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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, August 15, 2013 | 24 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Oakville trio helps Ontario claim national rugby title by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff Sports "Connected to your Community" Dan Valley says players never come back quite the same. A trip to the national championships have a way of transforming a player, and if that's the case, the Oakville Trafalgar girls rugby team should be in even better shape as it chases its seventh straight Halton title and looks to return to the provincial podium. Three Red Devil players -- Maddy Seatle, Bailey Dean and Charlotte Dunn -- led Ontario to the under-18 women's gold medal at the Rugby Canada national festival in Vancouver. "All three made significant contributions," said Valley, OT's coach and an assistant coach with the Ontario team. "They're all back next year and we've seen in the past, this experience with the provincial program puts them at a different level." Ontario went 5-0 at the tournament, capping the tournament with a 25-5 victory over British Columbia in the final. Ontario had blanked its western rivals 27-0 in round-robin play, but was taking nothing for granted in the final. "B.C. is definitely one of the better teams so there's always potential for them to turn it around," said Dunn, who finished second in scoring at the national tournament with 45 points. Dunn played lock and handled the kicking duties for Ontario. As impressive Dunn's point totals were, Valley said it was her defensive game that really stood out. He said she played as well as he's ever seen, "and I've seen her play a quite a bit. She was one of the reasons we were able to keep them at bay and shut the door." Opponents got used to Ontario slamming the door in their face. It didn't allow more than seven points in a game and surrendered just 15 points in total in the tournament. Seatle topped that total herself with four tries in the tournament, the third most of any player. "She's a finisher," Valley said. Though she's played in three provincial Ontario's win at the Canadian women's under-18 title got a big assist from Oakville players, from left, Bailey Dean, Charlotte Dunn and Maddy high school tournaSeatle. The trio helped Ontario go 5-0 at the national championships in Vancouver, including a 25-5 win over British Columbia in the final. ments, Seatle said it | Nikki Wesley -- Oakville Beaver didn't take long to realize the level of play Dean played soccer until she arrived at OT. team next spring. Having won last year's Halwas stepped up a notch at nationals. Every Having heard so much about the sport, she de- ton final 48-0, the Devils can often get by on player had a strong rugby background. cided to try it. Three years later, she's hooked. brute force, though a little creativity can come "In high school, you have some really good "I like the strategy and making quick deci- in handy at the provincial tournament. athletes who can get by on their speed and sions on the run," Bailey said. "You play de"We learned a lot of different skills and strength. At nationals, everybody knew how to fence and offence so you're never out of the plays," Dunn said. "It just teaches you to hit, how to pass. It was a massive difference." game. You always have a job to do." try different things than you would in high And two days after claiming her gold medal, Valley said she has proven to be a quick school. In high school you don't always need Seatle didn't need to be reminded that her op- study since working her way into the Red to try new things." ponents were proficient tacklers. Devils' starting lineup. And Dean, who scored And with a national title on the line, the "You get hit hard. I'm feeling it today," she the game-winning try against Manitoba after players learned how to take their game to a said. breaking free for a 40-metre run, said playing new level. Dean fully agreed, after playing five games on the provincial team has given her a boost "Everyone really wanted it," Seatle said. in five days. in confidence. "We were very determined and focused. Ev"They told us before, `You're going to feel it.' "She's probably come the furthest of anyone ery game was like a gold-medal game. That's You don't realize the toll it takes until you go through this whole experience," her coach what I'll bring back, is to treat every game like to warm up and you feel stiff." said. "She played with a physicality I've never that." seen." And with a trio of national champions on Dunn believes what the players learned -- their roster, the Red Devils may very well find and there could have very well been a fourth themselves in that situation in the spring. OT player had Hannah Howden not suffered -- Follow regional sports reporter an injury -- will benefit their high school Herb Garbutt on Twitter, @herbgarbutt OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB Week Twelve Photo Contest Winner: Photographer: Koreen Ott Age Division: B-U4 (Tim Hortons) Sponsored by: A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club On Now at The Brick! For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com.