(BURLINGTON, ON) – The Ontario Blues Senior Men’s team welcomed the Glendale Raptors to Sherwood Forest Park today for a pre-Canadian Rugby Championship friendly match. The Ontario Blues battled the windy conditions to take the game 43-25 over the Glendale side, who were recently named as a member of newly formed Major League Rugby.
The provincial side from Ontario’s meeting with the newly-dubbed professional rugby squad from Colorado was a matchup for the ages – American Pacific Champions take on the Canadian Rugby Champions in a battle of pride.
The Raptors came out strong, showing their brute offensive force, pinning the Blues defense into their end. After eight minutes, they penetrated the Blues’ line and took a 5-0 lead. The Blues answered back with a try of their own from Mike Sheppard and a successful conversion from Andrew Ferguson. The Blues and Raptors traded tries for the rest of the half, but the difference came in the kicking category, as the Blues were able to convert two of their tries, despite the windy conditions. The Blues went into half with a 24-15 lead.
In the second half, the Raptors converted an early penalty kick to get within three six points of the Blues, but it was the closest they would come. The Blues recorded three tries and two conversions in the half, while the Raptors generated a try, conversion and a penalty kick. The Blues came out victorious, winning the cross-border clash 43-25.
Highlights of the match included two tries from Kainoa Lloyd (Mississauga), four conversions from Andrew Ferguson (Crusaders) and a strong defensive performance from the Ontario side.
Scoring Report
Ontario Blues
Tries: Mike Sheppard, Jeremy Wright, Kainoa Lloyd x2, Andrew Ferguson, Eric Howard, Lucas Rumball
Conversions: Andrew Ferguson x4
Glendale Raptors
Tries: Maximo De Achaval, Seth Halliman, Brian Walness, Chad London
Conversions: Maximo De Achaval
Penalty: Maximo De Achaval
Ontario Blues Sr. Men Roster
1 ROB BROUWER, LINDSAY
2 ERIC HOWARD, BRANTFORD HARLEQUINS
3 RYAN SURGENOR, BYTOWN BLUES
4 HENRY MCQUEEN, BALMY BEACH
5 MIKE SHEPPARD, STONEY CREEK CAMELS
6 JEREMY WRIGHT, LINDSAY
7 LUCAS RUMBALL, BALMY BEACH
8 SEBASTIEN PEARSON, LONDON ST. GEORGE’S
9 ANDREW FERGUSON, CRUSADERS
10 SHAWN WINDSOR, STONEY CREEK CAMELS
11 KAINOA LLOYD, MISSISSAUGA BLUES
12 JOSH CAMPBELL, LONDON ST. GEORGE’S
13 JON WEST, CRUSADERS
14 DAN MOOR, BALMY BEACH/CASTAWAY WANDERERS
15 RORY MCDONNELL, BRANTFORD HARLEQUINS
16 ANDREW QUATTRIN, AURORA BARBARIANS
17 DJUSTICE SEARS-DURU, CRUSADERS
18 PATRICK LYNOTT, BYTOWN BLUES
19 PAUL CIULINI, AURORA BARBARIANS
20 ANDREW WILSON, CRUSADERS
21 JOHN SHERIDAN, MARKHAM IRISH
22 ALEX COLBORNE, TORONTO SCOTTISH
23 MARIO VAN DER WESTHUIZEN, GUELPH REDCOATS
ABOUT RUGBY ONTARIO
Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to establish a stronger identity for rugby in Ontario by promoting the sport’s core values and by fostering a culture of inclusiveness and excellence on and off the field of play.
To learn more, visit https://www.rugbyontario.com/
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Kevin Baxter
Communications Coordinator - Rugby Ontario
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