Irish Canadian Rugby Club 51 - Brampton Beavers 5
19 / 10 / 02
McCormick Cup Quarterfinals

After a minute silence for the late John Dixon, centre Jason Verstraten's second try of the game after nine minutes stood as the winner as the Marshall Division champion Irish routed Keenan Division champs Brampton by 51-5 on Saturday at Fletchers Fields Stadium.

On a chilly, windy day, Irish managed four tries and a 22-0 lead playing into the wind, then added five more in the second half against a determined but slow-reacting Beavers side.

Verstraten took an off load from Ed Gardner for 50 meters to open the scoring, then beat cover wide to make it 12-0 after nine minutes. Wing Istvan Mozes scored two more tries before the first half ended with an extended Brampton siege of the Irish line.

Oren Smith took Verstraten's pass 30 meters to open the second half; Brampton then scored from in close with Ramzi Azar in the sin bin; Verstraten wove through the Beaver defence on a pick and go to increase the lead to 34-5 before retiring to the bench with a hat trick; and Mozes scored three more tries to bring his game total to five before referee David Mew blew up five minutes early to end the proceedings.

The win puts the Irish into the semi-final round for the sixth straight year, hosting Balmy Beach next Saturday at 2:30 (note KO time). The Beach scored two late tries to subdue Markham 27-10 in their quarter final.

The development side got a try (his second of the game) from fullback Jake Denes to tie Oakville 17-17 in their round robin game. The greens, who trailed 17-0 in the second half, also host the Beach next Saturday (1 pm KO), with the winner advancing to the final.

 "Our forwards provided a good platform," said Irish coach Mark Winokur "and our backs were coming from too many different angles for Brampton to handle. That will not happen nearly as easily next week, and we will be making extensive changes in personnel and game plan against a very hot Beach side."

Home field is only an advantage if we have support; make the time to come and give us a 16th man next Saturday!