The Burlington Centaurs (10) Cup run has unfortunately come to an end. The squad returned to “The Square” to face the battle tested Markham Irish (3). The semifinal berth would mark the farthest the Centaurs Sr. Men have ever been. And also, would make them 1 of the 4 teams left in the province which included Brantford and The Beaches. Nevertheless, the Cinderella story has finally come to an end as they fell short 57-20 to the home side. The Irish were a well-structured, big and aggressive side which pressured the Centaurs for a full 80-mins. The Irish set-piece and forward controlled attack caused problems for the Centaurs which infiltrated their defense.

Tries were scored by Josh Jones, Zach Shurtleff and Tim Morton. Brendan Bryan also had one penalty and one conversion. Noteworthy mentions also include A. Wilson, J. Tanner, Jeff Brownson and T. Atkinson who battled for an entire 80 mins in the losing effort.

Though the season was filled with a lot of highs and some lows, the club culture is moving in the right direction. Many thanks to our coaching staff, travelling fans, many alumni and committed players who continued to train even though they were not selected in the 23-man roster.

The Burlington Centaurs (10) history making season persisted as they travelled to ‘The Square’ in a McCormick Cup Quarter Final against the Toronto Scottish (2). The Toronto Scottish were coming off a week one bye. The Scottish had another stellar season in the Premiership, sporting an 8-2-0 record, losing only to the Markham Irish and the Brantford Harlequins. A true David vs. Goliath matchup, the Centaurs were making the trip playing with house-money as they had the only upset of Round One.

As kick-off loomed, it felt as though the sun was at its hottest. With clear skies and a slight breeze, the referee blew his whistle and the Quarter finals were underway. The game initiated with a ferocious tempo and it was the Scottish who looked untidy early on. The Centaurs defensive line speed wreaked havoc for the home side as a clearance kick gave the Centaurs early ball possession. The Centaurs pack took control initially, led by the revolting and dynamic back-row, D. Wilson, A. Wilson & Hogg. Multiple phases building pass the gain line had the Scottish defense clambering. As the visitors inched closer to the try line, newly position prop Colin Mcleod would not be denied as he muscled his way over two defenders touching the ball down for the first points of the game. A miss conversion kept the game at 5-0 and the underdogs had drawn first blood.

Though somewhat rattled, the Scottish kept their composure and started to apply some pressure on the Centaurs. The Centaurs defense continued to cause chaos up the middle of the field; yet, the Scottish were able to move the ball wide and with some timely offloads they scored in the corner, the game was tied 5-5. Un-phased the Centaurs upped their work rate which was wearing down the Scottish pack. Credit to the Centaur pack as their scrums and Lineouts wore down the large Scottish front 8. As the game unbolted, spark-plug halfback Zack Shurtleff identified a mismatch as he stepped a Scottish front rower, which produced a line break. Backing himself he was able to outpace the opposing 15, touching down in the corner, 10-5 Centaurs after the first 40 mins.

The Half-time talk was concise – Keep the energy up, maintain possession, sustain the defensive line speed. With all the pressure on the #2 ranked side they came out hot to start the second half. Hard attacking lines and ball possession awarded them with a penalty under the posts. The kick was good, and the gap was reduced, 10-8 Centaurs. As the game went on tactical subs and attrition came into play. Fresh off the bench, Tim Morton executed an out the back pass towards the Bryan brothers who were able to spring dangerous winger Matt Woodley. Woodley known as a finisher, completed the score with a great step and spiteful fend off, 15-8 visitors. Although, there was a good portion of the half left, the current score overwhelmed the home side as frustration stepped it resulting in an increased penalty tally. One of the penalties was in B. Bryan’s range as he made it a 2-score game with a successful conversion, 18-8. Centaurs

As time wound down, both teams dug further into bench looking for energy. The Scottish play then turned sporadic and the Centaurs stout defense closed all gaps. Punishing tackles at the breakdown and in the centre of the field kept the home side on their back foot. A costly turnover gave Burlington possession and fate was in their own hands. After consecutive slow balls the referee gave Shurtleff the nod and the ball was punted into the sidelines. David had slayed Goliath, final score 18-8 Burlington Centaurs.

A very proud moment for some travelling alumi as well as some longtime Centaurs who have never experienced such a bitter sweet victory and birth into the Semifinals. It truly was 23-man club effort for the Centaurs who laid their bodies on the line against one of the top teams in the province. Big thanks to everyone who made the effort to travel down. With the triumph, the Centaurs continue their road to the cup as the playoff bracket has them returning to Markham to face the Irish. With only 4 teams left a win will reward the Centaurs a McCormick cup final birth.

For the first time in a long time, the Centaurs found themselves in a McCormick cup game. The cup seeding had the Burlington Men (10) make the long journey up Highway 7 into the Kawaratha’s to take on the Peterborough Pagans. (7)

Peterborough and Burlington are the classification of contrasting storylines going into the McCormick Cup Playoffs. The Peterborough Pagans have found themselves relegated to the Marshall Championship for the 2019 season, after only one year in the Premiership (2-8-0 record). The Burlington Centaurs – on the other hand – were able to dominate in their first year in the Marshall Championship, going undefeated for a good portion of the season and they ultimately finished with an 8-2-0 record. The Centaurs narrowly missed out on promotion after a tough overtime loss to Waterloo in the Ontario League Playoff Championship Final. Though the narratives differ, everyone knows cup rugby brings out surreal enactments and it’s a gamble for vengeance.

The Centaurs got off to a great start, rolling through phases enroute to the opening score of the match from skipper Jeff Brownson after some innovative backline play down the far touch line. A second and a third try followed to put the Centaurs comfortably ahead. However, the Pagans would respond with a kick-off retrieval and some patient possession, working the ball over the line for 7 points and making their own statement in the contest. The Centaurs scored again, some more attractive play from the Wilson’s and scrum half Zach Shurtleff giving the Pagans defense trouble – and despite a last minute threat on their goal-line at the end of the half, the under dogs huddled on the sidelines ahead at half time– but the lead was anything but comfortable.

The half-time chat – it’s going to take another 40 minutes of hard work – all gas and no brakes. The home team took advantage of some second half substitutions, rolling in subs early and often, and played a structured and very physical game. A couple of rest weeks may have caused fatigue for the road warriors. During the opening stages of the second half, it was all Pagans. Some unanswered tries by the home team proved a pesky opponent, answering back in kind to keep the game within reach. Fatefully, kick-offs which have been an issue all season for the Centaurs sealed the deal. A great catch and run by Brian Woodley ignited at 75 Metre try finished off by Ken Warring in the corner. Though the home team added another score before the final whistle, they could not close the gap, 48-36 Burlington Centaurs. The high scoring, shootout provided an exhilarating substance for the home fans and a few of the Centaur Travelers.

It was a really great club effort for the Centaurs who dug deep into the trenches to pull out a long road win. Big thanks to everyone who made the exertion to travel down, including the run-on’s who helped fill the bench and our supports. With the victory, the Centaurs draw a tough quarter final match up against the second best team in the province, the Toronto Scottish. Again, the Centaurs will travel into enemy territory at Fletchers field this Saturday, Kickoff 3pm. The road to the cup continues and the men will remain the underdogs throughout the playoffs as they were the only upset in the first round.

“Through the Years”

Our memory book was released on Saturday at our 45th Anniversary Banquet and sales were very brisk, so much so that we may need to print more. We are running out of copies!

If you want your copy and you are at the club, pay through the computer. Or, you can eTransfer $40 to Jeff Ellis at:

45th@centaursrfc.com.

When we see your name in the system we will deliver your copy to you.

If you have questions please contact:

johnguilfoyle99@gmail.com.

The New Marshall Provincial League championship format held a new twist and the Centaurs now had to battle through a semi-final and final in order to claim promotion and the trophy. Travelling down the 401 to meet Waterloo County. The two teams split the season series against one another and the rubber match forced all the chips across the table. No doubt, It would take a massive effort from the Centaurs to stick County with the silver medal.

It was Waterloo with the first score after a quick counter attack and some weak kick coverage defence from the Centaurs. The momentum continue for the home side as another score put them up 14-0 early. To add to Burlington’s woes, flanker Dave Wilson exited early with a hamstring injury.

Fortunately, a Burlington score was soon to follow off a hard, tight line by Nate Bryan, rolling over a defender and across the try line. His brother then got involved striking a penalty kick closing the gap, 14-10 Waterloo. The momentum seem to be slightly changing to the road warriors and the score remained the same heading into the half.

The teams exchanged penalty kicks in the second half but the next big impact on the game came from a Burlington lineout and driving maul which County struggled to defend all afternoon. Andrew Wilson pulled the ball (and his calf muscle) out and limped down the sideline to finish off a forward dominated try. With a missed conversion, the Centaurs took a 1 point lead.

The crowd was buzzing as the Centaurs continued to push deep into Waterloo territory, several phases of attack earned the visitors a team penalty on the home side’s 22 metre line. The conversion was successful giving the visitors a 4 point lead with 4 minutes remaining.

With the clock working against County, Burlington did have the game in their gasps; yet, the home side were not going down without a final push. After recovering their own kickoff, a mistake tackle down the middle of the field allowed County to cross the line for a third time and this time directly under the posts, 24-21.

With 2 and half minutes to go, one might have thought the game was over. However, let me tell you the fans go their monies worth on the day. The Centaurs managed to gain entry in their oppositions half, again, hard work by the Captain lead to another team penalty. With less than 1 minute to play, B. Bryan hit another penalty kick to tie the game 24-24.The full time whistle blew and after a short meeting at centre field it was decided: the game would go to sudden death overtime.

The first points of any kind, even a kick, would win the game. Several minutes into the overtime period and it looked like a kick would indeed seal the deal, and it was B. Bryan again lining up the posts from a very tough angle and distance. The angle was proper but the distance was short and after an extra 10 minutes of rugby, the score remained unchanged.

The Second and final 10 minute overtime period began with the teams switching sides and a Waterloo restart. Kickoffs which seems to haunt the Centaurs all season remained a problem today. A knock allowed Waterloo a chance at a scrum, the scrum resulted in a penalty against the Centaurs and the Waterloo 15, who seem to not miss on the day lined up for a tough penalty. Unfortunately he made no mistake and with plenty of real estate the kick was good. 27-24 Waterloo.

Although it was not the result the Centaurs had worked for – there was a lot to be proud of this season. In particular their depth really showed this game that lasted 95 minutes and had several key players go out with injury. Next up– Burlington men hope to have a strong showing in their first McCormick cup appearance in a decade. Mark September 8, 15, 22, 29 in your calendars. Given their seeding, the Centaurs will be on the road throughout the tournament- win and move on, lose and the 2018 season will be fade into the past.

It was an outstanding Saturday and the Centaurs Sr. men’s team was looking to taste a 1^st round playoff victory versus the 1^st place team in the Eastern division – both teams aiming for promotion to the Marshall Premiership. The boys jogged out in their wedding white jerseys, and took care of business.

The game was not one to take lightly, and the men sure didn’t. Final score 94-0, with 14 tries.

Full Credit to Ajax who hosted two games with somewhat of a depleted lineup and they had to face a Centaurs team that was absolutely chomping at the bit. There were many Centaurs who stood out, but worth a mention: Daryl Tharby settled in nicely as a 1s player catching restarts and ferociously hitting rucks. Cam Hogg, the tackle factory was back from injury and again leading in this category.

Next week brings another playoff match up as the Centaurs seek revenge against Waterloo County on their quest for promotion! This game will be played in Waterloo and the winner will also claim the league championship title. Training will be important this week, as the men prepare for their biggest match in over 10 years.

We will be organizing a FAN BUS to travel to Waterloo to cheer on the boys as they Battle for Promotion.

Stayed tuned for details for bus departure time as we finalize the game details and location.

Bus tickets can be reserved for $20.

The 23^rd of July had the Centaurs back on the road to face the Toronto Nomads. The trek up to Fletcher’s is very familiar to some and new for others. Not always a tranquil place to play as a visitor; though, the Centaurs were ambitious to get back to their winning ways.

The 2^nd XV kicked off at “the square” at 1330 hours and looked well organized in the first few minutes, managing to score twice on long phases of possession. The home team responded with a score after some great rugby of their own, and just like that the game was on.

Some line up adjustments from the coaching staff provided the spark to light the Centaurs flame. The pack was controlled by Rose & Ellis which exhilarated Mr. Tim Lammers to score his first ever try! The new combination of D. Jones and Z. Dundas in the halfback/stand-off positions opened up holes for the Centaur centers. B. Woodley and C. Sharpe diced up the opposition all afternoon and the back 3 of Mathews, Brotman & Howes attained benefit playing ‘follow the leader’, or in this case the ball carrier/battering ram.

With the Centaurs holding a slight margin at the half. The talk at half time was about improving the defence, but that’s not an easy task facing a gritty Nomads team. The Centaurs managed to hold off the Nomad squad and snatch their first win of the season, 34-14. Well played to everyone involved, the rugby looked fantastic, absolutely a total team effort. The long awaited “W” will keep the morale high as they face-off against Waterloo County next weekend.

The 1^st XV took the field shortly after and were looking to avenge their first loss in over a year. The men needed a big win over the Nomads to hang on to top spot, and they showed that intent right from the opening kick. After an unsteady 10 minutes, it didn’t take long for the Centaurs offense to get rolling, some sleek handling by Giboney & Brownson provided an open lane for Atkinson to dot down the first points of the game, B. Bryan to convert, 7-0 visitors. After two informative training sessions, the forward pack held their own against the mobile Nomads side that was quick over the ball. Hard work offensively opened up gaps up the middle of the field which assisted T. Atkinson as he scored his second of the game next to the uprights.  The field remained titled during the latter half of the first 40 as both Brownson and Gilbert showed power & pace scoring tries and securing the bonus point, 26-0 half time lead.

The 2^nd Stanza saw both teams go to the benches, but it was the Centaurs who had more depth on the day. As the game continued to be expansive, supporting lines and work rate was paramount. Jones, Waring & Tanner score all very similar tries, being beneficiaries of following the ball and supporting their teammates. With the game becoming somewhat out of reach, the Nomads shifted their play in order to get some points on the board. Though the visitors defence bent, it did not break and with D. Wilson sealing the deal on a well-anticipated intercept, try off a lineout- the Centaurs were able to blank the home side. 52-0.

Full credit to everyone who played on the day, it was a good day to be Centaur. The 1^st and 2^nd  teams are back on the road next week against Waterloo County. This will be the concluding weekend of the regular season and for the 1XV top spot and home field advantage is on the line. Well played to everyone involved, the rugby looked fantastic, absolutely a total team effort. The 8-1 record currently has them at top spot; yet, County is just 3 points behind and has put together their own winning streak. The Berties/3^rd XV are scheduled next door at Crusaders Park.

 There were storm clouds distilling around the pitch on Saturday, but it turned out to be a full day sunny skies and plenty of tries. With 3 regular season games to go, two men’s sides were at home for possibly the final time this summer.

The 2^ndXV came into the day looking to regroup, and they knew this was no easy tasks facing a hefty London Squad. Unfortunately there was a similar story line as last week. The home side went down two scores early. However, there was a familiar man at the scrumhalf position and he wasn’t going down without a surge. Mr. David Jones scoring the first two tries for the Centaurs, the second on a textbook pass from Callum which closed the gap. The Centaurs push back only seemed to fire up the visitors as their defense became relentless. Bryan Hannon having a hell of a game despite some challenging ball flow and no room to attack, his boot was on, which kept the game close.

Falling behind early has been the 2^ndXV’s Kryptonite all season and today was no different. Though a strong defensive game was played by D. Tharby (as usual) and D. Kelly- the lack of execution close to the try line was detrimental for the 2s. The game quickly turned into a bit of a shootout and on the day, London had more ammunition, 45-26 Visitors. Still searching for their first win, the boys will make the trek up to the square next weekend to face the Toronto Nomads. A winnable game, let’s keep the numbers up at training this week.

All good things come to an end. The 1^stXV needed a win over the travelling London St. George to clinch onto the top spot, and they showed that intent right from the opening kick. It looked as if the Centaurs were going to keep on rolling as usual. The celebratory beers were all but poured…..

A well prepped London squad created havoc for the Centaurs. Multiple phases but minimal yards and a strong wind in the opposite direction hemmed the Centaurs on their side of the 50. A missed tackle close to the breakdown saw London draw first blood, kick was good and the Centaurs were down 7. Not daunted, the Centaurs pressed back as Andy Wilson crashed over the line earning those hard yards. A missed conversion kept the Centaurs down, 7-5. As the game began to open up a blocked grubber inside the Centaurs 22 shot T. Atkinson out of the stable. A pickup off the deflection sent the Centre on 70-yard gallop, and the home team took the lead. It seemed though the Centaurs began to settle into their groove, a penalty kick and a great individual effort by the electric Brenden Gilbert made way for a ginger-to-ginger connection, Jordan Tanner in the corner, 20-13 at half time.

The second 40 started off with more fortune for the Centaurs, as Brownson’s second effort lead to a tally after a London handling error. Heads were down all across the red line; though with potentially their season on the line, the visitors were ignited. Penalties, possession and territory tilted in the London direction. Strong scrummaging & lineout ball took liberty on the Centaurs.  London began to press as precious minutes ticked off the clock. A London try off the back of a scrum and multiple slotted penalties made for close final minutes. Extensive time defending alluded to card trouble for the Centaurs and with only minutes to play, London’s 5^th penalty convert sealed the deal – 27-25 Visitors. An exciting 80 mins and in the end, London had more gas in the tank.

And therefore the unbeaten streak comes to an end, for over a year no one could solve the Burlington Centaur’s team. With a streak like that comes enormous pressure, everyone brings their best in attempt to knock off the top dogs. It was a tough loss, but the end goal remains the same: secure promotion and carry the momentum into the playoffs.

In closing the Centaurs would like to thank Cam MacArthur for lending us the Rugby vs. Cancer Kit. Though the scoreboard result stung, the fact the Burlington Centaurs, London St. Georges and all the supporting fans could raise close to $1,000.00 on the day is a great success. The effort by all the volunteers won’t be over-looked and the money raised is a high point on the day.

After a scorching hot Canada day long weekend the Burlington Centaurs returned home for an action packed Saturday. The warm weather continued, clear skies and all 3 Sr. men’s teams at home kept the thermometer at capacity.

The Berties were taking on the Niagara Wasps in the seventh annual game for the Roddy Allan Quaich. Action was quite tight for the 30 people on the pitch. Referee David Jones kept order and his cards in his pocket on the day. Tries were scored by both the pack and the backs in this tilt. At the half the score was 12-5 for Burlington. It got only better after the breaktime. Final score was 31-15 for the Berties. Right after the game, both teams came together and had a sip of whiskey from the Quaich, while sharing stories. There were more than a few men wearing both jerseys that shared their memories of the man.

The 2^ndXV still hungry for their first win of the season kicked off at 1330 hours against the highly respected Aurora Barbarians. As the Barbs had some commuting troubles, the Centaurs were under immense pressure early as the Barbarians had some 1stXV players in for quick cameos. Not deterred by the quick 14 point gap. The Centaurs surged back by letting the ball do the work. With the egg touching the hands of most of the players, the ageless Dave Jones was able to get the home-side on the board. As the soft hands continued, a similar line break and tidy off-loading brought the ball to the flank where winger Brenden Maunder was able to capitalize. Though the Centaurs were down at half, they saw the light.

The second 40 brought on better tackling from the Centaurs forwards. Veterans Z. Dundas and B. Hannon were able to calm down the back line which created space for young Alistar Howes. The Centaurs used the momentum to execute their set piece as Cpt. Kyle Wilkins scored off a driving lineout. The Centaurs were able to close the gap and gather a bonus point; however, the Barbs were too much, 55-29 the final score. The 2^ndXV will take the positives into next week as they have a tough match against London. All hands on deck will be needed Saturday, let’s get out to training this week!

Taking their unconquered record into the last quarter of the regular season. The 1^stXV squad understood the magnitude of this game on home soil. With Both Waterloo and London on their heels, they needed a bold performance to finish off their eastern conference swing, facing a youthful Aurora Barbarian team. The Barbs being somewhat desperate for a victory, the prep was put in and this litmus test had all the elements of a science experiment…There’d be sparks, there’d be fire, there’d be action for the fans.

As it felt the sun was at its hottest temperature of the day, the game kicked off and the Centaurs wasted no time deciphering the periodic table. Hard off the line defence forced the Barbs to turn over their attack and our unyielding lag ball forced a penalty to the Centaurs. With nothing out of B. Bryans range on this day, the Centaurs took an early 3-0 Lead. Shortly after, the same defensive equation provided a similar result, as Centaurs stable Colin McLeod crashed over the line giving them their first try of the day, 10-0 home side. As the Barbs calmed down, the scoring for both sides simmered. However, the Centaurs line speed continued to stall the Barbs offense. The Blue and Orange laid many titanium tackles which kept the visitors off the scoreboard. Centaurs Chemistry then took over as A. Wilson dove above the line after a missed throw in by the visitors. Another tally by the home side and Burlington marked an early 24-0 lead. Despite the early onslaught the Barbs resilience persisted as they capitalized off a quick tap, 24-7. The Centaurs determined to avenge the score put on down on the last play before half, M. Woodley, 31-7 after 40 minutes of play.

As the second 40 was under-way the Centaurs elements sustained. An energetic Jordan Tanner joined the table as he was able to scoop up a loose ball taking it 60 metres under the Barbs post. This sparked A. Wilson as he was able to score off the back of the scrum giving him his second of 4 on the day. That’s right 4! The synergy assisted him to man of the match honours.  Again Aurora did not deter looking for the bonus point. A grubber behind the Centaurs defensive line, by their standoff gave them their second score off the day. Again, the Centaurs wasted no time answering after a score as Sulfuric Shurtleff broke a tackle and galloped for a 60m run, off-loading to Woodley, again under the posts. With less than 3 minutes to go, the Barbs were able to breach the Centaurs defense again; however, determined not to let that be the last score, T. Atkinson supplied M. Woodley with a clear lane try under the posts for his third of the day. Like oxygen M. Woodley was everywhere.

A 9 try performance keeps the undefeated record untarnished, 66-19 Centaurs moving them to 7-0. The Centaurs will be back at home for their last Regular Season game which is sure to be the match of the season.  It will be also the #gameoftheweek as the Centaurs will dawn the Rugby vs. Cancer Kit in support of breast cancer research. #wearPinkToThePitch #ruckCancer. Kick off times to be posted later this week.

The Centaurs finished off their Eastern division road trips with a journey up to Thompson Rugby Park to take on the division leaders, the Oshawa Vikings. The uncharted waters were going to be relentless as both the Vikings Sr. men’s teams assembled at the top of their divisions. Furthermore, the Vikings were hosting their annual alumni day which served plenty of rugby. That being said, the Burlington Men prepped well and were eager to ride the tide.

The 2^ndXV still looking for their first win of the season, which has eluded them thus far. The clouds still covered the sky as the game kicked-off and the rain dissipated. Yet, Daryl Tharby brewed a ferocious storm on the field as he lead the team with a flood of thunderous tackles. Again, the youngster pairing of Brotman and Howes provided clean and crisp ball. Repeated infringements for high tackles put Burlington down a man and the boys found themselves down a couple scores early. They were able to fight back with two first half tries. A textbook driving maul lead Captain Wilkins over the line and a dynamic open field line break gave Brock Kelly all the space he needed for a 30 yard gallop under the posts.

Going into half, the Centaurs were only down a few scores. The message at half-time- tackle low, and avoid penalties.  As the second 40 kicked off, injuries and wear took its toll on the Centaurs. The Vikings turned up the heat and opened up the wounded Burlington Squad. The Vikings showed why they own the division’s top spot as their young team set sail in the second half earning them the 40-19 win. Ambitious availabilities will be stronger in the future. There is no lack of fight from the 2XV, this easily would have been a different outcome if the team did not concede any penalties, giving Oshawa territory most of the game.

The Centaurs 1^stXV closed out alumni day in front of many supporters. With both teams sitting at the top of their respective divisions. The test had all the ingredients for a classic East/West clash. The Centaurs wasted no time stealing the ball off the opening kickoff and implementing their pattern. B. Bryan stroked a penalty early and thereafter, the champ, A. Wilson, walked in a try from the base of the scrum shortly after to put the visitors up 8. The Vikings surged back with a quick counter attack closing the margin to 1 point, 8-7 Centaurs. The Centaurs had trouble forming their shape in first 40, penalties and unforced errors had them playing a lot of defense.

As the half time whistle blew the Centaurs recoiled to Coaches Kelly & Godziek. The message was simple: calm down, play our game, let the ball do the work, communication is paramount.  The second 40 showed a more poise Centaurs squad. As the phases accumulated, gaps were created which developed running room for the tight 5. Mcleod, Brownson, D. Wilson, Hogg, A. Wilson racked up plenty of kilometers in carries. Though the development was there, the Vikings defense failed to breakdown. The game remained close as the second half ensued. That is until man of the match, Brenden Gilbert parted the sea with an all gas no brake 30 meter try after a clearance kick failed to reach the touch line. Gilberts try boosted the rest of the squad and the electricity sent shock waves through his teammates. Bronson, Tanner & Hogg also crossed the line tallying a 4 try second half and securing a bonus point win, 34-7 visitors. A character second half by the Centaurs allows them to remain at top spot in the Championship division with a perfect 6-0 record with 4 regular season games to go. Arguably, the biggest takeaway was the Defensive performance which collectively only allowed the explosive home side to score once.

Both Sr. men’s team head into the bye week as we celebrate our nation’s birth. The men then return back to Sherwood Forrest on July 7^th, wrapping up their eastern conference run through as they host the Aurora Barbarians. The Centaurs would also like to thank Paul Connolly and the Oshawa Vikings for the great matches and hospitality. Going into Saturday, #BackYourBluesForEquality had already raised $1,900 for our provincial women’s program. A $200 donation by our club president was easily matched and likely doubled on Saturday as multiple Centaurs donated to support the initiative to Women’s rugby in Ontario. If you want to make a seperate donation please contact; Paul Connelly

pconnelly@rugbyontario.com

The Burlington Centaurs are proud to have the following athletes represent Rugby Ontario at the Canadian Rugby Championships in Halifax this summer.

U18 Women ‘AA’ Squad

Ketsia Kamba (far left)

The ‘AA’ squad will also be participating in intra-provincial competition and will compete in the Eastern Canadian Championship in Halifax.

U15 Men ‘AA’ Squad

Blake Clayton

Jack Jenkins

Garin Schroeder

Jake Simmons

These teams will be competing in the Cross-Border Series at the University of Guelph with the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy on July 25-28, 2018 and the Eastern Canadian Championships in Halifax on August 12-19, 2018.

The Centaurs returned home after their bye week and were anxious to get back on the pitch. With all 4 sides playing on home soil, there was a whirlwind of excitement for a full day of rugby. Saturday kicked off with the Berties hosting their crosstown rivals, the Grimsby Gentlemen. The Sr. Women then faced-off against the Stoney Creek Camels and to finish, the Marshall Championship transported the Ajax Wanderers down the 401 for the final two games of the day. With the sun shining, a slight breeze and some cold beer in the gardens our local rugby enthusiasts were out in full force and were not disappointed.

The Centaurs Women played in a close match and sadly came up short against a youthful and what seemed never ending pool of players. The Centaurs continue to improve as scores show when compared to previous seasons and with moments of intensity and individual brilliance, they are demonstrating that they can both defend and attack.  For many it is their first season or one case, Imani’s first match. Whilst for others, it is their first game in a few years.  Common throughout though is the camaraderie and desire to improve both as a team and individually.

Some missing players necessitated changes in positions which upset the balance of the squad but nevertheless, the Centaurs managed a bonus point with tries deriving from ‘Gazelle’ like runs by Amber and Claire and darting bolts within 5 meters from Ali and Laiken. Two conversions from Killeen added to provide the 24 points. One of the sadder aspects to the match was again the toll in injuries for which we hope for speedy recoveries ready for the next couple of matches, both against Hamilton.

With some lineup tweaks and availability changes, the 2^ndXV took the pitch looking thirsty for their first win of the season.  The game started off well for the Centaurs as they were able to retain ball and develop continuous phases. The back row of Ellis, Rose & Dundas provided a tidy platform for young Brotman to spin the ball out. Though Howes and Hannon were exceptional directing traffic offensively. Unfortunately some poor line speed and defensive errors opened up gaps for the Wanderers who took advantage of their opportunities.

The Centaurs heads were still high after retreating to Coach at half. Though Ajax carried a lead into half and the Centaurs had failed to get on the score board. The second 40 minutes provided some positivity which created line breaks and space.  Unfortunately, the story didn’t change much from the first half as the Centaurs continued to struggle to finish as they advanced towards the visitors goal line. Credit to the Wanderers who played an expansive game and took benefit of many of their scoring opportunities. Zach Dundas was able to get the Centaurs on the board; tactlessly, it was the only score of the day and the Centaurs fell to Ajax 47-7.  The lads will have their chance at redemption as they’re back in action next week vs. Oshawa. Training this week is paramount, we need to turn the ship!

As it reached 1530 hours on the day. The Centaurs 1XV flew out of the tunnel for some redemption against the Wanderers. Dawning their Orange Kit, this was a battle between the top two teams in their respectful divisions. A quick penalty let Ajax draw first blood in the opening 5 mins. Albeit, they were not able to repeat this for most of the match as the field began to tilt in favour of the home side. The game quickly opened up for the Centaurs as some brilliant handling and pattern work put the Wanderers under immense pressure- the Centaurs notably scoring the first try of the game spreading the ball wide to winger Jordan Tanner who sidestepped the Ajax defense, offloading to fullback Brenden Gilbert who gingerly broke several tackles then passing the ball to flank Dave Wilson who scampered to the finish.  Multiple long developing team tries came in bunches as the Centaurs were up early and were able to close the first 40 minutes with an exaggerated gap, 38-3.

As the side huddled around Coach Kelly, there was a lot to be happy about; however, defensively we needed to be better at the breakdown. After the quick chat, it was all gas and no brake for the Centaurs in the second half.  With many Centaurs getting in the action and across the try line this was the ultimate team effort as all 23-men contributed to the track meet. Though the Centaurs defense was a topic, they continued to go all-in on defense limiting the Wanderers possession and points. The Wanderers were able to add a couple scores late, but on the day it was all Orange – a 9 try performance solidified a 59-17 win over Ajax. There were several strong performances on the day, but 8-man Andrew Wilson washed down a pint for well-deserved man of the match honours. The win brings the Centaurs to a faultless 5-0 record at the mid-point of the 2018 Campaign and top spot in the Championship division. With London on their heels as the men return to action on the road next week against a tough Oshawa Vikings side.

The Centaur’s Women were away to Fergus Highlanders who have traditionally offered up a very tough match for match for any visiting side. Fergus are rich in experience, numbers and individual strength /size.

With an almost instant switch from cool to warm conditions at the start of the match, the game got underway with an unexpected intensity that was great to watch.  Both sides battled from end to end non stop with great defence on the line for both teams. Fergus opened with the first score which was followed within minutes by the Centaurs. The first half never really change on the change of scores and remained close throughout with half time reading 22 v 19 in favour of Fergus. The Centaur tries came from Katelyn, Amber and Cassidy, each deriving from some great individual skills.

In the second half, the Centaur’s impact from injuries started to take a toll as players and team structure had to be changed to accommodate losses. This resulted in the team loosing the edge in attack and having to spend literally the whole of the second half defending.  Fergus then up their game by bringing on their entire bench who with fresh legs in the heat took advantage and ran in several tries to boost their score.

Despite the final score, the Centaurs first half display was with out doubt, one of their best and was commented as such by all who watched. It certainly took Fergus by surprise and come half time, the whole came was very evenly balanced. Sadly a lack of depth on the Centaurs bench was the unravelling for them in the second half, but the potential is bubbling and the start of season for Centaurs is against the toughest sides in the league however, when the Centaurs at full strength, they will certainly become a side to contend with.

Again, the difference between the last couple of season and the past two matches, which have been against two of the strongest teams in the league, is a vast difference and we are very much looking forward to the rest of the season. The Women’s next match is away to Brantford on Saturday 9th June.

Meanwhile  your Burlington Centaurs Sr men’s’ teams traveled up the 400 for their first eastern conference clash against Barrie RFC. For those who made the trek to catch some rugby, both games provided a great display of some entertaining play back and forth.

Game Reports:

The 2^nd XV came out of the gate slow, but once they realized their defence was in tough, they started to up the tempo which helped them assemble many constructive phases of rugby. To their credit, Barrie’s offense was able to accomplish the same. This turned the game into a defensive battle. Daryl Tharby led the Burlington defense with some crushing blows to Barrie’s offensive line of attack. The Centaurs, were chasing but staying within a few scores for the majority of the match. Barrie took advantage of sharp kicking performance to keep the scoreboard turning over. The veteran presence of Tommy Jenkins, Daryl Tharby and Captain Kyle Wilkins helped create space for Jake Omay, Alistar Howes and Brock Kelly as they all racked up plenty of yards on the day.

Though the Centaurs were able to put down 5 tries, Barrie’s attack and ball distribution was too much for this Centaurs on this day. Final score 61-29 for the home side. The Centaurs are taking the positives into the bye week and understand they have to play a complete 80mins to be successful in this league.

The 1^st XV took to the park with a bit of mixed line up, but safe to say they had the horses to complete the task and everyone on the park has been battled tested. With a few subs to burn the side looked legit.

Right off the hop, the Centaurs put Barrie under pressure, forcing sloppy attack. Some exciting rugby was played early as Jordan Tanner touched one down in the home team’s corner, 5-0 Centaurs. The visitors then scored again with some great phase play by the forwards, forcing Barrie to play catch up early on. To add to the drama unfolding Barrie struck back closing the gap to three points. Barrie’s scrum continued to put pressure on the Centaurs leaving them attacking from their back foot on many occasions and keeping the score close. The Centaurs back row was able to pick up the slack and debutant Colin Patterson impressed alongside Brownson and Hogg.

The halftime chat – maximize our phases, grind out in the scums, clean up the breakdown and maintain our line speed on defence might be a good way to win the game. Burlington goes into the first half leading 22-12.

The 2^nd half saw the roster rotation continue as newly acquired professional Andrew Wilson punched in for a 40 minute shift. He brought his hard hat and lunchbox and his impact was felt immediately by both sides as his shoulders were on Barrie attackers early and often. The second half also brought effective team tries for the Centaurs, but worth a mention, Zack Shurtleff finished after an exceptional individual scamper. A great read on a pick and go, tackle allusion and he was off to the races out pacing the Barrie defenders for a 75 yard score… whoa !

There were a few tense moments towards the end of the 2^nd half, Barrie ran a wave of phases at the Centaurs line for several minute’s scoring three quick tries to narrow the gap. The Centaurs however managed to settle and closed out the game with another score to seal it. Overall a stellar effort from the Centaurs coming out on top 44-29.

At 4-0 they are at the top of the standings, but only just, as the London St. Georges’ continue to keep pace. There are still plenty of tough road games to play. The Centaurs are off this weekend as the league is on bye, the action resumes June 16^th at home when they host the Ajax Wanderers. It will be another big home stand as all Sr. Men’s team will be at home.

The 26^th of May marked a full day of action at Sherwood Forest Park. The Centaurs hosted the 10^th annual Roddy Allan Tournament with roughly 58 teams and 800 youth rugby players. This exceptional day included Under 7, Under 9, and Under 11 teams participating. This tournament continues to be a highlight of the year, and clearly demonstrates the growth of the sport among younger age groups in our region. The action did not end there, as the women and all 3 Sr. men’s team were also competing on home turf.

Saturday was the first League match of the season for the Centaur Women’s team.

The match was at home against one of the best teams in the league, London, who included both Canadian and Ontario representative players. The match was supported by many from the club and some who had stayed behind to watch post the Roddy Allan Tournament held earlier in the day and accompanied by very warm conditions.

Although the final score was far from flattering for the Centaur Women, lost 61 to 15, the style, rucking from the forwards and backs moves plus overall determination by all, demonstrated a great improvement over the previous season and bodes well for the future.  We welcomed a new player to the team, Danny Y-L, and some returning faces Jackie K and Emily V, who all managed to get game time in hot and humid conditions. The team were complimented by the London Coaches for the rucking and counter rucking play even when it was clear the heat was taking a toll on all. London also described some of the running play from the backs as both effective and clinical in its application. Although the Centaurs struggled against London’s representative players, all learnt from their play and will take this knowledge forward into the rest of the season. Tries for the Centaurs derived from pressure play from Ahink with a great final burst of energy to cross over the London try line and two break away tries from Amber whose speed and fitness managed to keep her ahead of London’s speedsters. The best of the two tries was an interception from within the Centaurs own half which certainly caught London on aware and broke what was definitely one of their rehearsed moves.

Despite the defeat, the Centaur Women show great progression and promise from last season and look forward to their next match away to Fergus on Saturday 2nd June.

The “Berties” 3^rd XV kicked off first at 1200 hours “off-site” at Nelson Park. This was the teams’ first run around of the year. The extreme heat and humidly made it difficult for both teams to shake the rust off. With a combination of strapping young lads and longstanding centaur veterans, the Berties looked to open their campaign in the win column. This was no easy task competing against a youthful and athletic Waterloo County side. And to that point, Waterloo wasted no time getting on the board early popping in two quick tries slotting an early 10-0 lead. The Berties pushed back with long runs by promising young player Ryan Matthews and capped off by a Denis Tomas try. Though there was some glimpses of tidy play the Berties went into half down 17-7. With one adjustment at half the Berties started to show some gusto with great line-out work by Chris Dubrawksi and Daryl Tharby. This led the way for Gary ‘The Hype Man’ Hesmar as he touched down a try in the corner to close the gap. With Waterloo struck back quickly but this paved the way for the nicest try of the day and undeniably an internet sensation moment. Veteran Tommy Jenkins completed a one touch, no look, behind the back pass to Breton Courtney, who easily walked under the posts. Though the Berties outscored the County side in the second half they felt short 24-19. With Billy Clayton leading the way in tackles and carries, he is ambitious next week as his side takes on Niagara on the road.

As the venue changed back to the familiar grass at Sherwood Forrest. The 2^nd XV team Kicked off looking to avenge their first loss of the season. This was by no means an easy task, as Waterloo County showed why they’ve competed in top league. County wasted no time and put the home team down early. This was an high energy match and it didn’t help that the Centaurs struggled with a few last minute lineup changes. Colin Patterson noticeably stepped up to the challenge and it showed through his up-tempo work rate and taking charge of the home pack.

With the 2^nds down at half time. Youngsters Jack Mahoney & Alistar Howes injected some pace into the lineup. Sparking a comeback the Centaurs ironed out their set pieces providing a stable platform to play some expansive rugby. Tries poured through with Howes and Jake Omay touching down. But the Centaurs comeback fell short, 35-22 to County. It has been a tough start to the season thus far for the 2nds. However, the morale continues to be tall as they travel to Barrie this Saturday hungry for their first win.

As the forecast heated up, the 1^st XV took the pitch against a hungry Waterloo side. With the home side up for a big test and the sun at full temperature, the game started off a hot contest. The home team carried possession off the opening kickoff. But after an unforced error in their own end, they conceded the first try, 5-0 County. This was a particularly physical test and was a defensive war for both sides. Flyhalf Brendan Bryan penalty closed the gap to two points, but a first half yellow card put the Centaurs back on their heels. Despite the infringement, the Centaurs were able to pass the test and the Orange & Blue retreated to the change room at half down 5-3.

With some fresh subs to burn and some simple fixes to implement, the boys picked up the rhythm in the 2^nd half. The Centaurs Defence remained strong and they began to attack simply waiting for the right opposite to push through. Both squads exchanged tries as former County player, Petar Jokic, punished his prior side touching down a score. Undoubtedly, the Centaurs scrum was under pressure the entire game; albeit the Captain had his lineout under control which has been steady all season. Mike Doughtery extended his try streak after being a beneficiary off a pleasingly lineout /driving maul. With the time winding down, the County side showed more battle. The back-and-forth game continued as County scored with 5 minutes remaining in the second half, 19-15 County. As the crowd nervously awaited the kick-off. The Centaurs remained calm as they knew a single score would win the game. After rallying the ball on a clear out kick by County. The Centaurs setup multiple phases marching the ball to the County 5 metre line. With no panic and great patience, scrumhalf Zack Shurtleff conducted his pack with composure.  As the tired County Defence began to fatigue, the Centaurs relished in the closing minutes. Comparable to a story you would tell your grandchildren, the ball recycled to the short side leaving the ball in the Skippers hands. Keeping his defender honestly he held and off-loaded to a roaring Josh Jones in corner at pace, Jones made no mistake diving over the white line, 20-19 with less than a minute to go.

The Centaurs were able to run the clock out after a somewhat chilling final minute, 20-19 Burlington. The 1XV team moves to 3-0 and will travel to Barrie next week for face their first western opponent.

May 17, 2018

Sherwood Forest Park

Burlington, Ontario

The 2nd game of the 2018 campaign kicked off with clear skies above and soft ground under foot. And on this day, the pitch also seem to tilt slightly in the direction of the Centaurs.

In a rare Thursday night fixture, there was no lack of entertainment to kick start the Victoria Day long weekend. Your 1stXV hosted the gritty Toronto Nomads. The short week and difficult commute did not deter the visitors from bringing a full squad to the park.

With many fans in attendance, The Centaurs did not waste any time giving them something to cheer about. After a executing some tidy phase play the Centaurs attacked wide, sideline to sideline with Jordan Tanner being the beneficiary touching down under the sticks for the first score of the game. A penalty shortly after put the Centaurs up 10-0 early. 

The Nomads pushed back physically but the score remained unchanged for most of the first 40. Once the Centaurs calmed their nerves the game began to shift in their favour. After a Nomad yellow card for a no wrap hit on Tanner, the game opened up and some magnificent team tries were scored including a note worthy 30 meter line break by new centaur Kenny Waring who offloaded to Matthew Woodley for the score. Trevor Atkinson and Jordan Tanner added another two to put the home side up 31-0 at half time.

Though there was alot to be happy about. Captain Brownson touched on unforced errors and proper decision making. The game tightened up in the second half which resulted in many high energy collisions. Cam Hogg lead the way definitely upping his tackle count whiched earned him a well-deserved man of the match honours. The Centaurs were able to punch two tries in the second half – Brownson and B. Bryan. However, they conceded a try in the closing minutes. Final score 43-5 for the homeside which moves them to 2-0 and top spot in the Marshall championship Western divison.

The men would like to again thank all the fans for turning up and giving us the always appreciated support. Also a special shout out to Mr. Jake Omay & Mr. Jeff Brownson for the well constructed scoreboard. After the long weekend both men’s team return home a week Saturday hosting Waterloo County May 26th. We’d love to see you out as we hope to remain unbeaten.

The Burlington Centaurs Men’s 1^st XV Team have been nominated for the Burlington Sports Alliance 2018 Team of the Year and Coach Chris Kelly have been nominated for the Burlington Sports Alliance 2018 Champion of Sport

The award winners will be announced at the Burlington Sports Alliance Recognition and Awards Dinner on June 19, 2018 at the Burlington Convention Centre.

Those members with Centaur Club Jackets are encourage to attend the BSA Awards Dinner. Please email Nick Manz president@centaursrfc.com to reserve a spot at our table.

May 12, 2018

St. George Rugby Club

London, Ontario

The Sr. Men’s 2018 rugby season kicked off with a trip down the 401 to London, Ontario. It was a beautiful spring day for a season opener and the Burlington men were well aware they would be in tough against a strong and talented London St. George program. London was also celebrating a milestone year in their club, being their 60^th anniversary. The Centaurs were well aware of the uncharted waters they’d be sailing too. This was also a big day for Burlington as it was our first official match in the Marshall Championship after a promotion year.

Getting the kinks out early, there was some last minute juggling to the 2^ndXV lineup; luckily there were many eager Centaurs chomping at the bit to play. As the referees whistle went, Bryan Hannon kicked off and the 2018 campaign was underway. Both teams were built with a savvy combination of young / veteran players and it had all the ingredients for an 80 minute battle. The Centaurs started the first half on their heels, playing a lot of Defence. Nick Manz showed his veteran experience and his strong physique by leading the way several devastating tackles. London’s ball movement was tight and dynamic which lead them to put away two early tries, 10-0 London. The Centaurs were able to fight back with nice place kicking by Juan Palacio and first half tries scored by Bryan Hannon and Brian Curran. Despite the Centaurs surge, they remained down after the first 40 minutes and were well aware of their unforced errors count.

After a quick huddle, the second half began with some of the same substance as the first. After both teams exchanging tries, Burlington remained trailing as the clock was winding down. Though Bryan Hannon was able to punch in a try late; Jack Mahoney succumbed to an injury forcing the Centaurs to play with a man down for the remaining two minutes. This gave London an opportunity to add on a late try making the final score 37-26 London over Burlington.  Zach Dundas also scored a try in the second half which gave the Centaurs a bonus point. The Centaurs will be taking some positive learning experiences into their bye week.

The 1^st XV kicked off at 1500 hours as the sun emerged cranking up the temperature in an 80 minute battle that was already set to be heated. The Centaurs were looking to break the London sweep but knew it would not be an easy task against a decorated squad which included prominent rugby resumes with international caps. With some punishing tackles on both sides, the teams were well-introduced to each other early on. London were looking to find space early and after a clearance kick and handling error by the Centaurs the home side was up 5-0. The Centaurs were not deterred by London’s quick start and were able to strike back. Newest Centaur, Brenden Gilbert sparked his debut with dashing 22m try which leveled the score 5-5. The Centaurs were than able to take the lead with textbook driving maul from 10M out, finished off by Louis Hinshelwood. With the visitor crowd reeling, the Centaurs continued to hit the gain line at pace. The third try of the half started with an excellent offload by Jeff Brownson creating a 2-1 with a lone London defender. Steve Giboney and Trevor Atkinson worked the give and go and Atkinson dotted down under the posts. At Standoff, Brenden Bryan’s foot was “on” adding a penalty before the half ended. The Centaurs went into the huddle after 40 minutes leading the home team.

Skipper Jeff Brownson, praised the strong effort but encourage to up the tempo in the next 40 minutes. “This is going to be a 12-round boxing match and they’re going to keep coming.” With the Centaurs getting into penalty trouble resulting in a couple yellow cards, the St George’s were able to draw blood and began to close the gap. The teams exchanged scores and then after a couple excellent phases of play by Burlington, impact sub Michael Dougherty was able to push over the line for a try. Though the Centaurs defence did bend it did not break, conceding 24 points total to London.  Brenden Gilbert then sealed the deal late by scoring an electric try off the back of the scrum, Wilson to Shurtleff to Gilbert which solidified his well-deserved man of the match honours. 34-24 Burlington over London and the 1^st XV have started their campaign 1-0.

Jeff Brownson preached afterwards this was a total team effort with all 23 men getting into the game.  Heading into the Victoria Day long weekend the 1^st XV will be forced to have their home opener on a short week – 7PM Thursday May 17^th vs. the Toronto Nomads. The crowds presence in London was electrifying, we thank all the supporters who made the drive. The Centaurs hope to keep the momentum going and are anticipating a big crowd to cheer on the Blue, White & Orange for their home debut.

photo credit John Guilfoyle

The Burlington Centaurs are hosting a FREE TRY RUGBY Day on Monday, May 14^th and looking for volunteers to help assist with introducing the sport of rugby to the younger generation. Please let Alex know if you are able to help out on the day.

Our junior and mini Rugby Programs run on Monday & Wednesday evenings starting at 6:00 pm

Practices kick-off this Monday, May 7^th at Sherwood Forest Park.

Registration http://centaursrfc.com/registration/

More information can be found at http://centaursrfc.com/junior-rugby

This year we are also excited to provide a Centaurs U5 Rugby Program with Coach Tim on Monday evenings beginning this Monday, May 7^th

Registration is only $200 for the season. Email juniors@centaursrfc.com  to register directly.

TRY RUGBY DAY – U5 to U13

WHEN: Monday, May 14^th – 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

WHERE: Sherwood Forest Park – 5270 Fairview Street, Burlington

REGISTRATION: FREE!

Email: juniors@centaursrfc.com

ONTARIO ARROWS HOME OPENER GAME – THIS SATURDAY, MAY 5^th @ YORK UNIVERSITY

The Centaurs have organized a bus to the Ontario Arrows game from the clubhouse departing at 3:00 pm.

Spaces are LIMITED – To reserve your spot email Katelyn Carey and send $20 e-transfer Katelyn  kcarey9@hotmail.com

Beat the line at the gate and get your tickets online at discounted sale price https://ontarioarrowsrugby.com/tickets/

On a miserable wet, chilly and windy Saturday, your Burlington Centaurs Sr. Men’s squad hosted its 4^th annual Monty Heald Tournament of Champions. It was said many times throughout the day, Monty wouldn’t have had it any other way, and it was a great day for rugby.

The preseason tournament has become the premier preseason tournament in Ontario. Hosting 4 Marshall Premier teams and a Province side, the Quebec Selects. The Marshall teams included the back-to-back McCormick cup champs, Brantford Harlquins, alongside the Toronto Scottish, Balmy Beach and the Stoney Creek Camels. There was also interested in “seconds” division, where we were able to field an additional team up against local and rival clubs, The Grimsby Gentlemen and The Hamilton Hornets.

The host side kicked off the tournament against our skyway neighbours, the Stoney Creek Camels. Though the Camels side was slim missing their Ontario Arrows players and young University talent, they were still up for a game and looking to seek some vengeance against some former club players. With great ball retention and straight up tackles by Louis Hineslwood and Colin McLeod.  The Centaurs were able to free up some space for their electric back three made up of Jordan Tanner, Matt Woodley & Brendan Gilbert proving why they’re known as finishers by combining for all 4 Centaur tries of the game. The great team effort opened up the space for all 3 men to hit it at pace. Consistent kicking by Brendan Bryan & Juan Palacio locked up the Centaurs first win of the tournament over the Camels 24-0. Though it was nice to see our Offence was clicking, Captain Jeff Brownson was more impressed with the Defensive effort shutting out the competition.

The Centaurs second match-up was against the 2015 McCormick Cups Champs, Balmy Beach. ‘The Beach’ are a stalwart club in the Marshall premiership and have a tendency to by a high-flying, highly skilled side. Shortly after kickoff the Centaurs knew they were in for a tough game. The Beach pressure was relentless, and the Centaurs rarely had any ball possession. Though our Centaurs Defence was stout the Beach managed to finish two entertaining tries which led the Tournament hosts to be down 12-0 at half. The Centaurs were not deterred and came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half. With two quick tries by Kale Hutchings and M. Woodley to open the second half. The Centaurs closed the gap and tied the game at 12-12. With time ticking away, the Centaurs did not take their foot of the pedal. After multiple phases, McLeod made a line break creating a two on one with the Beach full back 10 meters out. With great skill, he gave a supporting Tim Morton a textboook off-load in the tackle, letting the big man rumble and scoring under the posts. 19-12 Centaurs. They completed the comeback and were able to run out the remaining 2 minutes on the clock to finish the round robin with a perfect 2-0 record.

The Burlington Senior Women had a showcase match vs mid day. The playing conditions offered soft ground following rain which allowed confidence for all to tackle and ruck hard in preparation for the forthcoming league games. Within the Centaurs team, there were two new players, Emma (Red) Mallon and Rebecca (Becca) Ayliffe who both performed outstandingly for their first match and along with them some guest appearances from previous team members now living in the USA or other parts of Canada, (Rebecca T, Kylie and Kim H). Although the team has not had long to play together, during the match they gel’d to dominate both halves of the game.and after the first half, were 22 v 7 in the lead. Within the second half, the defence held to add an additional 21 points for none against.

The Centaurs were spoilt with a great turnout of players and which ensured each player had half a match. With tries from, Julia, Taylor, Kylie, Amber, Cassidy and Emily G, plus conversions from Amber, Emily G and Taylor, the Women’s team were eventual victors by 43 v 7. Even though there are always areas to improve, it was both encouraging and exciting to watch the team run drills they have been practicing over the past couple of weeks.  The next step is to ensure momentum and build on the foundations from Saturday as the Women’s first league match is away to Hamilton on Saturday 12th May.

With the day winding down and the weather conditions taking its toll. The Centaurs Men matched up against an athletic Quebec Selects side in the finals. The rain had briefly dissipated which drew excitement for both teams, anticipating the ball would be thrown around much more frequently. Though the Centaurs were confident their offence would continue its success; once again, Captain Jeff Brownson could not have been more satisfied with his squad’s defensive efforts. By creating multiple phases the Centaurs were able to executive their attack plan. The pattern proved effective as first half tries were scored by Tanner, Mcleod and M. Woodley. The second half opened with the same success for the Centaurs. A couple goal line tests were passed and the Centaurs defense remained unconquerable. The final whistle blew and the Centaurs retained the Championship 26-0 over the Selects.

Overall, it was a great day remembering a Burlington and Canadian Rugby legend capped off with the hosts winning their own tournament. The win gives the Centaurs some additional hardware going into the 2018 Campaign, after winning the Battle of the Border 7’s tournament earlier this month. Head Coach Chris Kelly remains positive, but preaches that his men need to keep up the hard work and commitment. The Centaurs have one more week of preseason but are in tough on May 12 as they travel down the 401 for their season opener against the London St. George’s.

Saturday, April 7, 2017

Fort Niagara State Park

Youngstown, New York

On a chilly April morning, your Burlington Centaurs Sr. men traveled to our southern neighbours for their second annual “Battle of the Border 7’s Tournament. Canadians and Americans, kids and senior players, spectators and athletes alike. All came together on April 7th, 2018 at Old Fort Niagara for a truly unique rugby tournament with competitive opportunities for all ages and experience levels.

Though the team lacked 7’s experience, GM Tim Morton knew through selections they had the right athletes and skill sets to have a successful day. The Sr. Men’s division was made up of two pools and the Centaurs were challenged with a 3-game round-robin, plus a semi’s and finals, if they went all the way. As fait had it, the Centaur’s could not have predicted a better start to their pre-season. They had completed the round robin with a perfect 3-0 record and only conceded a total of 19 points against. “A highlight for us was beating our crosstown rivals, the Hamilton Hornets 46-0 in our third game,” said Cpt Jeff Bronson. “Hamilton has always been a rival club and to put 46 points on them in 14 minutes with using all our subs was awesome.”

With the Centaurs having a perfect 3-0 record and the best points for / against in their division it was onto the semi-finals along with 3 other clubs.  With ‘some’ luck the Centaurs were able to get pass the semi’s and into the finals. Their opponent was a stalwart squad in the Marshall Premiership, the Markham Irish. “As we analyzed the competition throughout the day. We kinda’ expected to meet-up with Markham in the finals, if we made it through, of course” Said Morton. The finals Kicked-off with the Centaurs somewhat on their heels playing defence for the first four minutes. The Centaurs relied on textbook ‘scramble’ defence and their grittiness caused an Irish turnover resulting in a long try, finished under the posts, 7-0 Burlington. Two additional tries were exchanged before half and with a Centaurs missed conversation prior to half-time whistle. Both teams retreated to their sides with the score 12-7 after the first 7 minutess.

As the Centaurs huddled and spoke at half-time. A few lineup changes were made to inject some pace into the match. These keys sub became clutch as the Centaurs opened the second half with two quick tries. With only 3 minutes left, the Centaurs were up 17 points and could smell the championship. They did not let up with putting away one more try across the line and though Markham was able to score with no time left it didn’t matter. The Centaurs were battle of the border champs 31-14. Throughout the day,  It was the ultimate team effort as tries were scored by: T. Atkinson, B. Bryan, D. Jones, K. Waring and multiple tries were scored by J. Tanner, M. Woodley and new comer B. Gilbert.

“I couldn’t be happier with the effort and our execution,” spoke Cpt. Bronson. “Obviously all the boys were outstanding, but hat’s off to our sweeper, Gilbert. He had a great day both offensively and defensively.

The Centaurs brought some hardware back to Fairview Street and they hope the success continues throughout their 2018 Campaign. “We especially want to thank South Buffalo rugby for hosting the tournament and the Centaurs will likely return next year to defend their title,” concluded Morton.

Burlington Centaurs 2018 Battle of the Border 7’s Roster:

Jeff Bronson – Captain

Ken Warring

Trevor Atkinson –Reggie Dunlop

David Jones

Jordan Tanner

Brendan Gilbert

Brenden Bryan

Matt Woodley

Louis Hinselwood

Danny Brotman

Bryan Hannon

Tim Morton