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A22 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, September 12, 2008 SPLjn"ORTS SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail aleblanc@miltoncanadlanchampion.com SLEDGE SHOWDOWN: National sledge hock- ey teamn hopefuls compete in Sundays inter-squad scrimmage at Milton Sports Centre. The game was part of a three-day selection camp in town for Canada's squad. Thirty players tried oui for a chance to compete ai the 2009 IPC Sledge Hockey World Championships in the Czech Republic. GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION Kickboxer earns two-sfight split in South Africa End of unbeaten streak doesn't discourage Scarfe By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF fI was bound 10 happen sooner or later. With that in mind, Steve Scarfe met bis firsi kickboxing defeat - coming laie lasi month in Pretoria, South Africa - with min- imal disappointment. Afier aIl, the 24-vear-old Miltonian was facing bis stîffesi competition 10 date - and a continuation of bis opening-round knock- out sîreak would have been a bit toc, much to expeci ai the Intercontinental Championships. To that end, the six-foot- îwo-inch, 185-pounder was quite pleased 10 corne away frornt bis second taste of interna- tional experience witb a two-fighî split. "These were by far rny îoughesî matches and l'm a better figbîer than I was going in,' said Scarfe. Having needed less iban îhree minutes 10 beat aIl seven of bis previous opponents - including one in bis inter-national debut lasi year in Trinidad - there was some question as to wbetber the local kickboxer could go the distance. He silenced those concernis in bits first challenge, scoring a unanimnous decision over a hosi cornpeuîtor with about îhree limes as many fighis under bis belt. Despite feeling a bit jet-lagged, Scarfe controlled the majority of the three-round bout and nearly grounded the South African in the second - dropping him iwice and seemningly doing so again jusi before the bell. However, tbat third faîl - wbicb would have meant an auîomatic tecbnical knock- out - was deemed a slip. Having since reviewed the footage, Scarfe disagrees with the ruling. "It wasn't a slip, I dropped him again." But Miltons kickboxer was hardly irked by the decision, given the fact thai il allowed him 10 furîher test - and prove - bis endurance. "My stamina and defence were preîîy good. This is the firsi lime I'd had to take any real shots, but it wasn't anything I couldn't bandle,' said Scarfe, sebo dropped his latesi victim with a right cross and lefi hook respecîively However, the îwo-time national team member admits be wasn't quite prepared for tbe rigours of fighting in consecutnve weeks. That plus a far more seasoned Soutb African opponeni - a world cbampionsbip competitor witb more tban 40 fights overaîl -proved t0 be an insurmountable combi- nationjust seven days later. Though holding bis own through the early going, Scarfe suf- fered a second-round TKO. "Near the end of the firsi round he caught me wiih a big hook ibat raîîled me. 1 was pretiy hazy for the second round, with a bit of double vision. From there he goi me along the ropes and jusi overwhelmed me'" Nevertbeless, Scarfe sees bis laiest inter- national competîtion as a positive experi- ence - realîzing that more is learnied îhrough defeat than in victory "Viewing the film, theres some thîngs 1 need to improve on, like working my jab more on these shorter guys so they don't gel inside on me," he said. Scarfe rnay not have long 10 waiî before puuting his newfound lessons to good use. Missing bis first crack ai the Bian Douglas's Canadian cruiserweigbt title ibis pasi spring - due 10 a broken nose - bels îentaîively set for another shot ai the Burlington champ next montb in Oakville. j STAGS BASKETBALL CLUB 0F MILTON REP TEAM TRY*OUTS 2008-09 SEASb-L-ON MYlSiOtIM 1110 laya & Girls ($@page) DATE: Thamy, Sept. 101h & 211h unM: 0;m te10;.: LoCATIO St. Aatheay ef maon schi - 1240 TWppor hto DIV11111111: U12 &1Uloys DATE: Moy Seo. 22ud flML S:lSpm ta t45po LOUATIOU: MiNas Loise couter - 1luN Main St. Endt CM.T $7.W OMM:SIOU4 &U1Ieyal DATE: FrIdmys, Sept. 101 & 201h TIME: 8:310;.w te 1p.: LOCATIO lihop liadig US - 1120 Mata St. Eut CW. $1o.111 IIVISIOt15 À Ul4 Girls DA111IL Fnidmys, Sep. 19»@ & 211h TIML 830;.a ta 1lem LOcATIO: liah e tlait US - 112UMain St. End Cosi. 18.11 INIIO:115 Boys DATE. Fridmys, SeOM. lfth & 211h LOCATIU: Blahp Rédlag MS - 1120 Main St. Eut CaS1T. $1s.00 Rogistration larms can ho dawnloaded on aur wobuite." www.stagsbaSkolball.Com LIMITED SPACE - REGISTER NOW! et; y« wod muera Iaformation, ploaaue omul en at qul nfo@stagshasetbaIl.com or cmli (905) 875-4010