Game Report: July 12/13, 2005

Under 19 Women
Well, even though we had to travel and deal with the extreme heat alert, the girls stepped up and played a great game. The final score doesn't reflect how much control we had of the ball. After the Crusaders scored a converted try early in the first half, we kept possession for about 75% of the game, we just couldn't capitalize on that. Andrea Watpool (8) made some amazing tackles and was everywhere she needed to be, even crossing the line for 5 points. Chelsea Taylor-Payne (FH) also made it across the line late in the second half. Despite the weather, the girls played hard and left it all on the field. The final score was 10 - 7 for us. Next week: Yeo/Lions @ Fletchers‚ @ 6:30.

Senior Women First Team
The Barbs’ First Team played a great, and oftentimes spectacular, match against the Peterborough Pagans Firsts at Williams S.S. on Tuesday night. The team displayed excellent control, repeatedly moving the ball upfield on multi-phase ball. While Peterborough covered the field well, the close support and numerous inside and outside passes overwhelmed their defence. The women rucked and tackled aggressively and showed excellent creativity in their attacks. By sunset and the final whistle, Aurora was up 39 – 0. The try-scorers were Nathalie Bendavid with 3, Sarah Brown with 2, and Jess Tasker and Christine Carruthers (Johnny) with one apiece. Tara Doctorow and Jen Kearney each kicked a convert. Nat was named woman of the match and Johnny was noted for “hearty hurrahs” by both teams. This game ties Aurora with the Irish at third place in the league going into the season’s final game on July 23. The Barbs’ last opponent is the Nomads.

Junior U18 Men
On Wednesday July 13th under sweltering conditions at the Markham Rugby Club, the Aurora Barbarians edged their hosts 15-10 in a closely contested league game. Scoring for Aurora were centers Karl McCartney and Matt Prevoe with one try each and kicker John Buchner who contributed five points from a penalty and conversion.

The first half started slowly and Aurora were pinned deep in their end. They defended well and began to take the game to Markham. A slow build up with many phases of play including some good play between the forwards and the backs linking gave McCartney room to move on the outside and scored a fine try, which was not converted.

The rest of the first half Aurora defended their line from immense pressure from the Markham team. The half-time whistle brought some relief and gave Aurora a chance to recover.

Aurora came out firing on all cylinders after the intermission. They recovered the kick off and the forwards (led by a vociferous scrumhalf Paul Ross) went 35 yards right up the middle before Markham conceded a penalty 15 yards out. John Buchner nailed the penalty kick and Aurora was 8 nil up.

Markham forced themselves back into the game with two tries to forge ahead 10-8. The heat and humidity were beginning to have an impact and both coaches began to make substitutions.

The Aurora defence stiffened and their aggressive tackling created turnovers and prevented Markham from pulling any further ahead. One such turnover gave Aurora the chance to set their powerful offence deep in Markham territory. Under the constant pressure, Markham conceded a penalty and after several phases of play, Matt Prevoe scored a great team try. Buchner's convert made it 15-10.

Aurora u18 shave a very busy schedule next week. They have entered two teams in the Rugby Ontario Magnificent Sevens on Sunday afternoon. During the week they will play twice. Their first match is against Wallington Grammar School (England) on Tuesday night and then on Wednesday they will play the Toronto Irish in their regular league fixture. All games are at Fletcher's Fields.