Irish Canadian Rugby Club 18 - St. John's Swilers 14
30 / 04 / 05
Exhibition Match

Raf Kaczmareks’ dash to the corner capped a 60 meter burst that lifted Irish Canadians of the Ontario league to an 18-14 win over St Johns Swilers in pre-season action at a cold and windy Fletchers Fields on Saturday.

The game, held as part of the Ontario Kick Off Classic, capped a very challenging week for the greens as they hosted Young Canada the previous Sunday (29-18 loss).

Both teams were without key starters, but the Swilers, (who played as Newfoundland Rock on Thursday vs. Young Canada) still offered up a line up including elite players like Chris Mooney, Peter Densmore, Dale Pike, Phil Alcock, Mike Webb and Tyler Wish.

The game began with an Irish surge against the north wind, resulting in a penalty goal for Ed Gardner, 3-0 Irish.  Justin Meyers and Chris Mooney replied off forward drives for the visitors to make it 14-3, but Steve Conlon crossed after a stolen 5 meter scrum to reduce the halftime margin to 14-8.

With the wind and a man advantage (Mike Yetman in the bin for punching), Irish could only muster a Gardner goal to make it 14-11.  Yetman hurt his teams cause by getting a second yellow for punching with 28 to go, resulting in his banishment.  With nine minutes remaining, Jason Verstraten broke from his own end, gained the sideline and spun back inside to the covering Kaczmarek, who got to the corner only to be collar-tackled at the line.  The referee and touch judge conferred and agreed on the penalty try, which Gardner dutifully converted for an 18-14 lead.

The final minutes saw Newfoundland camped on the Irish line, and the drama heightened when Irish prop Rodrigo Lacassie was sin binned.  Irish defence and the Swilers inability to hold their own scrum killed the clock and the game.

Men of the match were Mooney for Swilers and Conlon for Irish, with Dale Pike and Jason Verstraten close behind.

“A great week for Canadian rugby,” said Irish coach Mark Winokur, “we have had five competitive games here in Ontario , despite the conditions, unavailbilities and so on, and Young Canada, Ontario , Niagara and Newfoundland should be praised for making this happen.  It got players playing outside their comfort zone and backyard, and will make everyone better.”

The development side suffered from last minute call-ups and a lack of cohesion, going down 27-0 to Peterborough 1st's.

Both Irish sides travel to Burlington for the last pre-season tune-up, with the Irish short six players who will be at the Eastern Canadian trials. Good luck to Kipp Wotherspoon, Ramzi Azar, Mark Thompson, Fabian Rayne, Ed Gardner and Jason Verstraten.