Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca from 2 .4% ·Full MLS ·Full Service Call ADAM CAMPBELL Broker 905-844-4444 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2006 39 Cru ousted in rugby semi Local premier side edged again by Irish Canadians By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The Oakville Crusaders ran into an all-toofamiliar nemesis last weekend, ending the local premier men's side's hopes of a provincial championship this season. The Crusaders were eliminated from the Ontario Rugby Union's McCormick Cup playdowns Saturday with a 13-10 semifinal loss to the Irish Canadians at Crusader Park. The defeat was Oakville's third close loss in as many meetings with the Toronto-based squad this year, following 21-19 and 15-12 setbacks in regular-season play. The Crusaders lost only one other game, to the division-champion Aurora Barbarians, while compiling a 10-4-1 overall mark this year. Oakville head coach Jim Delaney felt his team came up with one of its best performances of the season Saturday, exhibiting much better discipline than it did in its previous games against the Irish Canadians, but the Crusaders still weren't able to pull out a victory on the slick and muddy field. "The pitch didn't help us. I thought, one to 15, we had a better team on the field, and the conditions helped the Irish," said Delaney. "It slowed everything down, and our game plan was to play NO JOY IN MUDVILLE: Spencer Fullerton of the Oakville Crusaders kicks the ball away during Saturday's wet and muddy McCormick Cup semifinal contest at Crusader Park. The Crusaders fell 13-10 to the Irish Canadians. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER at quite a fast pace." The coach added that the Irish Canadians appeared quite deliberate in slowing the tempo, taking their time to get back onside after stoppages in play, but also gave the opponents credit. "They're a good side," he said, "and we played well. You can't ask for much more than that." Oakville threatened to take the lead in the game's final minutes, staging a lengthy siege deep in Irish Canadians' territory, but was unable to cross the goal-line. Ryan Morrison and Stuart Riley scored tries for the Crusaders, who missed both their converts. The Irish Canadians broke a 10-10 deadlock with a penalty kick in the second half, denying Oakville its second trip to the McCormick Cup final in as many years. The Crusaders dropped a 27-19 decision to Balmy Beach in last year's championship game. Delaney has some off-season strategies that he hopes will help Oakville get back to the final in 2007. "The plan is to give training plans to players... a strength and conditioning program, (to) set up expectations of what they should look like from a fitness and strength standpoint come March," he said. "(We want) to model the way professional teams are managed, bearing in mind we're still an amateur game. That doesn't mean we can't demand a bit more from our players." The Irish Canadians will meet Aurora in the McCormick Cup final, scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at Fletcher's Fields in Markham. -- Jon Kuiperij can be reached at sports@oakvillebeaver.com. OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB IS HAVING A INDOOR SOCCER PROGRAM Winter Session January 8 April 1, 2007 Registration Still Available YARD SALE! WHERE: 504 IROQUOIS SHORE ROAD UNIT 11 WHEN: SATURDAY OCTOBER 28TH 9:00AM 12:00PM WHAT: Outstanding Merchandise that needs to go! All proceeds will go towards the Oakville Soccer Club Bursary Fund helping OSC athletes with their continued education GOAL KEEPER CLINICS Rep/Select/ House League Registration Still Available Visit our website for complete details 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 Thanks to our Key Sponsors: The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club