irish)
7 Harrison Higgins (Old Blue)
8 Dylan Fawsitt (Life)
9 Dale Harris (Boston Irish)
10 Richie Lobb (Boston RFC)
11 Kyle Granby (NYAC)
12 Paddy Owens (Boston Irish)
13 Ceri Llewelyn (Boston RFC)
14 Sean Verma (NYAC)
15 Lucas Baistrocchi (Boston RFC)

RESERVES
16 Mike Brown (Old Blue)
19 Sam Scroggins (Old Blue)
21 Josh Longmore (Old Blue)
22 James Bird (Old Blue)
23 Gareth Gibbs (NYAC)

Head coach – Marty Veale (Old Blue)
Assistant coach – Mike Diamantopoulos (Boston RFC)
Assistant coach – Anthony Adam (Boston RFC)
Manager – John Ryan (NYAC)

NON-TRAVELING STAFF
Selector – Blake Bradford (Life)
Selector – Fergal Hehir (Boston Irish)
Selector – Neil McMillan (NYAC)

match report courtesy of Brock Smith and Rugby Ontario