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Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports Try, try, try again 23 | Friday, May 27, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" OT junior rugby boys storm to sixth straight Halton title By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff Oakville Trafalgar's Josh Sullivan dives into the try zone with the ball during Tuesday's senior boys Tier 1 high school boys' rugby final against the Loyola Hawks at Sherwood Forest Park in Burlington. OT won 49-12. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Burlington Post OT runs over Hawks in Halton rugby final the Loyola Hawks who were being turned around in OT's 49-12 victory in the Halton senior boys' rugby final. Johnson's run through the Loyola team was the kind of play that made you believe he had been doing this type of thing his whole life -- which he pretty much has been. Johnson first picked up a rugby ball when he was six years old after his aunt bought him a membership at the Crusaders Rugby Club. His aunt thought he might enjoy the sport as much as his cousins. Johnson still calls upon his cousins, national team members Phil and Jamie Mackenzie, for pointers. "Especially Phil, since we play the same position and have the same build." Though many of his Oakville Trafalgar Red Devil teammates may not have got the same early start in the sport, the team has a way of attracting the school's top athletes. Winner of 26 of the last 28 Halton championships, Oakville Trafalgar is annually among the province's best teams. It is one of the few teams capable of winning an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations medal. One step remains in OT's bid to return to OFSAA -- today's Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference final against Cathedral. see ORU on p. 25 By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff Dominic Johnson charged down the field toward a Loyola defender, dipped his shoulder as he prepared to take a hit and then quickly planted his foot and darted in the opposite direction, leaving his opponent grasping at his wake. The Oakville Trafalgar wing then sidestepped another opponent clearing an open path for him to touch the ball down under the posts for his first of three tries. It may have been the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils wearing their jerseys inside out -- both teams arrived wearing black -- but it was Twenty minutes into the Halton junior boys rugby final, it looked like someone had finally found a way to cool off the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils. The undefeated Red Devils had just scored a pair of tries in five minutes. The first saw Chris Elliot break free at midfield, outrace a pack of T.A. Blakelock players to touch the ball down and break a 7-7 tie. The Red Devils immediately went back on the offensive and Jack Porter's try put OT up 21-7. And just when it looked like nothing could slow down the Red Devils, they were stopped dead in their tracks when the field's sprinkler system came on. But even the sudden shower couldn't cool off OT. As soon as play resumed, Elliot got free again and capped another long run for his second try of the day. The Red Devils would build a 35-7 lead by the half on their way to a 54-14 victory and their sixth straight Halton title -- and 14th in 16 years. After posting a very unOT-like 3-3 record last season -- but still managing to find its stride in the playoffs and defend its title -- the Red Devils came out flying this season. They won their season opener 67-10 and won all eight of their games by at least 23 points. "Usually it takes some time to gel and figure things out," said OT coach David Schaffler. "These guys, right out of the gate, were very coachable and bought in." Andrew Easson, who converted seven of OT's eight tries, said playing in the summer with the Crusaders Rugby Club helps a lot of the OT players gain experience they can't get in a short high school season. "A lot of Grade 9s that come in go to Cru and they come back way better players," he said. That leaves OT's opponents playing catch up. "It's the epitome of what a rugby program should be. They have great coaching, great players who have played at higher levels," said Blakelock coach Petar Jokic. "So when you know you're going to have to beat them to win, you put the emphasis on defence and tackling." Although OT struck for a try by Jake Howden just two minutes into the game, Blakelock managed to slow their attack. Jakob Chafe even managed to pull the Tigers even with a long run. The endless waves of OT rushes eventually work down the Tigers. Evan Hayes, Charlie Biggar, Deklan Williamson and Cameron Montague also scored tries for OT while Eric Gowling had Blakelock's other try and Nick Vu had a pair of converts. Despite the loss, Jokic saw promising signs from his Tigers' see OT on p. 24 Stay cool & save with an AC checkup Don't get sticky $ ONLY Regular price $119.99 49 * Early season AC checkup can help: prevent inconvenient breakdowns prolong the life of your equipment lower your monthly cooling bills CALL 1-866-907-0535 TODAY *Offer ends July 11, 2016. Certain terms and conditions apply. The price of $49 reflects a $70.99 discount + HST. Offer cannot be combined with another offer. Offer is not available in all areas. TMEnercare, the design and "It's Better Inside" are trademarks of Enercare Inc., used under license. $49ACCheckUp_Oakville