Game Report: Sat. June 12, 2004

Women’s 1st's (O.W.L.)
The Aurora Barbs lost their first game, to last year’s champions, the Toronto Scottish, on Saturday. The final score was 44 - 8, but it does not accurately reflect the game on the field. The Scottish scored a quick opening try but the Barbs then pinned them behind their 22 for 10 full minutes. Aurora could just not put a try across. The game featured hard nose-to-nose contact broken up by some break-away tries by the Scottish backs. Aurora took some consolation by scoring their prettiest try this season. The Barbs took a ball through 6 phases before it was finally punched through by the 8-man Virginia Edwards. Tara Doctorow also kicked a penalty. Both women’s teams play the Toronto Irish on Saturday.

Women’s 2nd's (T.R.U.) - (Tues. June 15, 2004)
The Women’s seconds team played a re-scheduled game Tuesday night at Sunnybrook Park against the Scottish 2s. Although the Scottish featured some really big forwards, the Barbs gave as good as they got. The Scottish scored first, but Aurora was able to answer soon after. The rest of the game was a chippy see-saw battle. Both teams had opportunities to score the winner, but the game ended up a 17 - 17 draw by the final whistle. The Barbs’ tries were scored by the scrum-half Karen Chrobak and the winger Sarah Moussadji. The fullback, Val Evans, kicked one convert.

Mens 1st's
Aurora Barbarians R.F.C. 18 - Irish Canadians R.C. 51

There is an old rugby adage that forwards win ball, teams win games, and the 1st team game on Saturday once again proved the truth of this simple statement. On a perfect day for fast, open rugby, the Irish Canadians showed how a dominant pack can control play and set-up the platform for winning rugby. Despite an apparent slow start to their season, the Irish are a very good team.

The core of the Irish game plan was to establish forward dominance and play a tight forward game in the opening 40 minutes. This strategy served it purpose to frustrate and wear the smaller Barbarian pack, suck in the loose forwards and keep the ball away from our backs. The Irish pack dominated the forward game, controlled the set pieces and made excellent use of the rolling maul. Our tight five showed resilience and our backs made good use of the limited amount of "good ball" that they saw all day.

The Irish applied early pressure and scored after six minutes. At the 15 minute mark Robbie Carter fielded an attempted clearing kick from the Irish, and ran the ball straight back at the Irish defense and set-up a perfect maul, Aurora Barbs recycled and the ball moved swiftly to a two man overlap, and Steve Shortly went over for a try in his debut for the club. The Irish extended their lead, scoring three tries and a convert and two penalties. Dave Ashwood kicked a penalty to bring the score to Irish 25 Aurora Barbs 8 at the half.

The second half saw a continuation of Irish forward dominance, but the Aurora Barbs scrummaging improved and the pack came to grips with stopping the rolling mauls. Our highlight of the second half was the two tries scored by Robbie Carter, both resulting from improved rucking and forward play by Aurora Barbs - a feature of the second half was the play of Ivan Barron who hit several rucks at speed and demonstrated how to challenge for possession at the break-down.

And so the lessons of the Marshall Division continue – Saturday showed that fitness, strength and technique in the forwards are a requirement of this level of play. This does not detract from effort and heart, and Aurora Barbs again demonstrated resilience and desire to learn and establish a base for the upcoming challenges.

Mens 2nds
ABRFC 18 Irish CRFC 37

A big day for Barbs rugby at home this weekend with all teams from Junior, Women and Men all at the Square.

The day got off to a good start thanks to our Junior teams, and the Men's 3rd XV, and we hoped not to disappoint the crowd watching our 2nd XV defend our home field against the Irish II's. After last year's disappointing post season result ( 44-0 ) against the same team, we had something to prove.

The game got off to much the same start it had last fall, with the Irish punching in a try within what seemed like the first 5 minutes of play. In the end, the never say die attitude of the Barbs 2nd XV kept the game within reach at times, with the final score recorded at 37-18 in favour of the Irish.

Tries were scored by able prop Dave Miller (3rd in as many games) , 2nd Row JP Roosevear, and replacement Scrum Half Kai Sorensen. Two of the three tries were delivered in a similar manner as they were the result of some good tight play by both forwards and backs on the goal line. Kai's try was the result of a great heads up play by the scrappy scrum half, who darted through a hole after some more good team offence on the oppositions goal line. On three other occasions, we felt scores had been notched (or would have been) only to be determined to have been held up in goal by a mystery defender, or disallowed for a presumed knock on.

The score line was an obvious improvement over last year, and once again, everyone that took the field as a starter or replacement gave 110% to try and pull out a win. The difference seemed to be better game preparation/organization (by our opponent) , some great counter attacking from the Irish Fullback (who some of you know as he trained with us mid-winter), and some very strong runs from one of the Irish Centers.

It certainly seems obvious to most now that we are competitive in this league, having tested the best teams in our division, and stayed within reach in defeat. With a continued effort to train as a unit, and build on our solid foundation, these close losses will soon turn in to wins.