Game Report: August 28, 2007

Senior Men's First Team
Week 9: Aurora Barbarians RFC (ABRFC) 39 - Brampton Beavers R.F.C. 7

Finally, a joyous report, tinged with some sadness. First the joy, and then later the sad part, more about “good-byes” as players are going back to school and back to B.C.

What an excellent game by the unbeaten Aurora Barbs, the 11th win in 11 games and the tenth bonus point. A really good work-out against a tough and challenging Brampton Beavers R.F.C. team; this game renewed some excellent memories of a great rivalry between the Beavers and the Barbs dating back to Keenan days, and some old friendships and rivalries. So, what made it such a useful and enjoyable evening?

Frankly, this was the best that the Barbs have played in a long time. There was a passion and determination that has been missing for most of this season, and a physical side to the game to match the expansive game that we have come to expect. This was an excellent all round performance by the Barbs, against a team that played a tough and rugged style of competitive rugby – the type of game that we should expect in the Marshall Division every week of the season. So thank you to the Beavers for an entertaining and excellent game. Your correspondent continues to be surprised that the Beavers have not climbed higher in the standings as they have the nucleus of a very good and tough team, and have lost a number of games by small margins – look for a good fall from this team.

This make-up game was a replacement for the postponed game from August 11, and both teams were playing on three days break - the Aurora Barbarians were playing after the game against the Toronto Saracens R.F.C., and our hosts Brampton Beavers R.F.C. had also played on last Saturday against the Balmy Beach R.F.C. Hopefully, after Labour Day, the schedule should return to normal Saturday games for the balance of the season, as playing on three days recovery is physically demanding and tough on the players and coaching staff, and limits game preparation time. Over the course of the 2007 season, Brampton have had their own share of re-scheduled games, and have had a number of players called away for service with the Thunder and Rock in the RCSL.

Aurora Barbs were strengthened by the return of players who had been absent from last Saturday’s comprehensive win against the Saracens, the half-back pairing of Dave and Rob Ashwood, and back row player Shaun Allen. There were some interesting selections and positional changes, with Barbs veteran Brock Millar playing at #8 in his second consecutive game as he returns to the team for the fall season, and Dave Poettcker having a run-out at #15, with Damon McLachlan having another game on the wing. All of these moves paid dividends – but this was an all round team effort, demonstrating what makes the Aurora Barbarians such an exciting and entertaining team.

The Aurora Barbs started quickly, establishing field position from the opening kick-off, and at 5 minutes Marco “Deej” Di Girolamo had a nice run and took the ball into contact with the Brampton cover at the 5 metre line and Deej was driven over the line for the first try of the game - Dave P. made an excellent conversion kick from the touch line to open up a 7 – 0 score. Brampton took the ball into Aurora territory, and the next 10 minutes was a really strange sequence of play. Brampton used a penalty to drive down to the Barbs five meter line and the Barbs won possession to drive back-up to the half way line. The frustrating part was that this sequence was repeated four times - penalty against Aurora, Brampton kick to 5 metre, line-out, a maul, clean ball won by Aurora and clearing kick!! The Aurora defence was outstanding, and shut Brampton out when the home team had four attempts to drive the ball over. At one stage the Barbs won the ball in a line-out and drove for 25 metres down field before #10 Dave Ashwood put a beautiful kick down to the Beavers 22. Aurora won third phase ball and moved the ball thru the backs only for the Brampton cover to close down the options, but Dave Ashwood put up a beautiful chip kick over the cover and Damon McLachlan followed up to catch the ball in the in goal area – a true inspirational play from Dave Ashwood who chipped off the outside of his boot with the perfect position for Damon to make an excellent catch and score an exciting try. Dave P. came close with another difficult conversion attempt, ABRFC 12 Brampton 0.

The Barbs continued to play wonderful, open rugby with a number of exciting movements, and at 35 minutes the team drove into the Brampton 22, more good ball retention and recycling, ball driven forward by Dave Nielsen, ending with a ruck set-up at the Beavers 5 meter line, and suddenly Dan Resnick exploded over for a well taken try, (his second try in three games). This was the Barbs style that we have been waiting to see for the last six weeks!! The conversion was just short, ABRFC 17 Brampton 0.

Aurora came back immediately and set-up inside the Brampton 22. The pack won more recycled ball and on the third phase Rob Ashwood passed to Dave Ashwood who neatly scored a dropped goal, for the final score of a good first half, Barbs 20 Beavers 0.

The Aurora Barbarians started the second half with the same physical intensity that they had shown in the first 40 minutes, and the early minutes had two outstanding pieces of play: the first was an excellent clearing kick by #9 Rob Ashwood who took play from deep in the Barbs 22 to the Brampton 10 meter line. From the line-out the Barbs back row showed the type of play that has resulted in this unit becoming one of the best back rows in the Marshall. Dave Nielsen, (who had an outstanding game) made the initial break, moving the ball to Shaun Allen who carried the ball forward for 15 meters before passing the ball back to Dave Neilsen who drove the final 5 meters to score an outstanding try, (the fourth for the bonus point). Dave P. was successful with the conversion, ABRFC 27 Brampton RFC 0.

Typically, Brampton are one of those teams that will not quit and they came down the park to score an excellent try after a movement when the ball went through seven or eight pairs of hands, with the successful conversion ABRFC 27 Brampton 7. Was this the start of a Beaver comeback? Certainly they were playing some expansive rugby with their young full-back, (18 years old), making a number of exciting breaks and runs – this player has a good future in rugby, one to watch over the next 5 years!!

Dave Poettcker, who had an outstanding game at #15, (raising questions about where Dave will play the balance of his rugby career – he is that good a player that he could play#10, #15 or develop into a useful #9!!). Dave made a terrific 22 metre drop-out, driving the ball down field and into touch at the Brampton 10 metre line. At 30 minutes of the second-half Kai Sorensen came in at #9 for some deserved minutes, and settled in well. It is always a difficult task to come off the bench, but Kai started an excellent movement with the ball going to Jeremy Campbell who scored a well taken try, (his seventh try in 10 games this season), successful conversion by Dave P. ABRFC 34 Brampton 7.

Aurora Barbs were now in full flight, playing some of their most expansive and exciting rugby of the season. The team moved the ball with great confidence and every time they went into contact they recycled the ball from excellent rucks – the back row dominated play, and the final try of the game was a further example of how quickly this team can score a try from their own end of the field. The move started when Dave Nielsen won the ball after the Brampton backs had been well tackled – Dave moved the ball to Jeremy Campbell who used his speed to cut through the Brampton mid-field and when the cover came across Jeremy moved the ball back to Dave Neilsen who drove to the Brampton five metre line, when he passed to Dave Ashwood, who was backing up a move that had started 60 meters down field, and Dave went over for the final try of this important game. A fitting finale to a well played game, conversion missed, (unfortunate, that would have been a brilliant ending!), Aurora Barbarians R.F.C 39 Brampton Beavers R.F.C. 7.

Yes, a much improved performance, with the Barbs playing strong and direct rugby – rugby with intensity and passion, and with determination – something that we have been waiting to see for the last two months. There were some outstanding performances - the forwards won great ball all day, and Steve Bowie got through a huge amount of work. He was well supported by our reliable and tough front row, (Leighton, Rez, and Robbie), and by Gian “Johnnie” Montino, who had a great game, and the back row, where Dave, Shaun and Brock covered miles of field and dominated the Brampton half-backs. In his third game of the season Brock showed great strength and fitness and he will play a key role in the fall drive for the league and cup.

The backs were outstanding – they tackled hard and ran with authority and tremendous speed – in last weeks report it was suggested that the Barbs backs seem to get faster with each game – tonight this seemed to be true! There are few backs in the Marshall that can measure up to the all-round excellence of this group. Rob and Dave at half-back, (#9 and #10), had an excellent game, Jody Riggs showed why he is so highly regarded in the CDI league in B.C., as a hard and dominant runner, Jeremy, Damon and Marco were again excellent, Dave P. having an outstanding game at #15, and Kai again proved what a valuable player he is, and how important it is too have the depth that ABRFC now have developed.

All in all, an important game – Aurora played a good game, the type of game that they will need to play over the next two months as the schedule moves from the final weeks of the Marshall into the first rounds of the McCormick cup. The team now move into the final three games of the 2007 season but there are three hard games to come against second place Balmy Beach RFC, the excellent 2007 Marshall “rookies”, Stoney Creek Camels RFC and the Crusaders in the final game of the league – tough games that will require a similar effort to the game that the Barbs played tonight!!

And so to the sad part, the season’s goodbyes – to Dave P., Bryn, (absent tonight with a bad case of 48 hour flu and looking like hell!!!), Will Sorensen, Andrew “Cino” Ziricino, all the best for the school year and to Jody, thanks for your continued membership in the Barbs family – Jody has taken a rare summer holiday visit to his old playing fields and will be returning to B.C. to continue his studies.

For the rest of this excellent team, enjoy the Labour day holiday and we all look forward to the next fixture against Balmy Beach, Saturday 8th September at Fletcher’s Field. This promises to be a tough and exciting fixture.

And finally, the National Senior Men’s Team leave on Friday for the iRB 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The Aurora Barbarians wish the 2007 “Team Canada” every success in France and hope that the players, coaches and staff benefit from the outstanding preparation and hard work over the last 24 months. Go!! Canada Go!!