Irish Canadian Rugby Club 30 - Oakville Crusaders 26
14 / 09 / 02
League

The Irish Canadians scored three tries in a 20 minute burst in the second half to hand Crusaders their first home defeat in over three years, by 30 points to 26.

The top class match, played on another in an unending string of hot Saturdays', gives the Irish a 51 point total for the season, eight more than second place York, who lost at Balmy Beach on Saturday.  Any combination of points totalling two between York and Irish gives the greens the league title.

The Irish took an early 10-0 lead on a Kyler Petrie try and Ed Gardner's' conversion and penalty.
Oakville countered with a try and two penalties to take an 11-10 halftime lead.

Irish came out for the second half with fire, and touched down three times (Kyler Petrie, Orenthal Smith and Istvan Mozes) against a Terry Wallace drop goal to forge a 30-14 lead into the last 15 minutes.  Cru attacked with fervour and scored to make it 30-19 with nine to go, then scored again in injury time to narrow the gap-the Irish reclaimed possession to kill the clock, and take hold of the league lead.

The Development side, playing their best game of the year, upset Cru by 37-27 to solidify their hold on second place in the division.  Firefighter Calendar boy Martin Herde had 20 points on two tries and five kicks for the Irish.

The thirds, obviously missing most of their young talent, were beaten 34-7 by Cru but remain second in the Marshall 3rd division.

"We raised our game considerably for this one," said a relieved Irish coach Mark Winokur afterwards.  "We tried to compete better on first phase than in the first match in June, and our overall play was much tighter than it has been.  This gives us a chance to clinch next week against York, although that will be a very, very tough game."

The club host York next Saturday at Fletchers in the crucial match-up, before finishing the league season the following week at Markham.