Game Report: Sat. June 5, 2004

Women’s 1st
The Aurora Barbs beat the Yeomen First Team by a score of 12 - 10. The Barbs were inside the Yeomen 22-metre line within the first minute of the game and stayed there for the first 10 minutes. After knocking on the door several times, the Barbs finally punched one across. Although the overall score was close, it does not reflect the number of opportunities the Barbs had all afternoon. Scoring the tries for Aurora were scrum-half Karen Chrobak and winger Sarah Brown. Tara Doctorow kicked the convert. This gives the Barbs a 2 - 0 record so far. The firsts and seconds next play the Toronto Scottish at Fletcher’s Fields on Saturday. Aurora Barbarians Second Women’s Team (T.R.U.)

Women’s 2nd
The Women’s seconds team travelled to Peterborough on Saturday. Despite going down shorthanded due to injuries, the seconds put up a terrific effort and lost only 7 - 0. The Barbs were actually across the try line five times, but could not get the ball to ground to score the try. Four of our U19s came out and played amazingly well. Kudos to the entire team for a well-played game.

Mens 1st
Brantford Harlequins R.F.C. 32 Aurora Barbarians R.F.C. 14

The lessons continue for the Aurora Barbs 1st team in the Marshall Division, as their week 4 opponents Brantford Harlequins showed the benefits of speed and fitness in a powerful win. It should be remembered that the Harlequins are the defending McCormick Cup Champions and runners-up in the 2003 O.R.U. Marshall Division.

In their first league encounter with Brantford, the Aurora Barbarians were not intimidated by reputation and continued to impress by their determination and fighting spirit. The Harlequins got off to an early lead scoring an impressive try as a result of an overlap in the backs resulting from the blind-side winger moving into the line at speed, (a tactic that the Harlequins used on numerous occasions); the Harlequins repeated the same move off an Aurora turnover at 13 minutes to stretch their lead to 10 – 0.

At 20 minutes Aurora Barbarians applied pressure on the Harlequins and Mark Healey crashed over under the posts - Dave Ashwood kicked the conversion to bring the Barbs right back into the game at 10 – 7. In the final 20 minutes of the first half the Brantford team returned to their early tactic of running from depth and engineering overlaps by either the winger or full-back coming into the line at pace – the Brantford team capitalized on every opportunity and turned Aurora mistakes into scores with a try and conversion and a penalty goal right on half-time to extend their lead to 25 – 7 at the half.

10 minutes into the second half, the Harlequins extended their lead with another try on an overlap. Aurora Barbs began to tighten-up and took play into the Brantford end for sustained periods without scoring – but this effort paid-off when Robbie Carter, (Aurora’s "Man of the Match"), crashed over and Dave Ashwood kicked the conversion to make the final score 32 – 14.

The Aurora Barbs can take a lot away from this game – Brantford proved to be an excellent team, fit and strong and well coached – their ability to bring in an extra attacker into the backs presented problems all day, as three of their four tries resulted from overlaps in the backs. Aurora Barbarians are learning quickly that at this level of play mistakes are punished by the good teams.

In the first three games the Barbs have faced the 2003 League Champions and leagues runner-up/ defending Cup champions, Crusaders and Harlequins) and perennial Marshall top level team, (the Beach), and have shown an adventurous style of play and tenacity. Aurora Barbarians will benefit from this tough schedule and introduction to the Marshall Division over the next six to eight weeks, as they move into the June to August period when the league schedule develops against all teams in round one.

Mens 2nds
Aurora 17 Brantford 0

Our first win of the season was achieved under some tough circumstances. Traveling is never easy, and injuries lowered the available bodies to put together the side. None the less, a handy 2nd XV took the field against a promising host side in Brantford.

After what seemed like most of the first half spent defending our own 22 and goal line under constant Brantford pressure, the lads woke up sufficiently to begin mounting some offence ( in large part due to turnovers from some solid defense ). Just prior to the whistle for the half, it appeared to most that we had scored our first points with a great forward mauling effort, but alas the Referee did not see it, so it did not occur!

The second half saw the fitter of the two sides prevail on this hot day, as we controlled the scrums and lineouts in the set pieces, and began to put points on the board, in part due to great field position gained from the skillful boot and watchful eyes of Stuart Hulbert at the standoff position.

Dave Miller scored the first try after stealing lineout ball from the back, and rumbling 12 yards for the score. The second try was after another good piece of team offence that saw prop Dan Reznick push over the line. The final try was scored by Flanker Rob Kruus after he pounced on loose ball that seemed to pop out of a scrum at the line. ( his second in as many weeks! ) The lone conversion was made by Fly half Stuart Hulbert.

It was very rewarding to walk away from a tough game knowing that our defense had improved to the point where we could shut out our opposition. Still lots of work to do at training, but glad to have our first notch in the win column.