Mustangs rugby falls short in OFSAA Championships

June 8, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The St. Maximilian Kolbe Mustangs saw their rugby season end on the province’s biggest stage last weekend, competing in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AAA championship at Fletcher’s Field in Markham.

The ninth-ranked Mustangs squad drew some even competition in opening the tournament against Lorne Park Secondary, who entered the tournament in eighth.

Speed was the factor in a 28 – 14 loss, as Lorne Park rushed out to an early lead.

St. Max played catch-up efficiently in the first half, but their opponents were able to pull away in the latter.

Moving to the consolation bracket, the Mustangs fell short of sixteenth-seed Lawrence Park Saturday morning to be eliminated from the tournament.
Down by only a try in a 12 – 5 score heading into the half, Mustang Jordan Torres tied it at twelves with a late score. Lawrence Park retaliated, holding on for an eventual 17 – 12 win.

The Mustangs reached the Ontario tournament as York Region Athletic Association finalists, clinching a top-ten seed in the tournament despite a 23 – 12 loss to Markham’s Bill Crothers Colts in the Regional final. St. Max finished atop the YRAA standings this spring, playing to a 4-1-1 record including a tie with the Colts just weeks prior.

The sixth-seed Colts managed to reach the second round of the OFSAA championship bracket on home turf with a 25 – 5 drubbing of Banting Memorial H.S. on Thursday, only to fall in a 5 – 0 game in the second round to Oakville Trafalgar that saw only one try, scored in the second half.

First-ranked Uxbridge Secondary School won the gold medal game Saturday afternoon over Oakville Trafalgar.

Denison Secondary School of Newmarket was the YRAA’s lone participant in the A/AA bracket, played last weekend in Cobourg. They fell in the first round of the consolation bracket to host club St. Mary.