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Oakville's newest team claims provincial soccer title 25 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 12, 2009 Continued from page 24 Evan James finished a low cross into the middle with a one-time volley into the open side of the London net in the 43rd minute. Oakville nearly doubled its lead five minutes into the second half but Tevin Wynter's header off a free kick was ruled offside. Meanwhile, Oakville's defenders limited the chances and when shots did get through, keeper Robert Meinert was there to make the save. James looked to seal the victory but was denied on two breakaway opportunities in the final minutes. "Their goalkeeper kept it close," said Iafrati. It may take a hot keeper to prevent Oakville from repeating. Meinert, who attended the IMG Academy in Florida, is one of only two players who graduate from the under-21 ranks next season. While he will be missed -- he is tied for the league lead in shutouts and, with support from his defence and midfielders, has helped Oakville post the lowest goals-against average in the league -- the rest of the team returns virtually intact. And there won't be any worries about goal scoring. Oakville scored 44 times in its 12 league games and has four players among the league's top scorers, with James topping the list with 15 goals. "They're young," Brown said, "So hopefully they can continue to perONTARIO CUP CHAMPS: Oakville won the under-21 Ontario Cup championship by defeating the Forest City form at a high level." London Reserves 1-0. Team members are: (back row, from left) coach Neil Brown, Matt Maughn, Theo Koolen, Dominic For now, they'll relish this year's title. Brown was surprised to learn Bell, Tevin Wynter, Andrew Pastoric, Adrian Sikorski, manager Dan Pastoric, (middle row, from left) Rahul Sagar, Matt before the final that only five players had won a championship. Next time Nellich, Rishawn Simpson, Jordan Fairclough, Shaddy Elshammah, Tyler Wason, coach Phil Iafrati, (front row, from left) that question is posed, they can all proudly raise their hands. Anthony Doran, Victor Jiminez, Lucas Paron, Robert Meinert, Kwesi Williams, Envoy "Jr" Ellis and Evan James. World-class rugby comes to Appleby College By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Canadian women's rugby team will get a good indication of where it stands this week at Appleby College as it prepares for next year's World Cup. The Oakville school is playing host to the Women's Nations Cup, which kicked off Monday. Among the teams battling Canada for top honours are England and France. Canada has not faced either of those teams since the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup in Edmonton, where France topped Canada 17-8 to finish third, while England lost to New Zealand in the final. Now with the next World Cup just a year away, the teams are renewing acquaintances. "This is our biggest international competition other than the World Cup so we're looking forward to it," said Canadian flyhalf Brooke Hilditch. "It's really important to us to see how the squads have changed." Though the team has played many exhibition matches and has trips to England, New Zealand and Australia planned for the fall and winter, the 29-year-old Mississauga native said tournament rugby is the best test for a team. "You only have a few days between each of your games," she said, "so you need a lot of players that can go on at any time. You have to have that depth because injuries are pretty likely after intense international games." Hilditch said England, coming off a victory at the 6 Nations Cup, will be the team to beat in the tournament. It was England that denied Canada a spot in the last World Cup final, edging the Canadians 10-6 in the semifinals. Hilditch, one of 10 returning members of that team, played rep soccer growing up and did not find the high school game to be as exciting. So, in Grade 10, she decided to try Churchill-Smith 11th at national junior tourney Brian Churchill-Smith finished in a tie for 11th at the Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championship at the Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener. Churchill-Smith finished with a fourround total of 295, three over par for the tournament. He shot rounds of 75, 74, 75 and 71. Only seven of the 155 golfers in the field finished under par. This week Churchill-Smith is playing in the Royal Canadian Golf Association's Canadian Men's Amateur Championship in Blainville, Que. Churchill-Smith shot a round of 72 to earn one of the seven qualifying spots for the tournament. His even-par round tied four other golfers for the low round. He shot a 77 in Monday's opening round. JON CURRIE / OAKVILLE BEAVER READY FOR THE WORLD: Brooke Hilditch, left, passes the ball to a teammate as Canada's national women's rugby team works out at Appleby College Tuesday in preparation for the Nations Cup. Canada will play its first three games at Appleby College, including Thursday's opener against South Africa. something new -- rugby. She earned her way on to Ontario's under-19 team and later on to the national under-23 squad. "I guess there were fewer women playing rugby so it was easier to move up the ladder," she said. "It's been a lot of hard work but it's been awesome. I've been able to travel the world." Canada plays its first three games at Appleby College, Thurs., Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. against South Africa, Sun., Aug. 16 at 4 p.m. versus France and Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. against the United States. Canada plays its final game in Markham Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. against England. Other games at Appleby College include: France vs. England, 4:30 p.m. Thursday; South Africa vs. USA, 2 p.m. Sunday and Sponsored by: A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club England vs. South Africa, 4:30 p.m. Aug. 19. OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB Steve Soroko Week Twelve Photo Contest Winner: The Oakville Beaver and