Blues end Raptors winning streak

Glendale’s perfect start to 2017 is over. After 10 consecutive victories they tasted bitter defeat in Burlington as the Ontario Blues ran in seven tries to four to claim an impressive 43-25 win on Saturday afternoon. The match was a friendly organized between arguably the two most prominent domestic teams in North America, with both having won championship titles in 2016.

Windy conditions had a detrimental effect on continuity in the early goings. Both sides made unforced errors but it was the Blues whose mistakes were most significant, coughing up possession on four occasions and ultimately yielding the first try. Will Magie found a gap in the cover defense and his delicate chip through eluded the grasp of a desperate Andrew Ferguson and instead found Maximo de Achaval for a five-pointer.

Ferguson made immediate amends as he took advantage of a scrum penalty won against the head to take a quick tap. With Glendale caught unawares and suddenly stuck on their heels it took only one quick recycle for Mike Sheppard to grind his way over the line. Ferguson’s conversion was on target and the Blues nudged into the lead.

While the Raptors were encountering mighty difficulties in the scrum their phase play was starting to make inroads. The quick service of Shaun Davies had Glendale on the front foot and Ata Malifa found a half gap. Quick hands through de Achaval and a lovely offload from Brian Wanless to John Ryberg – a late change for Dustin Croy before kickoff – put the barrel-chested winger over for a well-worked score.

Without a moment’s pause the Blues were back on the attack. Hank McQueen was clean ball at the lineout and Ferguson worked the short side of the field. Kainoa Lloyd somehow took out three defenders from a standing start and found Jeremy Wright looping around the outside to touch down in the corner. A bit of something from nothing and Ontario were back on top.

It was the star winger’s turn to put himself on the board next. Djustice Sears-Duru replaced Ryan Surgener, in obvious discomfort, with Rob Brouwer switching over to tighthead prop to make it an All-Canadian front row. The set piece dominance continued and from an attacking scrum on the Glendale 22-metre line a training-ground move from the backs put Lloyd clean through the middle with his pace taking him past the cover defense with ease to slide over under the sticks.

Momentum was now clearly in favor of the home side but Glendale would soon have their say. Malifa ran a superb inside line breezing past the entire defensive line and left a picture-perfect short ball off his hip for Wanless to run onto and and the flanker slid over for the try. de Achaval’s kick attempt rang off the outside of the upright to leave it a four point gap.

The Blues would have the final say before the break. Too many team infringements landed Raptors captain Chad London in the bin and Ontario kicked for the corner. McQueen was again the target and the rolling maul set to work. Davies couldn’t resist himself and pinched in, and Ferguson obliged taking the free pass to the corner with no cover at home. The referee’s whistle sounded soon after to bring a close to a pulsating opening half.

Parity welcomed the second half as both sides shared possession without points. Andrew Wilson came on for Seb Pearson but the No 8 didn’t last long, earning a trip to the sin bin for persistent offsides. de Achaval opted for the easy three to make it a one score game.

A bit of magic next as Ferguson went blind from a ruck and put Lloyd into space. The flying winger put the ball on his toe and hit the afterburners to beat both de Achaval and Davies to the ball for his second try of the game. Ferguson nailed the kick from wide out into the swirling wind to take maximum points.

An equally scintillating effort was seemingly on the cards just moment later. Ferguson was again the catalyst with a cheeky chip and regather and then executing the textbook two-on-one to put Josh Campbell away. Or so it seemed. With the line at his mercy the midfielder instead tried a bizarre behind-the-back pass that found the ground instead of hand to leave a certain try begging.

As it turned out the moment of madness would have no effect on the result. The Blues regained possession and once again it was their rolling maul that paid dividends. With Wilson still in the bin the forwards took it on themselves and Eric Howard was the man to benefit. A try to Lucas Rumball looked to have finished off a deflated Raptors side but London would ensure his team took something in the end, running a sharp line and bouncing through the defense to score a fine individual effort, albeit slim consolation for the result.

The Blues will see several of their players involved in Canadian trial matches and the upcoming June test series before turning their focus on the 2017 Canadian Rugby Championship in July and August. Glendale will themselves be wishing six players well in their Eagles endeavors with their next match scheduled for two weeks time against an opponent still to be determined.

 

SCORING

ONTARIO 43
Tries – M. Sheppard (13’), J. Wright (20’), K. Lloyd 2 (27’, 55’), A. Ferguson (38’), E. Howard (61’), L. Rumball (70’)
Cons – A. Ferguson 4/7 (14’, 28’, 56’, 71’)
Yellow cards – A. Wilson (51’)

GLENDALE 25
Tries – M. de Achaval (9’), J. Ryberg (18’), B. Wanless (32’), C. London (73’)
Cons – M. de Achaval 1/4 (73’)
Pens – M. de Achaval 1/1 (52’)
Yellow cards – C. London (36’)

 

TEAMS

ONTARIO BLUES
1 Rob Brouwer (capt.) (18 Pat Lynott 72′), 2 Eric Howard (16 AJ Quattrin 67′), 3 Ryan Surgenor (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 23′), 4 Hank McQueen (19 Paul Ciulini 57′), 5 Mike Sheppard, 6 Jeremy Wright, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Seb Pearson (20 Andrew Wilson 46′), 9 Andrew Ferguson (23 Mario van der Westhuizen 72′), 10 Shawn Windsor, 11 Kainoa Lloyd, 12 Josh Campbell, 13 Jon West (22 Alex Colborne 54′), 14 Dan Moor, 15 Rory McDonell (21 Johnny Sheridan 72′)

GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 James Stewart, 2 James Del Bozque, 3 Ben Tarr (16 Blake Rogers 75′), 4 Casey Rock (19 Devin Vaughter 67′), 5 Ben Landry, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Brian Wanless (18 Travis Haugen 78′), 8 John Quill, 9 Shaun Davies (21 Nick Boyer 74′), 10 Will Magie, 11 John Ryberg (23 Nick Johnson 74′), 12 Ata Malifa (22 Bryce Campbell 54′), 13 Chad London (capt.), 14 Seth Halliman, 15 Maximo de Achaval

Not used: 17 Chris Hathaway

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Moe Chaudhry (RC)
Assistants: Peter Pender (ORU) & Dale Hall (ORU)