A solid defensive performance led an under strength Irish Canadian side past Brantford 25-3 in Pool C McCormick Cup play Saturday in Brantford.

Playing away on a beautiful fall afternoon, Irish shut down Brantford almost completely to win by four tries to zero.

With starters Seb Orsi, Ramzi Azar, Chris Gallimore, Oren Smith and Jadon Schmidt sidelined, the greens opted for a more conservative game plan that seemed to baffle the Harlequins.

A Dale Burleigh try gave the Irish a 5-0 lead after 18 minutes; Barclay Luke kicked a penalty for the Quins, but another driving try for a score made it 10-3 Irish into the win at the end of the first half. Peter Crocker and Mark Thompson scored in the second half to earn the bonus point, and Ed Gardner added a conversion and goal to round out the scoring.

The win propels the Irish to the top of Pool C; the group winner will be decided on October 13 at Fletchers when the Irish take on the Toronto Barbarians.

"This was a very scrappy and difficult game," noted Irish coach Mark Winokur, "but we did all the things necessary to win, and it was a very solid and comprehensive victory." 

With most of the injured players returning to the fold, training resumes this Thursday at Richmond Green, with sessions on the following Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the match with the Barbs.