Game Report: August 12, 2006

Men’s Third Team
Aurora’s Third Team launched the beginning of “Black Saturday” (since all three Aurora teams won) by crushing the Irish thirds, 40 – 17. The Irish fielded a serious team, but the Barbs’ lineup featured the right balance of experienced vets and opportunistic young players. Fly-half Brian Dandrade opened up the scoring only two minutes into the game. The rookie 8-man Will Johnson put a second try in a few minutes later. The winger, Alf Scharlach touched down a try at the 15 minute mark that came off a series of 5 pretty passes. The Barbs kicked a penalty and the Irish managed one try, leaving the score 20 – 7 at the half. Aurora came out with three more tries and a penalty kick in the second half and the Irish managed to put two tries of their own across. Scoring summary: 1 try each from: Brian Dandrade, Will Johnson, Alf Scharlach, Sam Soliman, Sasha Cartwright and Marcel Leblanc. Brian Dandrade kicked 2 penalties and 2 converts.

Men’s Second Team
The Aurora Barbarians 2 took a respectable victory from a sizable Irish side, defeating them 27 – 21. This could have been either side’s game. The Barbs scored early in the game but the Irish answered almost immediately. Momentum seemed to be going against Aurora, but with the Irish threatening to score from 5 metres out, rookie fullback J.D. Otten picked off a sloppy pass and ran it the length of the field. At halftime, Aurora held on to a 21 – 14 lead. The Irish scored early in the second half to knot the score. The Barbs notched up their defence and relied on the boot of scrum-half Bryn Davies to kick two penalties to put them ahead for good. Aurora stopped a last-minute attack at their 10-metre line to hang on to the win. Try-scorers: Chris Ludlow, JD Otten and Andrew Ttoulias. Bryn Davies was 100%, kicking 3 converts and 2 penalties.

Men’s First Team
This game had been tagged as "ORU Marshall Game of the Week" and it more than lived up to the advanced billing.

It was a game of speed, power, passion and everything that goes into a close and hard game. It is refreshing to read and report on positive aspects of Canadian and Ontario rugby - an Aurora Barbs win in a close and well contested game and a Canada victory in the RWC qualifying North American pool against U.S.A. Eagles - a great day for positive, entertaining rugby.

In many ways this was also a critical game in round 2 of the Marshall Division.. Clearly in today's fixture, the Irish had a game plan to continue their quest to move up the rankings and were coming off a 3 point win over the Crusaders and a decisive win over the Toronto Saracens. Including today's win, Aurora Barbs have won their last three Marshall League games against the Irish. Also of particular note, Aurora Barbarians swept all three games with the Seconds winning 27 - 21 and the Thirds winning 40 - 17 - this is the first white wash of the Irish by the Barbs since 1982!!

Today's game was a contrast in playing styles. Aurora Barbs continue to play open, flowing rugby with a focus on opening the ball into the backs. In contrast, the Irish game plan was to play tight, driving rugby with the ball being driven on by their forwards. It was also significant that both teams were almost at full strength, the Irish missing out-half Ed Gardiner and Prop Kip Witherspoon and Aurora Barbs missing full-back Damon McLaughlin and Ryan Stickle.

Aurora Barbarians started off with an excellent 15 minutes of aggressive and open rugby - Fly-half Dave Poettcker had a wonderful return to club rugby after his vacation in Italy with the CIAU Men's 7's team in the FISU competition and the excitement of traveling back from Europe over the last four days. Dave scored the first try at 12minutes by a clean break past the Irish #10 and running under the posts for a well taken try - he followed up by converting to put the Barbs up by 7.

The Irish continued with their game plan to keep the ball tight and play a pick and drive offence - over the last three seasons Aurora have learned how to absorb this tactic and stop the drive early. The "veteran" Irish pack play this close game well with Steve Conlon, Mark Thompson, Roderigo Lacasse and George Azar taking turns to carry the ball into contact. But Aurora Barbs now tackle hard and get amongst the Irish to disrupt the drive. On this day the Barbs pack had an outstanding game and more than met the threat of the Irish pack.   The Barbs were able to win enough "good ball" in the opening 20 minutes to establish a base in the Irish half. At 22 minutes Dave Poettcker   attempted a penalty from the 22 meter,   but was wide.   But three minutes later Dave made another beautiful break past the Irish #10 and went 20 meters before he passed to Steve Shortly who completed the try by running from the 22 under the posts, the try converted by Dave and a 14 - 0 lead for Aurora.

We have come to expect that the Irish will claw their way back into a game by their forward drive and in the next 15 minutes they drove up the park to establish the territorial bridgehead for scoring/ Their first try came off a line-out at the 5 meter line from a penalty; the Irish won the line-out and drove over for an unconverted try - Aurora lead 14 - 5. The Irish second score came from a broken play in the Barbs 22 meter and resulted in a second unconverted try. Within a minute the half-time whistle bought a welcome break, with the Barbs leading 14 - 10.

As they say in darts, "Game on" - every expectation for an exciting second half to   match the first. The spectators were not disappointed as both teams continued to play excellent, tough and uncompromising rugby. The Irish momentum continued and at 10   minutes Roderigo Lacasse blasted over for the third unconverted Irish try - ICRC 15 ABRFC 14. In the best 20   minutes both packs hammered away at each other with the net result that both teams exchanged penalties. Aurora #10 Dave Poettcker kicked Aurora into 1 17 - 15 lead and three minutes after ICRC fullback Jason Verstraten replied to put the Irish into a one point lead, 18 - 17! Can spectators, coaches, game officials and players ask for much more from a game of rugby?

The final 15 minutes were outstanding - both teams trying desperately to establish field position. With 8 minutes remaining Aurora Barbs drove deep into the Irish half and was rewarded with a penalty on the 5 meter line - Scrum-half Rob Ashwood, (enjoying another outstanding game), took a quick tap to himself and dived over for a try, which was converted by Dave Poettcker for a lead of 24 - 18. The Irish responded by driving down to the Barbs half and after a penalty kick into the corner, they looked to repeat their drive over try from the line-out. The Barbs were able to disrupt the play and win the ruck and Ashwood cleared the ball 30 meters up field. The final three minutes   were played in mid-field with both teams giving everything to break through for a final score. Finally referee Bob Weir, (who had a good day officiating), blew for time -   Aurora Barbarians 24 - ICRC 18.

This was a great advert for Marshall Division rugby. This correspondent was impressed by the effort and commitment from both teams -   no quarter asked, none given. The difference on the day was three conversions but the reality is that rugby won - the players gave everything and this latest episode showed what an excellent rivalry has developed   with the Irish over the last three seasons.

Aurora Barbarians move to 8 and 1 in 2006 Marshall division with five games to go. Each one of these games will present different challenges. Although Dave P. scored 14 points there was no Aurora Barbs player of the game - the success of the Barbs lies in the fact that every player on the 1st team squad gives his all, week in and week out, and   a genuine commitment from all to play solid and totally physical rugby. Today was another excellent display of a well coached and prepared team.