Game Report: U18 Men - August 2, 3, 8, 2006

U18s dominate Markham
August 02, 2006
The 18s crept closer to a play-off spot with a comprehensive 36-5 defeat of Markham Rugby Club last night. The score was never in doubt as Aurora scored within the first minute of play and went on to record their third victory of the season.

Great work behind the Markham scrum by James Hulburt created the turnover that led to the opening try. The ball was swung wide and winger John Milligan dashed half the field to score under the posts. JD Otten added the convert and Markham were shell shocked and trailing 7 -0.

Aurora kept up the pressure and added further tries in the first half by Hulburt , on a neat move around the ruck, fullback Jamie Armstrong and winger Patrick Brooks. Otten added two more converts to make the score 26-0 at the half.

Aurora kept their foot on the pedal and did not let Markham back into the game in the second half. Tries in the second half were scored by hooker Khalil Ajram and prop Calvin Craven. Otten again added another conversion. A late try was all that Markham could generate.

U18s clinch Play-off Spot
August 03, 2006
Last night the U18s defeated the Torontot Nomads to clinch a play-off spot in the Toronto Rugby Union (TRU) U18 league. The victory put the Aurora squad in sixth place and a first round match up with Balmy Beach. The hero of the night was fullback Jamie Armstrong who scored one try in each half. Inside center JD Otten added two conversions and one penalty that iced the game and crushed any hope of a Nomads' comeback.

Aurora U18s lose TRU quarterfinal match
The U18s season game to close last night, with a 24-17 defeat to Balmy beach in the first round of the TRU play-offs. The team played one of their best games of the season against the Beach. It was a hard fought game from start to finish as Aurora has something to prove after suffering one of their biggest defeats ever, 40-0, to the Beach in the regular season.

Aurora came out firing on all cylinders and quickly took the game to the Beach forwards. A series of grinding mauls and rucks pushed the ball deep into Beach territory. From there powerful #8 Ira Greenberg crashed over and Aurora were on the board. The lead was stretched to 10-0 when Greenberg added his second try of the night 10 minutes later.

However, the Beach were not about to let Aurora sweep away with a victory on their home field and came storming back. They moved the ball quickly to the wing where Canada Youth winger Ryan MacSween dashed down the sidelines and under the posts to get the Beach right back in the game. The successful convert pulled them to within three points.   A penalty kick on the stroke of halftime meant that the game was tied at the midway point.

The second halfway was a seesaw affair with the Beach taking the lead and Aurora fighting back with a try from winger Patrick Brooks and a conversion from JD Otten. Unfortunately it wasn't enough and Balmy Beach held on for the victory.