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Lofthouse finds home on provincial rugby squad lzarh'er this year, the 21-year- uld Swutfviflv resident elected ll) audition with the pnwincial senior men's team for the first lime. "lthflkude'b 7mg . um lessc Lufthouse isn't (mé' to back down fmm a challenge. [specially when it mint-3 to rugby. V'teing for a spot with 50 others. lnfthnuse received the word last week one day after the final prac- tice with an intrasquad match in Oshawa. he was one of six new faces who made this year’s Ito-member team known as the Ontario Blues. “l! was definiter a hard team to make." said Lofthouse, who played an some of Stoufivifle District ondary School's (ilk.- teams. Fl've Mission accomplished {or the fullbacbwith the Markham Irish Rugby Football (Ilub men's firs! BY MICHAEL IMYAKAWA "When I was with the under~ 17’. m and IS)» you were playing with one specific age group. But m the nu-n’s trynutx it was difi‘cn-m. II was kindnf “kt! playing buys ugama! men. I! W215 a bit intimidating.” Bu! Inflhuuw was on the coaches; radar. lhanks to playing with those age-gmup lawns» played on tho under-17s. undm- 18 and under-19 provincial (palm in (hr past but {his nnv was Ilw hig- gust Chalk'ngt-f' It also didn't hurt that two of lofthouso's coaches with the Irish dub, Mark \‘Vmukur and Rodin Lumda. were on the men's team staff and knew how he could per- form under pressure. "They told me hefnrv the final practice that l wuuld probably make the team." he "But I still went out there during‘the final intra squad match and played as. hard as I could.” lnfthouse and his team are JESSE LOFWOUSE: Stouffvme Secondary yad plying m when 305 this weekend In Bumngton. SPORTS high school and club ball. "brdan always pushed me to get better. growing up everything I learned was from him.” [panama Originally a fly half at Sfoufivillc Secondary and Seneca College. lnfthouse was convened to the fullback wilh the Irish. Lofthouse was quick to cmdil people, including his bmzh- cr. Ionian. win) phyed with him in As well. memwasthecoadflng he received frmn individuals such as Jamie Hewitt at Stoufiville Sec- Sir-me my» W arm a mom or an «ume And keep‘ on accepting chal- |enges as they came his way. « In the past. Lufthouse emer- talncd such thoughts. But since thanime. dmedreamshave faded away. hemnfessed. ‘Rigxtnawl'lliustgoomand trytoworkhardandgetbenerasa Having piayed within the pru- vincial system. a natmal progres- sion might be to take the new step and compete at the national level.