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The Ontario Blues will have to wade through stormy waters to get redemption against the Atlantic Rock as they travel to the cauldron of Swilers Park in St. John’s on Saturday. The Rock put a major dent in Ontario’s hopes of reclaiming the MacTier Cup with their upset win at Sherwood Park a month ago, and a similar result would blow the doors wide open in the 2016 Johnsonville Canadian Rugby Championship race.
Making matters more interesting is the return of several high profile players to each squad. Patrick Parfrey has returned from Canada duty to take over the pivotal flyhalf shirt, and Alex Rogers is recalled at centre with Colin Alexander pushing out to the wing to cover for the unavailable Paddy McNicholas. Bruising ball carrier Zac Coughlan is in for Toni Wodzicki on the blindside, with Quebec flanker Lucas Hotton drafted in as bench cover.
Two names familiar to Canadian fans have signed up for Rock duty. Jon Phelan has departed Doncaster Knights after spending three years overseas as a pro, and adds his considerable height and experience to the second row. Former Canada u20 and senior ‘A’ fullback Jack Fitzpatrick is a welcome arrival and is set to make his Rock debut after arriving from Trinity College in Dublin.
Star scrumhalf Andrew Ferguson is one of five internationals back to boost the Blues. Derek Daypuck has categorically denied claims of retirement, declaring himself fit as a fiddle as he laces up the boots once more in the midfield. He will have two Canada wingers outside with both Dan Moor and Jordan Wilson-Ross patrolling the tramlines.
Up front there are two major additions and one debutante. Eric Howard jumps in at hooker, and Lucas Rumball moves from Canada’s flank to Ontario’s. Former Canada ‘A’ prop Creag Johnston takes a spot on the bench, and there are two new additions from Ottawa’s Bytown Blues. Former McMaster Marauders tighthead Ryan Surgenor will start his Blues career up against the venerable Frank Walsh, and versatile forward Myles Dingwall, formerly of Queen’s, is given a spot on the bench.
St. John’s is arguably the most difficult place to play in the country, welcoming off the pitch but unforgiving on it. Both sides have upgraded since their last meeting, but will Ontario be able to make up the difference in the scrum? Parfrey knows the grounds as well as any and while Ferguson and Rumball, in particular, are significant additions to the Blues, the Rock’s chances have never been better of winning back-to-back tilts against the Blues for the first time since the competition’s inception.
The match is set to kick off at 3pm local time, 1:30pm Eastern, and will be streamed live by Bell Alliant.
ATLANTIC ROCK
1 Frank Walsh 2 Owen Parfrey (capt.) 3 Jordon Power 4 Jon Phelan 5 Brad Lester 6 Zac Coughlan 7 Matt Murphy 8 Mike Hamson 9 Tony Pomroy 10 Patrick Parfrey 11 Brett Johnson 12 Emil Sehic 13 Alex Rogers 14 Colin Alexander 15 Jack Fitzpatrick
16 Martial Lagain 17 Alex Forrest 18 Keelan Chapman 19 Conor Keys 20 Lucas Hotton 21 Weston Hill 22 Aidan McMullan 23 Dan Lantos
ONTARIO BLUES
1 Rob Brouwer 2 Eric Howard 3 Ryan Surgenor 4 Hank McQueen (capt.) 5 Mike Sheppard 6 Lucas Rumball 7 Peter Milazzo 8 Andrew Wilson 9 Andrew Ferguson 10 Mitch Richardson 11 Dan Moor 12 Derek Daypuck 13 Dan West 14 Jordan Wilson-Ross 15 John Sheridan
16 AJ Quattrin 17 Armin Gurdic 18 Creag Johnston 19 Myles Dingwall 20 Marcello Wainwright 21 Josh Campbell 22 Kainoa Lloyd 23 Rich Lebel
