Ontario Blues Sr. Development XV vs. Indigenous Australian Rugby Team

On Sunday, September 23, the Ontario Blues Sr. Development XV defeated the Indigenous Australian Rugby Team 50-21 after taking a 28-7 lead at the break. The match was the fourth match in eight days for the IART and was held at the Oshawa Vikings Rugby Club.

The Rugby Ontario High-Performance Program roster for Sunday’s match against the touring Indigenous Australian Invitational Rugby Team (IAIR) was announced on Friday.

“There are some very good rugby players in the Marshall Championship Division as well as in the Branch Union Competitions. The side that has been selected will represent no fewer than 14 clubs across Ontario. I have no doubt that these players will cherish wearing the “Blue” jersey against an outstanding representative side from Australia,” said Manager of High-Performance Paul Connelly.

With the loss to Ontario, The Indigenous Australian Rugby Team record is 2-2 on tour. The team lost to the Rugby Quebec Selects 26-12 on Friday, September 21 at Percival-Molson Stadium at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

In the initial U.S. portion of the tour, The Indigenous Australian Invitational Rugby Team began their six-match rugby tour of the U.S. and Canada with a 72-19 win against Army West Point B at the Anderson Rugby Complex on the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. on September 18. The team also beat the Portland Rugby Football Club 69-19 at Deering Memorial Stadium in Portland, Maine on September 19.

The tour is a cultural exchange for the team and not only is the team playing six matches during a two week period, but it has also been traveling extensively and has been involved in community events.

The Indigenous Australian Rugby Team is an under-25 squad comprised of players of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders descent. Selection to the invitational team was based on the contributions made as a player, as well as to their communities.

After a visit to Toronto, the IART will fly to Denver and will play the Indigenous Warriors at the University of Denver on September 26 at 6 pm MT and conclude their match portion of the tour on Sep. 28 against California State University – Long Beach. The following day the team returns home from Los Angeles.

Rugby Ontario & IART Match Recap

Modified from Rugby Ontario & IART Backs Coach, David John Conyers 

The Ontario Blues Senior Men’s Development XV claimed a 50-21 win over the touring Indigenous Australian Invitational Rugby Team (IAIR) on Sunday, September 23 at Thompson Park – home of the Oshawa Vikings.

Following the playing of the Australian and Canadian National Anthems, the IART performed a traditional Aboriginal Dance Challenge, which included the playing of the “Didgeridoo” and “Clapping Sticks”.

The Indigenous Australian Invitational Rugby Team 4th match in 9 days was coupled with a 5 1/2 hour bus ride from Montreal. This made playing a high-level opponent difficult. The tour’s schedule has 6 matches in a 2 week period, coupled with extensive travel and cultural exploration.

The Blues struck first, scoring four tries in the first twenty minutes. Sri Lankan 7’s international Lee Keegel scored two of the tries and William Viljoen and Lambrechts Schreuder scored others. Kieron Martin was successful on all four conversations to put the Blues ahead 28-0.

At the 25th minute, Liam Bilstons crashed into the defense several times. Three back to back penalties put the visitors in good field position and he again barrelled over the line for a try, which was then converted by fly-half David Green. The next 15 minutes saw some more determined play from the Australians as they threatened on several occasions to score more points against their hosts leading up to halftime. The Blues defended well over this stretch, making tackle after tackle and keeping the score at 28-7 to end the first half.

The Blues began the second half scoring two quick tries increasing their lead to 40-7, effectively putting the match out of reach.

The IART refocused and replied with two tries, cutting the lead to 40-21. In scoring, the team put the ball behind their defensive line which had defended one on one well all day. This worked a treat when inside center Isaiah Huet gathered a Green kick for a try. David Green then intercepted a pass, racing 40 meters to the posts for the team’s third try.

Ontario answered with a penalty kick pushing the lead to 43-21. They also added another try from a quick tap off a penalty for a final score of 50-21.

During the second half, the Blues substituted ten players. The three Ontario tries were scored by Asad Chaudry, Andrew Ash and Jake Stoneham (all converted) and a penalty kick by Martin.

Rugby Ontario Manager of High-Performance Paul Connelly said after the match “What a great game and a great day for rugby. Rugby Ontario would like to thank the Oshawa Vikings for providing an awesome venue and post-game reception for our guests from Australia. We look forward to 2021 when we will have the opportunity to host IAIR on their next tour to North America.”

David John Conyers praised several IART players, indicating the David Green “tormented the opposition all day.” Vice-Captain Peter Fitzsimmons “showed his class and link play in a beaten team. Fullback Matt Saul had several good searching runs from the custodian position and made the gain line in all assaults. Workhorses Liam Bilston and Elliot Thompson both carried the ball strongly in a much lighter forward pack.”

Yesterday, the team had a rest day, touring Niagara Falls and connecting “with the six-nation Mohawk people in a magnificent afternoon of cultural sharing and goodwill.”

The team travels tomorrow to Denver, Colorado for the much-prized clash with the Native Americans 6 pm MT match on the University of Denver campus.

Squads

Blues Development Roster vs. IAIR: 1Jimmy Taylor 2 Daniel Al-Kafajy 3 Merlin Gomez 4 Rooie Ash 5 Jake Stoneham 6 Dave Croxall 7 Mike Groenewald 8 David Buekeboom 9 Mike Cregg 10 Kieron Martin 11 Lee Keegel 12 William Viljoen 13 Sean Harrison 14 Sohaib Chaudhry 15 Chris Matsoukas 16 Matt Comeau 17 Filip Pagasic 18 Matt Felice 19 Gabe Brocardi 20 Kalen Thompson 21 Jeff Park 22 Kirk Regan 23 Lambrechts Schreuder 24 Matt Hadden 25 Kris Petterson 26 Levi Konecny

IART Squad vs. Ontario Blues Sr. Development XV: 1 Kai Lowah 2 Bryce Adamson 3 Aaron Brown 4 Elliot Thompson 5 Braeden Smith 6 Daniel Rosendale (C) 7 Corbin Walters (VC) 8 Leonard Snowball 9 Aaron Williams 10 David Green 11 Shayman Shepperd 12 Isaiah Huet 14 Josh Smith 15 Matt Saul 16 Jerone Wills 17 Liam Bilston 18 Connor Lynch 19 Mitchell Hudson 20 Peter Fitzsimmons 21 Josef Wilson 22 Tirawa Gristwood 23 Ruben House 24 Deon Evans-Ao 25 Anthony Fuller + Ethan Wikaira (HIA)

IART Tour match selections