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Sports Oakville Beaver By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2009 37 Blakelock girls ready for a new challenge Tigers win second Division 2 rugby title ward to Tier 1," said the 16year-old Moors. "When I was in Grade 9 (when Blakelock won BURLINGTON -- The T.A. the Division 2 championship in Blakelock girls' rugby program its inaugural season), I wanted is ready to make the jump. to move up to Tier 1 and get The Tigers won their second more of a challenge, because Halton Division 2 title in the that's just the way I am. I'm program's three-year history glad we developed the program Wednesday at Sherwood Forest a little more, but I like when it's Park, blanking Georgetown's a challenge and you have to Christ the King work for it." "If you're (in a Jaguars 14-0 to conMoors believes clude a 9-0 season in scrum) and grab rugby has become which they allowed someone's crotch, the spring sport of only two tries. choice for girls at you get to know The Tigers had them pretty well." Blakelock. considered compet"It's a good sport. ing in Division 1 T.A. Blakelock girls' It teaches good this season, but rugby co-captain morals, helps build head coach Vicki Katelynne Moors self confidence for Woodhead was congirls, really builds cerned that a difficult season teamship," she said. "You get might kill the enthusiasm of her really close together... if you're young players. There are no (in a scrum) and grab someone's such fears anymore. crotch, you get to know them "We had some reservations pretty well." about moving up this year," said The team certainly appears to Woodhead, who was assisted get along. Players doused this season by Brian Vincent, Woodhead with a cooler of Carly Thomas and student water after the game, then celecoach Stuart Pole. "We wanted brated their championship by one more year as a building year spraying fake champagne all and also to gain the confidence over each other. of the girls, to have them realize "They're a very spirited they are good players. bunch of girls," said Vincent, "We'll take it to Tier 1 next "and rugby's all about support." year." Leslie Hisey and Hilary That's fine with Blakelock Newman scored the tries players like co-captain Wednesday for Blakelock, both Katelynne Moors, who wel- in the first half. comes the challenge. The Tigers Alida Carlin was good on outscored their opposition 212- both converts. 5 during the regular season. Blakelock's toughest game "Some girls in the change this season came against the room say they want to win like Abbey Park Eagles in the semifithat all the time, but it gets nals, where the Tigers pulled kind of boring. I'm looking for- out an 8-7 victory. CAT FIGHT: The T.A. Blakelock Tigers' Hannah Reinsborough (with ball) is taken down by a member of the Christ the King Jaguars Wednesday at Burlington's Sherwood Forest Park. Blakelock earned its second Halton high school girls' Division 2 rugby championship in three years with a 14-0 victory. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Hawks hold off Aldershot in boys' final By Kevin Nagel METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP BURLINGTON -- The Loyola Hawks came within one loss and a small patch of turf of letting a Halton Division 2 junior boys' rugby title slip away. But with a tense 12-8 victory over the Aldershot Lions last Friday at Sherwood Forest Park, the Hawks earned the right to carry the championship trophy for 2009. Aldershot had possession of the ball and was a few steps from crossing the tryline for what would have been a game-winning score. Loyola held on, however, until a game-ending whistle settled matters. It sent the Hawks players jumping for joy and some of the Aldershot players pounding their fists into the ground in frustration at coming so close to upsetting Loyola. At first glance, Aldershot, 3-1 in regular-season play, looked to have been the favourite, heading into the final against the 1-3 Hawks. Loyola, however, had three regular-season victories erased, including a convincing win over Aldershot, because of inadvertently using a couple of overage players. Without the forfeits, Loyola was 4-0 and cruising. The three losses, however, almost cost the Hawks a playoff position. "It was just an oversight on our part," said Luke van Koeverden, the junior coach and a former player for the Hawks. "We just moved them up to senior and they'll be sticking around next year." Aldershot showed a lot more skill in the rematch with Loyola, trading early tries with the Hawks and taking an 8-5 lead on a 24-metre penalty kick by Connor Organ midway through the half. Jeff Woodall had the first try for the Lions. Loyola's Salah Al-Ghareib gave Loyola the lead for good with a try late in the first half, converted by Mike Chun, who scored Loyola's first try, to complete the scoring for the afternoon. Both sides had excellent chances to score in the second half but failed to put any points on the board. It was a lot closer than the 26-0 loss -- later switched to a 9-0 Lions win -- that Aldershot suffered against Loyola early in the season. "I think maybe the experience we gained over the season (helped)," said Jarrett Flindall, Aldershot's coach. "We came out with full intensity this time around. I think the first game we were a little flat off the opening whistle." Van Koeverden noticed the improvement in the Lions' game as well. "They brought a bigger game this time," said van Koeverden, who held his breath in the last seconds watching his troops bend but not break. "Hey, that's good rugby -- lots of action and suspense."