The Newfoundland Rock came up just short of a perfect ending in the Canadian Rugby Championship men’s under-19 final Sunday in Saskatoon.
The Rock lost 16-13 to Ontario in a rematch of a preliminary-round game that had seen the Newfoundland team prevail 35-19.
However, the Rock couldn’t replicate that performance the second time around.
It was the first loss of the event for the Rock, which finished 3-1 overall, including a 17-7 victory over British Columbia in semifinal play.
Pat Parfrey, the Rock’s director of rugby said the team “was camped in the Ontario half of the field for most of the second half, but failed to score,” the points necessary for victory.
While Parfrey acknowledged Ontario deserved the win on Sunday, he also stated the Newfoundlanders had the wherewithal to claim the title.
The Rock’s Jack McCarthy led the entire tournament with six tries, including two on Sunday. Campbell Clarke kicked a penalty for the Newfoundland team.
Michael McCarthy, the Rock’s hooker, was named his team’s player of the game in Sunday’s final.
