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The Newfoundland Rock has done what no other team in the province has done before – win three national titles. They did it by beating the Calgary Mavericks in a comprehensive 30-6 win at Swilers rugby complex in St. John's on Saturday.
With over 1,500 soaked fans taking in the spectacle, the Rock built a 13-3 half-time lead before scoring two second half tries to put the icing on their third championship. Grant Moffett scored a sparkling try in the first half working up the blind side from in close off a scrum to get the opening five pointer of the game.
Christian Wulff calmly slotted a penalty to cut the lead to 7-3 after ten minutes. Dean Blanks got those three points back with a penalty of his own for the Mavs handling on the ground for a 10-3 Rock lead. A crossing penalty by the Mavs gave the Rock a chance to nudge the score board another three points at 13-3 – a lead they took into the dry dressing rooms at the half. The Mavericks opened the second half with a penalty from Christian Wulff to make it a one score game with thirty five minutes left, but a great bit of pressure a few minutes later from the Rock forwards netted a penalty try to give the home side a 20-6 lead. The Rock increased its lead with a thirty metre penalty kick from Dean Blanks to make it 23-6 with twenty minutes to go. The Mavericks had no response to the ferocious forwards play – and the only bright spot was a couple of big runs by James Buchanan – the scrumhalf who was playing at inside centre. The Rock then organized another visit to the Mavs end – a rolling maul seeing the ball come left with second row Chris Mooney finding a gap to go across untouched from ten metres. It was converted – for the final score of 30-3. Calgary Mavericks 15. Albert Imartino 14. Thom Dutchak 13. Dustin MacPherson 12. James Buchanan 11. Carl Pocock 10. Christian Wulff 9. Mike Hoang 8. Bruno Payette 7. Sam val Zehan 6. Matt Evans 5. Todd Purslow 4. Spencer Massiah 3. Rogan Verboven 2. Tom Malin 1. Tyler Hawes Replacements: 16. Peter Rowe 17. Heath Spence 18. Shelby Smith 19. Cam Grace 20. Mike Hurd 21. John Long 22. Nick Blevins 23. Steve Woodward 24. Ian Shoults Newfoundland Rock 15. Morgan Lovell 14. Grant Moffett 13. Robert Wilson 12. Tyler Wish 11. Mike Rudofksy 10. Dean Blanks 9. Adam Paul 8. Ken Goodland 7. Andrew Fagan 6. Kevin Parfrey 5. Brad Lester 4. Chris Mooney 3. Dan King 2. Peter Densmore © 1. Frank Walsh Replacements: 16.Owen Parfrey 17. Rod Snow 18. Sean O'Leary 19. Phil Alcock 20 Justin Meyers 21. Colin Penney 22. Ciaran Hearn 23. Mike Holloway 24. Jason Picco Referee: Mark Newton
Touch Judges: John Saunders, |
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