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24 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 Ontario Blues push English rugby squad to the limit By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The England Counties XV rugby team left Oakville with its undefeated record in Canada intact, but it certainly wasn't easy. The Ontario Blues nearly handed the English side its first loss on Canadian soil Tuesday at Crusader Park, carrying a 16-10 lead into halftime and holding a 23-22 advantage midway through the second half before the Counties scored 10 straight points and held on for a 32-26 victory. Tuesday's hard-hitting and entertaining match, played before a large and supportive crowd, was the Counties' second of a threegame tour through Canada. England posted a 20-6 win over Newfoundland last Friday in St. John's and will look to improve to 6-0 all-time against Canadian opposition when it visits the British Columbia Bears Saturday in Vancouver. English impressed by Blues The Counties' Daniel Baines was impressed with the fight put up by the Blues, who will represent Ontario at this year's national rugby championships in Newfoundland. "Ontario had some big lads out there," said Baines, who scored the winning try Tuesday. "They were a lot faster (than Newfoundland)." It appeared early on that the Counties would have their way against the Blues as England built a 10-0 lead before the game was six minutes old. But Ontario scored the final 16 points of the opening half and, despite slowing down as the game wore on, finished just one try from pulling off the upset. It was an encouraging showing for a young Blues squad that has its sights set on a Canadian title after falling four points short in last year's national final. DOWN YOU GO: Ontario Blues player Creag Johnston (bottom left) takes down England Counties' Paul Humphries during Tuesday's international rugby contest at Crusader Park. England survived a tough test from the Blues to prevail 32-26 and remain undefeated in Canada. MICHELLE SIU / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER "That team there is pretty much the third England team and we almost took them," said Oakville Trafalgar grad Alistair Clark, a longtime member of the Oakville Crusaders. "We have to keep in mind that we're still in preseason. (The Canadian championships) don't start until August 7. This is all building towards the greater goal of becoming a Canadian champion. For sure, this is a big step for the group, coming out and putting up that performance against an international-caliber side." Fellow Crusader Dan Pletch, who scored Ontario's first try Tuesday, was also pleased with the Blues' effort, adding that his team can learn a few things from its loss to the Counties. "It's a good team we played. They're fulltime professional players in Europe and we're a totally amateur team, so to keep it that close, we're really proud," said the Blues prop. "At this level, you're always focused on your weaknesses. A good team like this exposes your weaknesses. Our communication (defensively) wasn't very good, and we had too many penalties in our half to give them easy points -- those were the main things." Scrum-half Adam Schouten had Ontario's other try Tuesday. Fly-half Steve Piatek accounted for the rest of the Blues points by booting four penalties and two converts. Tom Kessell, Gavin Woods and Tom Jarvis scored the Counties' first three trys of the evening. Paul Humphries kicked two converts and a penalty, while Jarvis was also good on a convert and a penalty kick. The Counties flew out for Vancouver yesterday (Wednesday) morning after a brief tour of Ontario, including a visit to Niagara Falls. "It's been good to get out and see the lands," Baines said. The Blues, comprised by members of a dozen different teams, won't see game action for a month. Ontario's next contest will be mid-July in Sarnia against an American opponent. "Until then, it's just practices and working on the little things," said Clark.