The Rock senior and junior rugby teams firmly established their dominance in the Atlantic provinces with a sweep over Nova Scotia Keltics at Swilers Complex Saturday.
The Rock seniors improved their record to 2-0 with a 46-10 victory over the visitors while Rock juniors won their season opener with a convincing 41-13 decision over the Nova Scotia U-20 representatives.
The gritty Nova Scotians battled the Canadian club champions fairly even for the first 30 minutes of the match that saw several instances of over aggressive play leading to a Nova Scotia player having his eye gouged and Rock prop Danny King donating his weekly pint of blood courtesy of the opposition.
The sometimes nasty first-half play spilled over into the stands as some Rock supporters mixed it up briefly with a few Nova Scotia's Under-20 players.
To his credit, referee Terry Chaytor, who also officiated the U-20 match earlier in the day, got things under control rather quickly and the final 40 minutes were played without incident. There were obviously no hard feelings, as both teams stood together under the posts for a souvenir picture after the match.
A late 10-metre driving maul to paydirt gave the Rock momentum that carried over into the second half when the home side pushed over for an early score and took the wind out of the sails of the visitors. The Rock, with the forward pack now firmly in control, went on to rout the Bluenosers.
Rock coach Pat Parfrey said it wasn't so much that his team started slowly but that it made a few early mistakes that led to Nova Scotia points.
Parfrey credited the visitors with a good match.
"They were very spirited and defended well," he said.
"We had to work hard for our tries."
Young Liam Fardy, who came on as a replacement in the second half, scored twice for The Rock. Chris Burt, Rod Snow, Kevin Parfrey, Phil Alcock, and Morgan Lovel each scored one try while Dean Blanks kicked two conversions.
In the junior match played prior to the senior contest, speedy winger Duncan Maguire scored three tries and Kyle McGuirk scored a pair to lead the Newfoundland U-20 squad over Nova Scotia.
Justin Grainger, Shane Stratton had single tries. Evan Buckley, Devin Lacey and Michael Pittman kicked conversions.
Rock-solid No. 8 Zac Coughlan set the tone with an early rib-rattling hit and some strong straight-ahead running for the winners.
After establishing early field position, The Rock managed to build up a 17-0 lead despite numerous dropped balls and overall poor back play and rucking.
Nova Scotia looked to be mounting a bit of a comeback with back-to-back penalty kicks to narrow the score to 17-6 early in the second half, but that's when the Rock backs started hanging on to the ball and the home side put the game away with a series of explosive long runs. A stout defence throughout the match kept Nova Scotia scrambling to find the end zone until late in the one-sided contest.
jbrowne@thetelegram.com
Keltics Rock-ed
Prop Danny King of The Rock gets in a jab on David Aitkens of the Nova Scotia Keltics during the first half of a match Saturday evening. The Rock won the game 46-10. - Photos by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram
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Published on
June 22, 2009
- Published on July 1, 2010
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John Browne
RUGBY Newfoundland seniors, juniors crush Nova Scotia
The Rock senior and junior rugby teams firmly established their dominance in the Atlantic provinces with a sweep over Nova Scotia Keltics at Swilers Complex Saturday.
The Rock seniors improved their record to 2-0 with a 46-10 victory over the visitors while Rock juniors won their season opener with a convincing 41-13 decision over the Nova Scotia U-20 representatives.
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Comments
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- Smart
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:05:38
Oh, I'm sorry Doug, were you expecting another article dedicated to kissing the a$$ of 2006 Olympic Gold Medal Winner Brad Gushue??
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- Self-Professed
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:04:06
Hmm....let's see. The Rock have either appeared in or have won the NATIONAL Rugby championship starting back in 2004 and they barely get a whisper in the Provincial news.
Brad Gushue hires a semi-retired old man from New Brunswick to win a Gold Medal in 2006, accomplishes nothing since then and yet still gets accolades left, right and centre in the Provincial news.
Something is definitely wrong here. -
- Rugby supporter
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:31
dear Doug , you don't see any other sport winning as much as the rock , they deserve every bit of press they get. When a hockey,basketball or baseball team win 3 national championships , and there junior programs consistently take a medal home at there national championships , then people can say they deserve more press.
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- Doug
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:10
News? Is this it? Must have been a slow weekend.
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- bill
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:56:30
this thread makes me ashamed to be from the island. there is always something to complane about.
why cant we cheer on all which represent the provincal teams. not pit them against each other. this makes me sickm to my stomach!!!
i am not a fan of rugby or curling but i still root for them when competing.
everybody, get a life and grow up! -
- Edimus
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:44:19
It always seems that one dimwit responds to every rugby article. If you can't understand it stick to Hide and Seek.
The Rock are national champions. They manhandle teams from cities that dwarf our province in population.
Keep these articles coming, thank you. -
- Telling it like it is
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:39:43
Curling Rules and Rugby Druels!!!!
Oh wait, it blows and rugby is better, more physical. -
- Joe
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:38:22
Big game, I can see why the bleaders are full!
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- Smart
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:55:51
Oh, I'm sorry Doug, were you expecting another article dedicated to kissing the a$$ of 2006 Olympic Gold Medal Winner Brad Gushue??
-
- Self-Professed
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:53:10
Hmm....let's see. The Rock have either appeared in or have won the NATIONAL Rugby championship starting back in 2004 and they barely get a whisper in the Provincial news.
Brad Gushue hires a semi-retired old man from New Brunswick to win a Gold Medal in 2006, accomplishes nothing since then and yet still gets accolades left, right and centre in the Provincial news.
Something is definitely wrong here. -
- Rugby supporter
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:33
dear Doug , you don't see any other sport winning as much as the rock , they deserve every bit of press they get. When a hockey,basketball or baseball team win 3 national championships , and there junior programs consistently take a medal home at there national championships , then people can say they deserve more press.
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- Doug
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:04
News? Is this it? Must have been a slow weekend.
-
- bill
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:43:27
this thread makes me ashamed to be from the island. there is always something to complane about.
why cant we cheer on all which represent the provincal teams. not pit them against each other. this makes me sickm to my stomach!!!
i am not a fan of rugby or curling but i still root for them when competing.
everybody, get a life and grow up! -
- Edimus
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:23:09
It always seems that one dimwit responds to every rugby article. If you can't understand it stick to Hide and Seek.
The Rock are national champions. They manhandle teams from cities that dwarf our province in population.
Keep these articles coming, thank you. -
- Telling it like it is
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:15:07
Curling Rules and Rugby Druels!!!!
Oh wait, it blows and rugby is better, more physical. -
- Joe
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:13:09
Big game, I can see why the bleaders are full!
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To All involved, congratulations on your success and wishing you the very best in the days ahead. Don't wish to compare sport's, looks like Our Rugby Teams have proven that we are indeed a force to be reckoned with and that just didn't happen overnight. I commend You for the hard work and determination that has resulted in the success shown to the whole Country. Be proud and consider Yourselves True and Worthy Champions. Wear the Gold proudly.